Archives for October 2020

By Kim Chappell

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” – William James

Attitude is everything. When I think of leadership and the characteristics of leadership, attitude is top on the list. Your attitude is your personal philosophy in life and it seems that all other  leadership characteristics fall under this umbrella. We know we have to be strong, confident, capable, responsible leaders when we work with our horses (and in life in general), but without the right attitude (or personal philosophy), how can we sustain these other leadership characteristics if our attitude is weak, sketchy, or inconsistent. I dare say we can’t for very long. Attitude is the main ingredient that gives strength to everything else. In my horse camps leadership, and how to develop stronger leadership skills, is the topic. Horse’s look for a leader, they need a leader, and without one the rider is at the mercy of the horse. Good leadership is the key to good horsemanship. But along with this, one must possess the right attitude, especially when the ride becomes challenging.

Your attitude is a choice and one you actively have to decide on. When things are going great it is easy to have a good attitude. When things go south, it is more challenging to decide who you will be in a given moment. When the going gets tough one’s attitude can start to tank and sink like a boat with a hole in it! I see it with the kids all the time. As their coach and trainer it is my job to help them develop a winning attitude and teach them how to sustain it… especially during difficult times. The following story is a great example of a student who made a CHOICE to change her attitude and in turn achieve her personal best in horse camp.

Ruby is an inspiration to me and to all her fellow riders. In camp this week, I was astounded at the transformation one of my students made seemingly overnight. It was a complete 360 from who she was on Monday and who she came to camp as on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. She had just flown in from Boston to visit her grandparents and to attend horse camp. Monday was a challenging day for her, meeting new people, being a beginner horseback rider among novice riders, having a coach, and just being the new kid on the block. She was easily discouraged and would give up far too quickly. This was challenging for me as I tried to connect with her, but in the end it seemed she just wanted to be left alone, although I continued to encourage and support her efforts.

Later that day I pondered how I might be able to reach her so that her experience in the camp could be rewarding and joyous. I thought about the different approaches I could take and what I could say. I reflected on her first day and recalled how she hung back with Morgan, her horse, as we dismounted and tied up for break. I noticed that rather than scurry off like the rest of the campers, she spent extra time stroking Morgan’s face as the two connected on a deeper level. There was an energetic bond between the two of them that seemed to embed itself in the other. As I reflected further on this, I let the idea of “what to do” go and intuitively sensed this would work itself out.

The next day as Ruby rode, I found myself doing frequent double takes as they trotted by, Morgan in self-carriage and Ruby in correct position. Finally I just had to stop the whole camp to ask with genuine interest, “How are you doing what you are doing? And who are you today? Holy Cow! I don’t ever think I have ever seen Morgan connect so quickly and willingly with any one person. How are you doing that?” To which Ruby shrugged and went on her way, as a small smile crept across her face. As the camp progressed, I continued to marvel at this transformation which seemed so effortless.

As the second day ended, I complimented Ruby on her riding and off she went. On day three of the camp, the connection between Morgan and Ruby was even stronger as they continued to ride in unison. This beginner student of 3 days was creating her own kind of magic. So much so, that I said out loud, “Ruby… You Got Game!” At the end of the camp, I asked her to share her secret regarding how she accomplished such a dramatic change. A bit reticent to tell me verbally, I asked her if she would share it with me in writing and if it would be OK to publish it in this month’s article. “The way I changed between Monday night and Tuesday was that I knew that my performance and attitude was not at the level that I wanted it to be at. I set a goal before the camp that I would try my best to not get annoyed. When I did get annoyed, I was a bit disappointed, not in the horse but in myself.

You could say I’m determined if you wanted, I wouldn’t say that myself, but whatever. What I did that night was I told myself, “You flew a 9 hour flight to Nevada to go to a horse camp to have fun. Do you think you are going to have fun when you’re grumpy? No, you won’t. So tomorrow you are going to try hard and have fun.” And I guess that’s what happened and that is how I have a winning attitude.”( Ruby, age 10). This example of attitude in the saddle and out of the saddle, truly illustrates the idea that attitude is everything and that attitude is a choice, not a given. Ruby demonstrated this to the nth degree and I admire her greatly for coming to this realization on her own.

Her ability to learn was there all along but she had to come into the arena in the right frame of mind and with the right attitude. How do you react with your horse when things are not going your way? How do you react in life when things are not going your way? What can you do to change your attitude and in turn change your experience? These are this month’s coaching questions.

Kim Chappell, M.Ed, Instructor and Equine-Facilitated Life Coach. For further information on riding programs and Equinefacilitated life coaching, you can contact Kim at kkc827@aol.com.

By Sharon DeCarlo

I would like to introduce Gianna Toscano, a truly beautiful bright spot in a rather chaotic upside-down world that we are experiencing right now. So refreshing and positive is this young woman  that I just had to interview her after reading her wonderful school assignment paper entitled “Ode to Horses”.

Gianna is a 15-year-old Sophomore student at Damonte Ranch High School in Reno, Nevada. As a school assignment she was asked to write a piece about the thing that she was most passionate about. As it turns out she absolutely loves horses, this is not an unusual thing, many of us ladies can remember growing up wishing, wanting and craving the ability to have a horse or be able to ride and spend time with them.

Gianna said she has always loved horses, and while her friends learned to read adventure books geared for young readers and teens she was selecting books about horses. Gianna looked for books with pictures and illustrations of horses, cowboy, cowgirls, rodeos, jumping horses and everything and anything to do with horses. This fueled her desire to be a horsewoman and she yearned to know all there was to know about them.

Knowing how horse crazy Gianna was and being the kind of grandparents that live to make their grandkids happy, they gave Gianna 10 riding lessons as a birthday gift about 2½ years ago. Because of this wonderful gesture and gift and her parents giving her the green light to go on, Gianna was able to pursue her education and contact with horses. Now Gianna gained even more passion and love for her childhood dreams and in a short time she has become a wise and talented horsewoman. She credits and thanks her family for this opportunity. The stable’s that Gianna currently rides with and receives instruction from is Maplewood Stables just south of Reno.

She credits her instructor and mentor, Elisabeth Beasley, for advancing her knowledge and riding skills along with the great Maplewood horses she handles and rides today. Gianna rides English style and jumping is her favorite of all the English riding forms. She also enjoys trail riding and loves to go to Tahoe and ride the beautiful Tahoe Trail head. Maplewood has provided Gianna with some great allaround horses such as Lorelei, a good solid horse that has taught her a lot.

But now Gianna states, “they have me ride several different horses in order to give me a wider education on how to handle different personalities, situations and challenges.” Gianna’s plans are to further her horsemanship in college and hopefully be on a Hunter Jumping team. Besides having her own good horses one day, Gianna is interested in becoming involved with the rescue horse advocacy. I was so impressed with this young lady’s description of her daily journey with the horse that I felt like I should share it with all the Horse Tales readers as I knew some of you would find many of her expressions and feelings as those you have experienced as well. Her heart is solidly embedded in these wonderful creatures and you can tell that every minute she spends with them is precious, unforgettable and important to her. I hope you enjoy every warm description and heartfelt word in her Ode to Horses!

Ode to Horses
By Gianna Toscano
A Celebration of Love for the Horse! continued
I wake up to the bright sun shining through my blinds,
7:00 am on the dot,
I am awake as planned.
Apprehension always fills my stomach.
Always the first meal of the day,
Before I even have anything to eat,
And before I feel the usual sense of calm.
7:30
I’m dressed and ready to drive to the stables,
Where I feel truly at home.
Expensive breeches that are comforting to wear,
Like a smile or a hug.
Boots that required time and effort
To mold to my legs,
As though they were all along.
My hair tied back,
Not the most elegant or attractive hairstyle,
But my favorite one.
8:15
I arrive at the stables,
Driving along the winding, bumpy, dirt road.
Riders are in the distant arena,
Elegant and beautiful
Like the best dancers one could imagine,
I can’t keep my bliss from showing.
I smile
Finally, the road ends at the wooden barn.
I am at long last, at peace.
I excitedly clamber out of my car.
I’m full out grinning at this point,
Like a maniac.
8:30
I walk slowly,
Assuredly,
To the pasture
Where the horses are kept.
Aspen trees line the path,
And the creek gurgles alongside it.
They whisper and laugh,
Some inside joke that I get to be a part of.
The sky is blue and there are few clouds.
The air smells crisp and cool,
With subtle hints of dust, manure, and hay.
It’s a very nice morning.
I reach the gate,
Unlock it with confident,
Knowing fingers.
It creaks when it swings open,
But it’s like a sigh,
Not a scream.
I shut it gently behind me.
I walk quickly towards the horses,
Unable to contain my excitement any longer.
Crossing the creek,
My boots are wet,
My socks are wet,
A cold, but familiar feeling.
I have a halter in hand,
I loop it around my horse’s head.
We’re connected now,
We walk together, back to the stable.
8:45
In the stables,
I let out a contended sigh.
I know,
In my soul and in my bones,
That this is where I need to be.
I wrap my arms around my horse’s neck.
She’s soft,
She’s warmth,
She’s calm,
She’s home.
I bury my face
Into the soft fur of her neck.
Breath in deeply,
She smells like dust
And sweet sweat.
I am instantly at ease.
I release her from my embrace.
Pick up a brush,
Polish her coat until she shines,
Beautiful and bronze.
I easily and carefully
Place her saddle on her back.
It sits there,
Waiting for me to fill it.
My friends are here by now,
We trade laughs,
Smiles,
Stories,
And gossip
Like tarot cards. It’s the best feeling in the world,
Getting to be yourself.
9:00
I climb gently
Onto the back of the horse.
I pat her neck soothingly.
I wait for my friends,
We ride together to the arena
In easy, comfortable, silence.
I listen again to the jokes
Of the trees and the creek.
I laugh with them inside my head.
In the arena
I ride with strength,
And confidence.
An easy companionship
Between me and my horse.
Her and I work together well.
We canter and jump,
And together we fly.
The jumps aren’t high
But flying is flying,
No matter how far you get off the ground.
Adrenaline pumps through my veins.
Riding is amazing.
It’s exhilarating,
Calming,
Terrifying.
10:00
We ride down from the arena
Back to the stables.
Sweaty and tired and exhilarated.
I slide smoothly
Off my horse’s back
I land hard on the ground,
Jolted back to reality.
My legs feel like they’re on fire,
So does my soul.
I lazily walk my horse inside.
I slide her saddle off,
I brush her and hose her down.
She smells nice,
Like sweat and happiness.
I walk her outside,
And climb back on,
No saddle this time.
The bones of her back
Press hard into my thighs.
It hurts,
But it is a good pain.
I ride her back to the pasture,
Again listening to the jokes
That the aspens and bubbling creek
Have to tell.
And I laugh.