tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post3559728826619018048..comments2024-01-06T02:00:05.220-07:00Comments on SprinklerBandits: One Step At A TimeSprinklerBandithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-46253344229374268182016-08-22T09:05:02.725-06:002016-08-22T09:05:02.725-06:00Going from constant "NOPE" to a real hon...Going from constant "NOPE" to a real honest-to-goodness TRY is the best feeling in the entire world!! And people can be ridiculous. I find it much easier to jut be nice. ;) Alli + Dinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06928482808436392040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-31303803109498119392016-08-19T11:03:20.433-06:002016-08-19T11:03:20.433-06:00I love fails. We all fail, it's part of the jo...I love fails. We all fail, it's part of the journey, it makes us human and brings this sometimes ridiculous sport back to reality. Keep failing! I'll be right there with you. <br /><br />And don't get too broken up about it. I've spent the last couple weeks listening to Intro riders criticize Olympic performances. A Work In Progresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14076863943914879567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-89024446856018867772016-08-18T22:37:56.762-06:002016-08-18T22:37:56.762-06:00I find it so weird people are so critical
Of your ...I find it so weird people are so critical<br />Of your journey. At the end of the day your horse is happy and healthy and you're making progress all the time. Definitely mde some huge stride Beckzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09114970876099684280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-82761472752810836932016-08-18T16:49:39.245-06:002016-08-18T16:49:39.245-06:00The fail pictures make for fun viewing!! I think a...The fail pictures make for fun viewing!! I think a lot of people under estimate the amount of time it takes to really click with a horse and get them working for you and you working for them. Sydney and I had a really rough first year and a half, and then we switched to western dressage and it felt like everything just fell into place. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-82751815765816704272016-08-18T13:38:56.343-06:002016-08-18T13:38:56.343-06:00I hate when other people tear others down. Knock i...I hate when other people tear others down. Knock it off. Nobody likes it. We all like encouragement, and we all like advice (when we ask for it). So celebrate the wins with the person celebrating! Damnit.HolyBullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10938188769695663261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-6410402536262027702016-08-18T13:03:03.192-06:002016-08-18T13:03:03.192-06:00:0)
Don't forget to give yourself some credit,...:0)<br />Don't forget to give yourself some credit, too. He has come a long way, but that is due to YOU and the time YOU put into him.Careyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624374504547832814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-1882916483630045392016-08-18T11:39:01.123-06:002016-08-18T11:39:01.123-06:00To me, it is so important to have pictures documen...To me, it is so important to have pictures documenting the journey so when I feel stuck, I can look back and see how far we've come. Lots of people do that with video and it's probably a better idea, but I'm a picture girl. What can I say? <br /><br />I will say that I'm obsessive about details and I definitely try to keep tack adjusted correctly, but I don't get too concerned if it's a little off. ;-) Most people don't notice.SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-47447351688919524982016-08-18T11:36:28.367-06:002016-08-18T11:36:28.367-06:00Courage has certainly come a long way and you have...Courage has certainly come a long way and you have too in getting him there. Sure we all want them to learn, be and do with perfect execution, but we all have bad days too and days we feel like screwing off just because. We just have to work with the horse we have Today. They aren't planning to be high energy Fail today and perfect angels tomorrow or the rest of the week... <br /><br />Some horses learn in leaps and bounds, other horses we ask ourself if they will e.v.e.r. get it??? They are just like us and everyone learns at a different rate. Its also easy to have both fail and brilliance in the same ride. Which part we choose to focus on is up to us. Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10355349642284506192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-67115528410961381652016-08-18T11:33:10.909-06:002016-08-18T11:33:10.909-06:00yep agreed. yep agreed. emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-17816148103458056582016-08-18T11:24:55.879-06:002016-08-18T11:24:55.879-06:00I really really love and appreciate this post sinc...I really really love and appreciate this post since I too have a difficult horse, one that's also come so far. I agree that it's easy for me to be critical but it's so important and wonderful to see the positives and growth in each picture too :)Piccoloponyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08275679567725425281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-13182146003497636672016-08-18T11:18:07.903-06:002016-08-18T11:18:07.903-06:00I love all of your photographs because they are a ...I love all of your photographs because they are a visual diary of your journey with Courage. I get super nervous to share photos of my riding (haha that's a joke you have to have a ridable horse to ride) or even working with my horse. I think oh no his halter is a bit skewed and too loose in this photo... people are going to think I don't know how to put on a halter. That is the problem with photos-- without context they can never tell the whole story. I am really impressed with your leg and center of balance in that first picture. If I had photo shop skills I would add some jousting gear. I would call that one a win for sure ;) Golden the Pony Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15230832980797448174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-84095418938695352742016-08-18T11:04:09.154-06:002016-08-18T11:04:09.154-06:00Since Dressage is still mostly foreign to me, I lo...Since Dressage is still mostly foreign to me, I love seeing your pictures, both good and bad. I've seen Courage's journey, so I feel like he's also educating me in many ways. :) <br /><br />And for the record, he's looking fabulous and I'm so glad you two have each other!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-50970136348763629942016-08-18T10:39:43.844-06:002016-08-18T10:39:43.844-06:00Hey, I totally 100% get that anything I put out on...Hey, I totally 100% get that anything I put out on the internet is public and going to be dissected/judged on some level. I'm certainly not the be-all and end-all of anything riding and I don't pretend to be. <br /><br />So if I'm not ok with getting picked apart, I generally don't post something. But sometimes as Shannon says "who pissed in your wheaties?" because it can get absurd. SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-70801577354160753382016-08-18T10:37:37.031-06:002016-08-18T10:37:37.031-06:00It's an amazing bonnet. I like to pull it out ...It's an amazing bonnet. I like to pull it out on hard days because it always makes me smile.SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-91150460993572630172016-08-18T10:36:46.169-06:002016-08-18T10:36:46.169-06:00I always think the "x% every day" method...I always think the "x% every day" method of improvement is pretty unrealistic. Most the time, I'm bargaining with "how about only a 40% regression today? 42%? Ok. I can live with that." ;-) SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-43180356148073704652016-08-18T10:35:20.357-06:002016-08-18T10:35:20.357-06:00Thanks to some stellar photography (mostly by Alys...Thanks to some stellar photography (mostly by Alyssa), I have an amazing collection of fails and they are most definitely hilarious. They're a staple of the blog and they're not going away. ;-) SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-73874970934344772052016-08-18T09:26:00.965-06:002016-08-18T09:26:00.965-06:00I love both the success and failure pictures! I gr...I love both the success and failure pictures! I groomed for a grand Prix dressage rider. She had many fails. Butt she never gave up. You do not give up either. I'm finally starting a journey with my one horse and in so excited but it looks so tough right now! She's got potential, but it will just take time.hammerhorseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07144749417680923288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-49894337609488541612016-08-18T09:21:12.383-06:002016-08-18T09:21:12.383-06:00holding up that moment of pride for public scrutin...holding up that moment of pride for public scrutiny is basically the worst ever. perhaps you'll recall when i ranted about my friend posting a jumping pic she was super proud of on FB, only to be torn to shreds by a local trainer for her subpar position. that made me mad. really really mad. <br /><br />yes we sorta have to tacitly accept that putting things on the internet means opening ourselves to criticism... but like. c'mon. we are all horse people here. we all know the struggle. and we all are in pursuit of better and more. but taking time to celebrate the little things is so critical and we should never be made to feel like those little moments or little baby steps aren't good enough. emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-82798307407693742592016-08-18T08:24:24.015-06:002016-08-18T08:24:24.015-06:00Well wouldn't it be great if our horses were a...Well wouldn't it be great if our horses were all "yes ma'am" robots and we were Grand Prix rider prodigies?! You've done great building yourself and him up over the years. You've taught him an entirely new discipline and he's pretty darn awesome at it! Good for you having the perseverance, patience and belief in him and you!Nicku Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07006911603623063201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-57757009612964750132016-08-18T08:22:15.139-06:002016-08-18T08:22:15.139-06:00Love that last picture of you two! And the sassy t...Love that last picture of you two! And the sassy tail swish is the best :)jenjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01737679332792618499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-37920730720289577432016-08-18T08:08:27.472-06:002016-08-18T08:08:27.472-06:00That working with you instead of just noping out i...That working with you instead of just noping out is so huge!!!! I adore you guys and totally want to steal that Cookie Monster bonnet!EventingSaddlebredStylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610596082916022402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-20786712947596941022016-08-18T07:46:10.438-06:002016-08-18T07:46:10.438-06:00This is very inspiring to me. (and I'm glad th...This is very inspiring to me. (and I'm glad that you are back). I think we all become armchair experts and love to pick stuff apart because it's not 'perfect'. <br /><br />But horse training is all about the 'not perfect'. I was thrilled the first time I put my leg on Carmen for a leg yield and she actually went sideways. Up to then it was all 'no. nope. I hate you, get off'. The leg yield was not of any quality. But it was sidways. If I asked for more then I got I would have undone all the work I had done to get her to do it. <br /><br />I really like Warwick Schiller's philosophy of striving for 1% improvement every day. Because those one percents add up pretty quickly. <br /><br />I love those photos of you and Courage working together as a team. You're already way ahead of those not riding. :)TeresaAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05311118900077951863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-25376299296283191892016-08-18T07:35:57.431-06:002016-08-18T07:35:57.431-06:00Fails are easy because you're the first one la...Fails are easy because you're the first one laughing. Successes can be vulnerable because frankly people can be assholes. Blogger land is pretty cool and supportive, but it is still hard to show success and accomplishment when you're used to the struggle. <br /><br />I love your attitude, keep it up. Praise the smallest accomplishment in your boy. That's what sticks with them. Laur @FMHHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04978311855305167845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647406862592675556.post-57508784018247188982016-08-18T07:29:57.600-06:002016-08-18T07:29:57.600-06:00I love everything about this post. I absolutely do...I love everything about this post. I absolutely don't get the overwhelming need to be judgements/critical that some people have. You know Courage, and you know what he needs in the moment. And while some of those moments might be "fails", you're methodically working towards a goal and even if it's just baby steps, you are still making incredible progress. The photos you've been posting lately are drool worthy, and knowing Courage's background makes them even more impressive! Keep up the great work, you guys are quite a team!! TrainwreckInTealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557554448624901955noreply@blogger.com