December

Today is the 25th of december. It's Christmas! The month of december as well as this year 2022 are almost gone. Weeks fly by so quickly that I really try to fill them up. What scares me is that I'm told it gets worse as the years go by. The good news is that I always find enough activities to keep me busy. As far back as I can remember, I don't think I've ever bothered.

In the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to do some ground work with the cavesson and in the saddle with Azzaro. We have also done several trail rides. As we don't have an arena where he lives, I'm a bit limited and I always take advantage of the outdoor rides to incorporate some gymnastics and acceptance of the "steady" contact on the snaffle bit. Ideally, I would have liked to be able to continue working more regularly as we did in Switzerland, but I have come to terms with the fact that it is not easy at the moment. After the daily work in Switzerland, he can have some rest during this winter. On the one hand, it frustrates me a bit because I now have a clearer direction in my work with him and I would like to continue to experiment and observe the progress, but on the other hand, I tell myself that no one is putting pressure on us and there is no need for pressure on him and I. It will take as long as it takes.

I'm also happy to be able to spend time again with my jennies Baya and Biscotte.

During the last months in Switzerland, I read very little. So I'm getting back to the readings I started. I am currently re-reading "True Unity" by Tom Dorrance. This is the third time I read it. Each time, I discover new major passages that I had missed. The further I go, the more I realise how complete this book is in terms of concepts. In terms of theoretical knowledge, we will never finish learning, but in terms of how to develop your horse as a partner, without fighting with him, Tom Dorrance (and his bother Bill) will remain THE reference for a long time. I always compare his ideas to the ones I was confronted with in Switzerland via Michael and Birgitta Bergsten mainly. And it gives me a sense of inner peace when I see that they are similar. When it comes to taking the path of the horse, the approaches can only converge. "Everything fits together", my friend Virginie often tells me.

I am looking forward to the plans that are starting to emerge for next year.

Alongside horses, I also brought out the drawing pencils. I used to draw and paint a lot when I was younger. Over the years, I had put it aside, but it seems to be coming back. I present you "The hind", a drawing made with pencils.

I've also worked in our family vegetable garden which we grow under a permacultural organic-intensive model. We have very few crops left over the winter. So this is the time to fertilize with compost and cover properly with straw.

I also took advantage of the end of the year to visit friends I hadn't seen for a long time and now I enjoy the time with my dears during the holidays. I'm going back to Switzerland for a few days next week, at Michael and Claudia's house, with my friends Virginie and Annemarie (from the Netherlands). Unfortunately, we will not find any snow there.

I wish you a wonderful time with those you love and who love you at Christmas and as you will step into the New Year.

Merry Christmas! Colin

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