“The relentless pursuit of perfection.”
That phrase has been well branded by Lexus. It’s a phrase my mind loves to wrap itself around every chance it gets, but does perfection really suit my goals as a rider? Let’s explore….
Some of the things that go along with attempts at perfection are rigidity, tension and disengaging from my horse. My trainer, James Waldman, loves to humorously chastise us with a favorite comment: “I’m being perfect, look, I can’t move because I’m being perfect.” He’s so right.
Those of us with the perfectionist mindset find our position in the saddle, and then automatically think “stay here” or, in other words, “don’t move.” When you consider the constant and fluid motion of a horse that thinking really doesn’t pay off. What I create when I’m trying to hold my position too intently (the one I think will allow my horse to move like a “10”) is tension. What I really want is to ride in such a way as to allow my position to be a constantly moving harmonic flow with the rhythm of my horse.
Years ago I made a sad attempt at learning to golf. I bought a cute set of clubs, a couple of pretty outfits and nice shoes, of course, but when I got to the tee box there was not much cute about me. My problem was promptly pointed out to me by some more experienced, if not as well dressed, golfers. “You’re taking yourself way too seriously,” they said. “You need to loosen up. You look like you’re chopping wood not swinging a golf club.”
The suggested solution was a goofy dance - sort of a giggle of all my body parts, like a kid would do to demonstrate the heebie jeebies. So much for looking good. But it helped. No, I did not become Tiger Woods but I did hit the ball. An obvious improvement had occurred. What made the difference was that I was relaxed and my body was fluid with the movement of the swinging club. I went with it and it went with me, we were one.
That kind of oneness with my horse is always my goal. A relaxed but intentional state, one that is dynamic and constantly moving, will get me where I really want to go. And that is to create a synergy that brings out the best in both of us. Putting perfection aside, I make room for synchronicity. Then I remember, “Oh yeah, there is something better than perfection and that’s it!” A little heebie jeebie dance in the saddle as you’re walking around the ring could be just the trick to finding your ideal ride.
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