The Pasture Bar

Many of us have positive moments in every day. If we choose to notice them. The little things. A smile from someone. A funny noise. A song that comforts.

Storms happen for most of us. When we’re down in the arena, sweating, bruised from daily living, it’s hard to see the sun. But the sun still shines.

Existence is one thing. Living is another. Living affects the world around us in good, kind, thoughtful ways. Living is change. Ebb and flow. And breathe deeply. Even in a storm.

When we believe. When we know we can give value. We live. If not, we merely exist.

Sometimes we want so much for certain beings to understand us, nurture us, and we them. But we must first be able to nurture ourselves. Belief comes from within. Regardless.

It also brings beings to us and us to them when we can help and nurture each other with the dynamic resources that each of us have at our disposal.

The “what ifs” can creep into our mind. If so, let them, but also answer them with positive remedies. The universe helps bring to us what we want when it’s positive, kind and good.

When there is so much going on and so many goals to achieve, we must carve out time to quiet down and reflect. Important.

My pasture bar is open… BF, our resident Sasquatch, serves his Bigfootinis! The night is cool. The hills of Paso are covered in a thin fog that cannot hide the lights of the Milky Way galaxy above.

And if the creature insists on giving unwanted advice, the most mannerly option is to say "If I want your input, I'll ask." Be clear what you want from communication. It'll do wonders for everyone involved.

But the nice thing about having conversational parameters and boundaries is that things get done, with something for everyone included. The key is being clear. I want advice. I want someone to listen.

That way, when expectations for the conversation are known, all can interrupt and ask if they can offer advice, and the other parties can say no, which can open up more conversation about why, which in turn opens up more. Or it can be shut down for opportunity at a later date.

Let's face it, everyone in a conversation has an agenda of some kind when they're thinking creatures. And for everyone to get the most value of the conversational time spent, knowing what is expected is key. In business, in personal or horsonal relationships, friendships, emergencies, etc.

My pasture bar is open... Speaking about unsolicited advice and how to deal with it. We make it a point to tell others when we want advice or when we are telling a story for thought, or when we are wanting to vent and need a listener. This helps everyone within the conversation.

Knowing this info, we can move forward in the right way for us. That's where walking right into insults works in a positive way. Believe. Do our best. Recalibrate. Respect the activity or situation we walk into.

In this instance, the threat of insults, revealed so many important factors. One, K and I were better than we thought in our classical practice. Our trainer did not believe in us. Most of the equitation riders recognized our work. And it's the fence entourage that's the root of the insults.

The judge leaned in to K and said "You would've been 3rd had you worn the correct tack. Shaped saddle pad and no bling brow band on the bridle next time, please." K apologized. She literally did not know. She counted on her trainer for that, but her trainer walked off.

The judge wanted to know why we entered. K said we'd been working hard on classically correct flat work to achieve better turns in the jumper arena, and who better to evaluate her equitation than equitation judges?

As K untacked me later, one of the judges from the class came over to us. They said the insults were bad. They heard some of them. Is there anyone we'd like to report as un-sportsman like? K said "No, none of the riders said a thing. And the fence entourage is the fence entourage."

I want to say we won the class. No. We were 6 out of 8. When we received our rosette, K beamed, almost unable to contain herself. As soon as we left the arena, K jumped down & said "Glor, we weren't first, but we weren't last! I feel for those two riders behind us who spent way more than we have!"

Throughout the class, as we passed by two groups of observers, mean whispered insults were hurled, just loud enough for us to hear. We kept going, finished the class.

I must emphasize that equitation classes judge the correctness of the rider, not the horse. But an almost 6 foot tall gal on a 16'2 hand thoroughbred has no room for error due to the physics involved. The larger the horse, usually the more room for error.

The practice ring comments from the observers were downright mean. Even K whistled under her breath at a few of the terrible insults as we rode by. But the insults spurred us on. The riders did not remark. Though they wondered why we were there. I mean, a Thoroughbred in equitation?

The other riders were all on horses much more expensive than I had been. K said to me. "Maybe they were more expensive to buy, but you're priceless to me, Glor."

First, our trainer told us they didn't want to watch this and walked away. K laughed. She changed out of her jumper uniform and into her show jacket. She took off my leg wraps. She checked my tack and we went to the practice arena. We watched the other riders' practice routines. And copied.

Also, deciding to try an open equitation class in an A rated show on a whim, when you've never done it before, is out there to say the least. But K said to me, heck, so we get last, so what? You're a beautiful mare. Let's see how far from classical we actually are. I liked that approach.

To give perspective, a jumper suddenly on a whim saying "Let's try equitation!" is like a football player saying "let's try baseball!" The sports are completely different for many reasons.

Over time, we'd practiced some classically correct flat work at the walk, trot and canter to improve K's position in the saddle and make the job of jumping easier for both of us. And this particular day, K watched the open Equitation classes, and on a whim said "Let's try an open equitation class!"

One day, after some time in hard training, K and I were at an A rated regional hunter/jumper show. We were always in the jumper classes and did well! Those classes are where we clear the jumps without dropping a rail in the fastest time possible. We were always very sporty and enthusiastic.

To be clear, my name is Glorious Alliance. I am a thoroughbred mare who's since passed into the great beyond, but I can still use social media. I talk about my human on earth, a redhead named K. So here I am with words of wisdom (allegedly), and hopefully entertaining and thought provoking.