Phew, big weekend but I'm back. First page was done without lifting hand. Felt soooo strange.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
twenty dressage sketches in twenty days: sketch 1
It's hard to keep up with drawing when there's a baby in the house so rather than give up I have pledged to do a dressage sketch each day for the next twenty days. They will be quick and unpolished. I will not be a perfectionist. I will not be a perfectionist...
Saturday, June 23, 2012
the story of a saddle
Some time ago I received the thoughtful and symbolic gift of
an old saddle. I don’t have a horse for it at the moment, but I just love
seeing there in the corner of the room, putting me in mind of rainy childhood
days cleaning tack with the sound of sleepy horses in the background.
It has
its leather girth with it and is in good condition apart from a rather
catastrophically broken tree. I was intrigued to see that this saddle was from
the Myer Emporium. In case you’re not a Melbourne person (and you probably
aren’t, considering the number of lovely Americans I have visit the site) Myer
is a department store in the city that has been there forever. As far as I
know. I remember visiting there as a child and being amazed by the billion
buttons in the haberdashery section (now closed), not to mention the Christmas
windows. I had no idea there was a saddlery there.
A Google later and I found a discussion in Eques where
people were reminiscing about the saddlery in the 60s and 70s when it was
managed by the awesomely named Bill Bull. Then I found a current story on Kevin
Mayne, a saddler at the store for twenty years:
I wonder if he had anything to do with saddle no. 356? He
might be cross to know I had it close to a window this past year and it started
to build up some mildew (been a while since it had any love, what with the
distraction of a baby). It’s now been moved, cleaned and conditioned and is
looking bright and new.
So, here’s to the lovely feel and smell of an old saddle,
and the stories it can tell…
The Eques discussion:
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
back to (riding) school
Gorgeous horse, gorgeous tack. Don't you just want to leap up there and go for a spin? That mirror would be pretty handy too if, like me, you're working on getting the most effective riding position.
Yes, I finally took a riding lesson after what seems a lifetime away (on baby duty). Tystar is a lovely schoolmaster, so gentlemanly. My human teacher, Susie, is studying at the School of Lightness (doesn't that sound wonderful?). And, yes, the method is very light. I'm always surprised by how different my position is to what I would like it to be. My back is quite arched and my legs further forward than I realise. Having said that, my back is naturally arched so I do need to be realistic here. Having my legs a little more under me would be quite achievable though and I think it would improve my effectiveness. Comments are welcome. So looking forward to my next lesson. But with my constant nine-month-old companion I'm considering that watching a few might be a good option!
Do you believe in the concept of synchronicity? I'm never sure but it's really pretty remarkable that Susie is teaching so close to me, one of the few teachers available with a schoolmaster, as one of the first clips I ever saved from youtube was the one below. Just breathtaking. And guess who? I watched it often for inspiration and to remind myself of what can be achieved in the human / horse relationship.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
horse simile from Homer's Iliad
'As when some stalled horse who has been corn-fed at the manger breaking free of his rope gallops over the plain in thunder to his accustomed bathing place in a sweet-running river and in the pride of his strength holds high his head and the mane floats over his shoulders; sure of his glorious strength, the quick knees carry him to the loved places and the pasture of horses...'
Iliad 15.263 (trans Lattimore)
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