The Ultimate Instant Dressage Position Fix

in my defense, his neck is really sexy

As some of you have (very vocally) observed, I have a marked tendency to stare at Courage's neck while I'm riding. I can make a couple defenses of it, but the most honest one is probably that I have bad posture and haven't worried about it.

I admit--it's not great and not something to be proud of. I'm sure bio-mechanically, it hinders Courage in some way.

This past weekend, we fixed it.


Ha. It really was that easy. And I can fix you too. Over the internet. I'd like to charge money so you'll take me more seriously, but HA. No one pays me for advice on anything.

LOOKING UP

It was so simple--I was having a terrible ride (being exhausted+90f+eating yummy Mexican food+emotional meltdown status DOES NOT = quality work under saddle). Lindsey was there trying to talk me through it a little bit, but Courage was wanting to throw all of his toys out of his crib, and I was right there with him.

OUT TOYS. NO ONE WANTS YOU. STOMP ON THEM.

And in the midst of my surly-mood-cloud, I was, of course, staring hard at Courage's ears. Because reasons. LOOK WHERE I WANT TO GO? EARS BITCHES.

unfortunately i think the pink wears us

Yeah it was good solid horsemanship going on there. Not proud.

Anyways. In the midst of all that, Alyssa pipes up with possibly the most profound piece of dressage advice I have heard in a very long time. (And who says that girl has never had a proper dressage lesson?! Ha.)

She lightened my mood, fixed my position, and gave my ride a whole new direction with one simple phrase.

What's more, I rode again on successive days and the THE FIX HELD. No joke. It's made a huge difference in my riding.

Want to know what she said?

Simple.

NOPE

As I trotted by with my eyes locked firmly on Courage's poll, she blurted out "Pretend there's a penis between his ears. AIN'T NO ONE WANTS TO LOOK AT THAT!"

And then, every time I looked down again, she'd shout "PENIS".

Regardless of what you like to look at, ain't no one wants to get caught looking at AHEM certain things.

sparkle fabric paint

So if you don't have a friend willing to go to recognized shows and yell at you across the warmup (or even if you do), there is a slightly more subtle solution if you have a fly bonnet and access to a craft store.

Guess what we're going to do with this?

If you guessed explicit art on the backside of a bonnet, you're spot on. Tall, straight, and hard, that's our new motto.