… not always for the worst.
At last weekend’s show [Report], we had a chance to school in the ring the night before. Afterwards, my instructor tried to get into my head what I need to work on for the classes the next day. Apparently, I looked in control of my horse but lacked polish, “You’re a power rider.”
What? A power rider? Me? When did that happen?
Back in my formative riding years, I looked lovely on a horse. I was young, and tall, and thin. I oozed elegance. Unfortunately, I didn’t ride anywhere near as well as I looked. On more than one occasion, I ended up too far from the dock because instructors assumed I could handle far more than I was capable of. I had never had cause to reexamine this internal portrait of myself as a rider. (Photos by KP Mautner, probably.)
In the intervening decades, I retrained an OTTB and often worked on my own. Turns out my effectiveness has grown but I’ve gotten sloppy on the details. Since I strongly believe good form contributes to effective function, I am happy to go back to the basics of getting my shoulders back, my head up, etc.
Meanwhile. A power rider? Well, thank you.
Virtual Brush Box 
Yes, KPM photographs. And “power rider” is a translation of what we’ve always told you – you have an electric seat. Will have to dig up some more classic photos.
And by the way, the photo on the left was at “the Great Pumpkin” show.
Great Pumpkin show?
Darnestown PTA @ Seneca Valley on October 31, 19-mumble-mumble. Since it was held on Halloween, I braided Bentley in orange yarn & showed him as The Great Pumpkin.
Cool.
you still look lovely on a horse.