Obstacles — Opportunity for Improvement

PRESIDENT, Alison Schmidbauer TREASURER, Lisa Gross SECRETARY, Jill Christopher EMAIL, fdcta@aol.com FACEBOOK, www.facebook.com/ groups/FDCTA

by Heather Bonifas

When you think of the word ‘obstacle’, what comes to mind? Do you think of something to overcome; something in your way? Do you think of trouble or trial in your life? Consider the American Heritage dictionary’s definition of an obstacle; “That which opposes or stands in the way; something that obstructs progress; a hindrance or obstruction.” When it comes to an obstacle that is on a planned trail course, I have to debate that definition. Please let me explain. On June 22, The Flatlander’s Dressage club enjoyed a wonderful Fun Day (explained in depth in last month’s article) at Pat Boutwell’s beautiful property in Bluffton, Ohio. This Fun Day consisted of a set dressage ring for those who chose to challenge themselves (myself included) to ride a test or two and many, many obstacles that were placed in her wooded areas of the property. Pat and friends set the groomed dressage arena for tests and warm-up. Dianne Foltz was our reader for the tests to be ridden. We just rode up to her, asked for a particular test to be called (western or traditional), and were led verbally through the exercise. After the tests were ridden, we were rewarded with a delicious chocolate, compliments of Pat. There were several riders who took advantage of this opportunity to not only ride in a proper arena, but benefit from the other’s pointers to make the next ride even better. Thank you Dianne and Pat for making sure several people were properly motivated to participate in the ring riding portion of the day. The other wonderful, but completely optional, part of the Fun Day was the wooded obstacle course. This course included many and varied opportunities for the rider to ask their horse for cooperation and trust. For example, a bridge with ‘snakes’ (rubber hoses draped on an wooden platform), a ‘water crossing’ (a blue tarp held down on all sides with logs), a ‘waterfall’ (pool noodles suspended from a rope across the path), a mailbox shaped like a giant white golf ball that contained horse treats, a back-through L shaped log, and many more. After each challenge, the horse could be rewarded if they cooperated with suspended cups of biscuits. One more activity to make it a really fun day was a poker run. We were to collect in the wooded areas a series of playing cards that were marked with a number from five different cups that were nailed to the trees. After the rider had found and collected all five cards on their adventure, we tured them in to Pat to be placed in a baggie. The winner of the poker run will be given a prize at the next meeting. Oh, the suspense! The day was filled with many kinds of ‘obstacles’. Loading the horse and getting the rider to the property, riding a test or two, challenging and engaging props in the wooded areas of the property, and even tying the horses to the trailer (for some). These ‘obstacles’ did not, as the dictionary suggested, stand in the way of progress but allowed for more progress when it pertains to a partnership with the equine and rider. On the contrary, the obstacles made the day not only a truly Fun Day, but allowed us to work on areas of interest and areas that need to be addressed more closely. For example, was the horse responsive and supple to the aids in the test, was the horse fit and balanced enough to ride more than just one test well, did the horse approach the varied stimulus in the wooded areas with confidence or fear? So, one riders ‘obstacle’ is another rider’s opportunity for improvement.

While we focused on having a Fun Day together as a club, and we truly did, we also found areas to work on more closely. One wise person said, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying”. We, as equine enthusiasts, need always to be growing—and why not have fun in the process? Enjoy the process and enjoy the summer.