“A horse without a rider is still a horse. A rider without a horse is only a person”
Always a horse nut, I never really pondered how much I identify with all things equine. I enjoy other activities, but nothing comes close to hanging out with horses and dressage. Conjoined by our love for horses, my dressage pals “get me.” If I tell my family that I am blue because I cannot get out and ride, they say things like, “sounds like a first world problem.” It is impossible to convert non-horsey people—they cannot fathom why we would endure toil, grooming, sweat, flies, mud, extreme weather, expense, time, potential danger, and sacrifices we make.
Of all animals kept for the recreation of mankind; the horse is alone capable of exciting a passion that shall be absolutely hopeless.” —Bret Harte
Dressage becomes a passion when you become determined, no matter what, to pursue the discipline. You are chasing the dream. The one where you are riding in perfect harmony with your horse and experiencing an exhilaration like no other. As a dressage passionista, you are a seeker of beauty, harmony, and a special connection with your horse. You are constantly discovering a whole new level of complexity. You love the journey, even though the bar is constantly being raised. It is an art, a sport, a science, and a dance with your horse.
Passion serves as a compass, providing clarity, and making decisions easier. When you do what you enjoy most, it makes every day better and your life fuller. As a passionista, you get beyond yourself, learning to overcome fear. Obstacles, challenges, adversity, and barriers are just something to get through. We grow in patience, persistence, and grit. To become great riders, we must look at ourselves truthfully and be aware of our character flaws, weaknesses, and frailties. We are grounded in the relationship with our horse, in the moment, connected through body language. The work is physical, and we are outside. We forget about the other stuff in our lives. So, now that I have come to the realization that horses are my scene, I will be more intentional in my commitment to riding and learning dressage.