“How to Coordinate Your Hand and Feet
on the Cut”
There are three main things going on as you’re walking through the herd to make a cut. The first is effective communication with your horse. The second is reading an ever changing situation. The third is making good decisions moment to moment.
That’s a lot to manage all at one time!
“7 Steps for Making Good Decisions in the Herd”
It’s easy to wait to hear your name called and then rely on your trainer for a cow plan as you walk to the herd.
However, I believe this is the slow road to becoming skilled in the herd.
There is so much you can do to set yourself up for herdwork success … as you collaborate well with your trainer or #1 helper.
“Horses Give Us a Place”
I really love the quote below. Somehow for me, it rings true.
And … like many of the gifts that come into our lives, it was shared with me through a close friend.
Grief really is love with no place to go … except for those of us who love horses.
“How to Stop Leaning”
Have you ever struggled with a pesky upper body that insists on leaning before and through the turn? Do your shoulders and torso have minds of their own?
Try these ideas:
1. Let go of trying not to lean.
Our bodies cannot ‘not’ do anything. You will be well on your way to sitting quietly, deeply and still as you focus on what you want.
“How to Fix What Went Wrong on the Cut”
It can be challenging to learn herdwork. There’s so much to absorb about cattle, angles, making decisions about moving targets, etc. This is especially tough if you’ve had little to no experience with cattle before you started your cow career.
Then there’s more to add to the mix of challenges. There’s the impact of your draw in the herd, or the kind of cattle at the show that day (numb or wild or in between) Herdwork is just plain challenging.
“An Exercise to Develop Feel”
There’s that word again … “feel.”
It can be so elusive. What does that mean? And most importantly, how can you develop it?
To me “riding with feel” means being so connected to your horse that you can sense how to communicate seamlessly with him moment to moment (like a dance partner leading the dance.)
“When I Think of You, I Feel Love”
It’s been a tough few weeks. Two different families I know quite well, lost a son. Another family lost a 9 year old daughter. A neighbor is nearing the end of his life in hospice.
As you well know, as we comfort others in their grief, we often revisit our own grief.
The good news is that hopefully we are more compassionate than ever because of our own experiences. Of course, it is never easy, but we understand the power of just being by someone’s side.
“The Emergency Brake/Two-Handed Stop”
I was recently asked to describe a maneuver I call the “emergency brake.”
It is fundamentally a two-handed stop which is used in a variety of disciplines for a variety of training reasons.
I am describing it here for that use, as well as for the safety of everyone.
It can be used as a stopping maneuver (training or emergency.)
“IS MY HORSE RIGHT FOR ME?”
When someone asks this question, it’s never an easy one to answer.
“How do I know if this is the right horse for me? I feel frustrated. I’m not sure if it’s him or if it’s me. I’m losing confidence. I’m not having fun. I just might quit.
It’s not an easy answer because there are a lot of variables involved.
My first response is, “What do you think?”
“Finding Joy in What We Love”
We all have our core beliefs. And thank goodness I believe we don’t all need to share the same beliefs! With that being said, one of my beliefs is that even though I don’t understand why people are taken from us either in what seems to be “too soon,” or in a way that seems unfortunate … or in just the fact that they “have to go” … I believe their work here is over. But those of us who remain still have important work to do.
Stop Leaning!
You’ve heard it before. Someone shouts, “Stop leaning!” Immediately it feels like someone put your finger in a light socket. Your eyes bug out and your back goes stiff in an effort to get upright in the saddle! Ugh! That’s not exactly what you wanted instead!
Without realizing it, it’s so easy to develop the habit of leaning in lots of directions. Maybe you lean and kind of pump your upper body forward to try to get your horse to go (instead of using leg/feet cues only.)
WE SUPPORT YOU
I send you the warm thoughts and soft support during this holiday season.
I bet that you, like me, find certain moments to be especially challenging when the unforeseen wash of sadness envelops you. I think we all share that.
Personal Performance Resources
30 Days of Inspiration
Barbra’s Audio Programs
Cutting Resources
NEW! Resource Center All in One Place
Barbra’s DVDs
Barbra’s Books
Special To Me
-
-
Check out my Facebook pages!
(Just click either image)
-
Barbra Was Inducted Into the National
Cowgirl Hall of Fame
on October 25, 2012!
Watch her induction
career video and
acceptance speech here! -
-
Now You Can Share Your Favorite Blog Posts With Friends
Just click this green icon
at the end of each blog post to see all your options! Subscribe RSS Feed
Subscribe to this site's RSS feed.