b'theUQRSE VIEWPOINT 11~ .,,, . , Publisher: Marla Bickel STEPHANIE L. CHURCH, Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief: Stephanie L. Church @TH_StephLChurch Managing Editor: Alexandra Beckstett Digital Managing Editor: Michelle AndersonArt Director: Brian Turner Web Producer: Jennifer WhittleWhat Compels Us Marketing Manager: Victoria BennettEDITORIAL DEPARTMENT2365 Harrodsburg Rd #A200Lexington KY 40504-3331E-MAIL Editorial@TheHorse.comIAll letters must include the writers name, address,began my dressage lesson in tearsan unusual event, and one that showed me I needed to stop and reassess. Why was I havingand daytime phone number for verification.Letters: Letters@TheHorse.com, or by mail.such big feelings at 7:15 a.m., as a morning person doing what F arm Call: FarmCall@TheHorse.com, or by mail. were frequently told to do in life: making time for what I love?Across the Fence and Behavior Columns: Editorial@TheHorse.com, or by mail.My trainer, Tera, called me andnot showing him to his potential, byNew Products: Products@TheHorse.com,Happy, my Thoroughbred geld- masking his athleticism and talent. or by mail.ing, to the center of the arena andAs soon as I uttered the words,EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDhelped me uncover the problem: AI knew how anthropomorphic itScott Anderson, DVM; Sarah Barr, DVM; Anthony championship show entry deadlinesounded.Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS; Ann Dwyer, DVM; was looming, and I didnt know if IHappy doesnt have a need toBenjamin Espy, DVM, Dipl. ACT; Jenifer R. Gold, DVM, wanted to enter. I felt like I shouldcompete, you know, she said.Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC; Kyla Ortved, DVM, Dipl. ACVS; do the show, because wed done itYes, I realize that, I replied. Debra Taylor, DVMlast year and enjoyed it. Then why pressure yourselves?Educational Partnership Disclaimer: The American Association But I was bored with the testsshe said, bluntly but compassion- of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), one of The Horses partners in equine health, has no involvement regarding editorial wed be riding, and for that reasonately. Just enjoy your horse; thatsmanagement or advertising content within this publication and alone I couldnt justify spending thewhy you have him, right? thereby does not endorse any editorial or advertising content money. Tera asked me whether IdThis moment came back to me as Iunless so acknowledged within the individual articleor advertisement.considered moving Happy up to firstedited this months story on empath-level from training level. I hadnt, butic horse ownership. Indeed, manyEXPERT ADVISORSthe idea piqued my interest. So, thatof us project human emotion on ourSue McDonnell, PhD, Cert. AAB; Milt Toby, JDmorning we started schooling trothorses. We worry about letting them and canter lengthenings and begandown. We can pressure them beyondFEATURED CONTRIBUTORStweaking our leg yields. The newtheir capacity for faster progress toErin Denney-Jones, DVM; Christa Lest-Lasserre, MA; challenge energized me, and Happyfit our training schedules and goals.Nancy Loving, DVM; Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc; David picked up the movements quickly.I tend to be conservative in thatPreston; Jean-Yin Tan, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM-LAIMEven so, during the show threelatter respecthence, our years atADVERTISING SALES AND SERVICES weeks later, I was having a hard timetraining levelbut pausing and be- advertise@TheHorse.comrelaxing and enjoying myself. ing mindful of what my horse was Tera asked me why I was tense. Icapable of accomplishing in threeWest Coast Advertising Executive:answered: Ive always been a nervousweeks of training and acknowledg- Yvonne Long 859/276-6701competitor. I was embarrassed at ouring we are a work in progressthatsylong@TheHorse.cominexperience at first level, which wewhat helped me relax at the show. were doing in a brown jump saddle,Those nice trips up center line,East Coast Advertising Executive:not black dressage tack. Then thererushed transitions, lovely walks,Mark White 859/276-6710was the fact I was much more ac- botched halts? All of them were partsmwhite@TheHorse.comcomplished in the saddle at 21 than Iof training rideswhere we justSales Support:am at 42, and I feel the need to mea- happened to be braided and wearingNicol Hunt, 859/276-6740 sure up to that more nimble rider.our finest show attire. Training ridesnhunt@TheHorse.com But heres the main reason I waswhere we got a whole lot of 6s, at fiQRSE so irrationally nervous: I told Tera Ileast one 4, but also a few 8s. Train- PUBLISHED BYthewas worried Id let Happy down bying rides we both enjoyed.hMEDIAGROUPu.c@TheHorse @TheHorse @TheHorseMag OWNED BYTOBA MEDIA PROPERTIESBoard of Directors: Everett Dobson, Dan Metzger, BAD PONY CREATIVE EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY Rosendo Parra, Dr. J. David Richardson, Peter Willmott6November 2019The Horse|TheHorse.comUntitled-16 6 9/25/19 9:26 AM'