Expectations: horse behaves every ride, you both look picture perfect, body clipped forever, you have the best leg ever (some may compare it to those of Olympians), you never miss a distance, you`re never mad at your horse, you have a strong nourished body that can physically respond to riding, heels always down, eyes always up, NEVER on the wrong diagonal, riding pants are always clean, you have a 12-pack, helmet head never happens, never fall off, leave the barn looking just as gorgeous as you arrived, spend winters in sunny Florida, white polos, forever white.
Reality: horse is a different beast everyday, you feel like you look like you cannot ride, horses body clip is decent (if you`re into the lawn mower look), your leg will be your life struggle, you`re still counting 1-2-3-4 (OUT LOUD), you want to write `FOR SALE' on your ponies butt (regularly), you've eaten Tim Horton`s twice already (and you got a bagel, doughnut and a muffin), heels are hopefully down (can we get ONE thing right?), eyes...we won't go there, at least I don't have to look down to change my diagonal, riding pants (more like riding serviette), you have a 3-pack, helmet head is the bane of my existence, get sand in my pants more times than I'd like to admit, leave the barn (you're alive!), spend winters in the most winter place of them all, white polos, we don't go there.
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As much as I'd love to fully embody 'the expectations' you can't help but love the ups and downs of reality. Sometimes don't you feel yourself getting caught up (hello internet!) looking at photos, articles, videos, vines, grams, tweets and everything in between and thinking 'how is this NOT ME already'. RE: HITS @ WEF, anybody in Florida or Aiken right now, THERMALS, ROLEX, (just dropping names here). Jealousy is a devilish thing and as long as you can control it, you're good. But sometimes the green monster roars and you have to let it takes it's path and then center yourself into somewhere better.
As much as I WANT that to be me, very badly, right now, it isn't. And the reality is, sometimes to get where you're wanting to go you need to work a day job, walk dogs, drive in traffic, and not live on a farm. So, for me, the IN BETWEEN, is about digressing, writing about my rides, thinking about my next ride, and doing things to better myself and my riding, even if it isn't riding.
I think focusing on the days or hours in between riding is so beneficial, and possibly as beneficial as riding. A lot of people slip through the cracks of 'just riding' but once you get out there and start to use yourself in different ways than you're used to, you're going to really appreciate sitting into the saddle the next time. When I run, I can't help but link it with the fitness days I do on Hobbs and notice within myself when pushing for more is reasonable or when to steady and just carry on at that pace. It makes you appreciate riding on a different scale.
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As much as I'd love to fully embody 'the expectations' you can't help but love the ups and downs of reality. Sometimes don't you feel yourself getting caught up (hello internet!) looking at photos, articles, videos, vines, grams, tweets and everything in between and thinking 'how is this NOT ME already'. RE: HITS @ WEF, anybody in Florida or Aiken right now, THERMALS, ROLEX, (just dropping names here). Jealousy is a devilish thing and as long as you can control it, you're good. But sometimes the green monster roars and you have to let it takes it's path and then center yourself into somewhere better.
As much as I WANT that to be me, very badly, right now, it isn't. And the reality is, sometimes to get where you're wanting to go you need to work a day job, walk dogs, drive in traffic, and not live on a farm. So, for me, the IN BETWEEN, is about digressing, writing about my rides, thinking about my next ride, and doing things to better myself and my riding, even if it isn't riding.
I think focusing on the days or hours in between riding is so beneficial, and possibly as beneficial as riding. A lot of people slip through the cracks of 'just riding' but once you get out there and start to use yourself in different ways than you're used to, you're going to really appreciate sitting into the saddle the next time. When I run, I can't help but link it with the fitness days I do on Hobbs and notice within myself when pushing for more is reasonable or when to steady and just carry on at that pace. It makes you appreciate riding on a different scale.
It's 5:30 a.m., but you won't find three-day event rider Darren Chiacchia hitting the snooze and searching for where he left himself in his dream. Chances are Chiacchia is on his way out of a door, whether that door is in New York or Florida or in any horse show hotel room in between. But this three-day event rider is not heading to the barn for an early ride or to the show grounds to mull over the day's strategy. While his horses lay in their stalls dreaming about fields full of lush green grass and no riders anywhere in sight, Chiacchia, who grew up as a gymnast and dancer, is on his way to the gym or heading out on his favorite jogging route.
A self-proclaimed fitness freak who works with Muscle & Fitness magazine writer and fitness book author Chris Aceto, Chiacchia says that these early morning workouts, combined with his refusal to live on "Coke and Doritos," have made him a better, stronger rider.
Read more: http://www.horsecity.com/articles/training-riding/10018-the-importance-of-rider-fitness-an-interview-with-darren-chiacchia#ixzz2t52TN14b
I remember reading this article and this was around the time that Darren & Windfall were just absolutely killing it, and obviously it made a huge impression because I remembered it today! What, ten years later?
As well as running (yes, I'm Canadian and YES I go out and run. I can't say I love it, but I do it) I really enjoy Yoga. I'm not a sworn yoga warrior as sometimes I skip a day here and there, but you don't know how tight your body is sometimes until you go to stretch it. There are a lot of great places to go and do yoga such as taking a class, but myself, I enjoy doing it in the comfort of my own home.
As well as running (yes, I'm Canadian and YES I go out and run. I can't say I love it, but I do it) I really enjoy Yoga. I'm not a sworn yoga warrior as sometimes I skip a day here and there, but you don't know how tight your body is sometimes until you go to stretch it. There are a lot of great places to go and do yoga such as taking a class, but myself, I enjoy doing it in the comfort of my own home.
Don't hit snooze.
Take the 10 minutes, grab a glass of lemon water, your yoga mat, maybe a sunny spot in your house or apartment and stretch out your morning. The balance and calmness yoga brings to me in the morning sets me up for my day, and I try to stay aware of that feeling as long as I possibly can.
Take the 10 minutes, grab a glass of lemon water, your yoga mat, maybe a sunny spot in your house or apartment and stretch out your morning. The balance and calmness yoga brings to me in the morning sets me up for my day, and I try to stay aware of that feeling as long as I possibly can.