tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post7316999101114890952..comments2024-03-26T17:31:58.290-07:00Comments on 'Fraidy Cat Eventing: the hive mind: collective intelligenceemmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-59060678429859540362017-08-09T08:45:40.168-07:002017-08-09T08:45:40.168-07:00One thing I enjoy about the bloggin community is t...One thing I enjoy about the bloggin community is that I find they are more aware of good horse care and ownership based on the reasons you mentioned above. More opinions, stories, ideas, and others read and see the results and follow suit. I have gained a lot of knowledge from reading blogs, and inspiration.Boss Mare Eventinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08039910692009593158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-45736788579113494272017-08-08T18:15:14.150-07:002017-08-08T18:15:14.150-07:00agreed completely - i've picked up all sorts o...agreed completely - i've picked up all sorts of shockingly useful snippets of info or ideas just from perusing everyone's stories or recaps or reviews or whatever. <br /><br />before reading blogs i always felt like my horse world was so small - like i just had the one barn where i rode and the trainers i rode with and the horses we had. and everyone was kinda gunning for position within the system, from the weekend warriors to the ambitious juniors. it felt like a strange place to be post-college when i felt more independent, and reading all these blogs kinda gave shape to the idea for how i could find my own way.emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-64507088621566717812017-08-08T18:12:50.504-07:002017-08-08T18:12:50.504-07:00aw thanks! i try really hard to reflect reasonably...aw thanks! i try really hard to reflect reasonably accurately my current experiences with horses - mostly bc i spend a lot of time reflecting on it, and often refer back to past writings to try to keep gleaning new insights. so it's definitely in my best interest to keep good records! and i like the way you phrase 'experience others experiences' -- i think that's exactly what i like too and it always adds new perspective, something completely separate from 'advice.'emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-50501358501598602372017-08-08T18:11:07.462-07:002017-08-08T18:11:07.462-07:00i love that distinctly happy, color-filled feeling...i love that distinctly happy, color-filled feeling <3 it's so fulfilling! glad that reading blogs has provided both inspiration and motivation for you just like it has for me and apparently so many others! also, uh, yea i know what you mean about edging up against work deadlines bc of blog reading... whoops lol!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-10550328470836800152017-08-08T13:56:19.424-07:002017-08-08T13:56:19.424-07:00Agreed. Horsekeeping and riding can vary quite a b...Agreed. Horsekeeping and riding can vary quite a bit from discipline to discipline, location to location, and horse to horse. My own knowledge is mostly limited to what I see and learn within my horse/discipline/location and so I feel like reading blogs helps me to fill in some holes in knowledge about the more vast expanse of horsemanship. You never know when that might come in handy, and even if I never directly use some timbits of knowledge, it's still fun to learn them :-)AutonomousDressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10326654414307652910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-84577064718937064202017-08-08T08:54:27.704-07:002017-08-08T08:54:27.704-07:00I feel very similarly! I use the blog world to exp...I feel very similarly! I use the blog world to experience others experiences. There are so many opinions and experiences to share! I can't say I take anyones "advice" nor would I expect them to take mine. That's why we have pros in our lives. I love your blog as it's always upbeat and the tone is "here's what is going on and here is what I am experiencing." It's fun to read and never makes anyone feel bad about their own experiences. Good work, and keep writing!!3dayadventureswithhorseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11419952425147354177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-44706297697865655142017-08-08T07:39:09.783-07:002017-08-08T07:39:09.783-07:00The blog community is half the reason I don't ...The blog community is half the reason I don't just fall to pieces when I have no idea what I'm doing. Friends, and now friends of friends are who seem to be my outlet for how to handle new things. <br /><br />Last night was a big night for Jean-Luc and me. We came together and we just rode. It was the first time all the work I've been putting in resulting in BOTH OF US having fun. It was amazing. Since April, most of the times I'm with Jean-Luc, he tends to see me as "that woman that makes me do things." He was out of shape, pacey, and had yet to really "click" when I asked him things. I am sure he saw me as a nagging, etra-large fly on his back because it always seemed like we had "something" to work on. He should really be upset with the blog-o-sphere, it's their fault I learn things! ;)<br />It was a distinctly happy, color-filled evening to just ride, and have my horse remember his lessons! With little reprimand, I could tell he was happy because he was "gett'n it!" <br /><br />I remember sitting in the driveway, getting ready to leave the barn thinking, "What will we work on now?" <br /><br />Friends and the blog-o-sphere of horse people reassure me that there's never a shortage of things to do, fun to be had, and means to make the best better! <br /><br />Great post Emma. Your blog alone serves as my link to so many others. You've created quite the community around your nexus, and for that, I think we're all thankful! (PS It's also the reason I keep cutting my deadlines at work pretty close! There's just never enough time to read all my morning news and comment back!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16440765066486704722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-18659461985922639332017-08-08T05:58:52.527-07:002017-08-08T05:58:52.527-07:00omg yes - that's such an important point, and ...omg yes - that's such an important point, and one i really didn't touch on at all above. but yea that trap is basically just sitting and waiting for us to fall into it. comparing oneself and one's own progress to someone else is definitely usually *not* productive, but is so easy to do with blogs. and it can be super hard to resist that temptation. so yea.... now that you mention it, that would definitely be the double edged sword of all these shared experiences. how can we learn from them, grow from them, apply that information in a positive way -- without falling into the trap of feeling like we're somehow not measuring up, or that we're 'falling behind' or something like that. good point.emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-10167930984902756862017-08-08T05:55:21.328-07:002017-08-08T05:55:21.328-07:00There aren't very many fresh OTTBs at my barn ...There aren't very many fresh OTTBs at my barn so I get most of my OTTB behavior knowledge from blogs (thank you thank you). However, I do have a very reliable and very good set of professionals that I lean on. I know my circumstance is unique (who's isn't though?) and try to keep that in mind when I read about what others are doing with their riding endeavors. Comparison is the thief of joy, right? But it's so easy to get caught in that trap.roothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09670446457829193892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-70453228616616071382017-08-08T05:54:19.098-07:002017-08-08T05:54:19.098-07:00that's so awesome - and i agree completely abo...that's so awesome - and i agree completely about crediting reading all about these sports from other bloggers for showing me the way to all these new friends and new experiences. i'm not even sure in my case it was even about "guts" to try the new thing - vs not even really knowing how, or where to start, or where to look, or if even had what it took haha. turns out, tho, yup. we do!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-72057346439779215462017-08-08T04:10:47.567-07:002017-08-08T04:10:47.567-07:00YES. Put perfectly into words, Emma. I wouldn'...YES. Put perfectly into words, Emma. I wouldn't have gotten into dressage OR eventing without the blogging world. I would have continued to wonder about it but wouldn't have ever gotten up the guts to try! Shared experiences have given me new friends, new knowledge, and have brought a lot of fun to my life I'd have otherwise missed.Liz Stouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18267806576736655184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-13882725285697009342017-08-07T18:08:39.791-07:002017-08-07T18:08:39.791-07:00the motivation is SO REAL! and agreed that it has ...the motivation is SO REAL! and agreed that it has an entirely different feel from when the pros or paid sponsors write about horses too. like i was reading doug payne's EN post today about how to help a horse that rushes the fences, and like, yes it was useful. but also, i don't ride like doug payne so..... idk haha. whereas when i read about a mere mortal's techniques it feels a little more attainable lol. emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-37598363856028858102017-08-07T15:18:51.092-07:002017-08-07T15:18:51.092-07:00I also love this post and agree that reading about...I also love this post and agree that reading about other like minded people and their experiences with horses is really motivating and educational to me. So much different than always reading about the experts or finding out about products through people who are being paid to promote them. Through blogging and reading other people's blogs I've gained new perspective and found new ways of thinking through problems and for me that's the most valuable part. Piccoloponyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08275679567725425281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-64423503292129687082017-08-07T12:29:31.951-07:002017-08-07T12:29:31.951-07:00agreed completely - esp about it being so much mor...agreed completely - esp about it being so much more real compared to the pros or whatever else. it helps normalize all the nitty gritty little steps in the process. or something. hahaemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-81831428538320526772017-08-07T12:25:46.688-07:002017-08-07T12:25:46.688-07:00I have learned a lot from reading about other'...I have learned a lot from reading about other's experiences. In some ways it's so real- rather then the books (which are useful of course). I love reading about struggling AA's and their less than perfect horses and I find it inspiring. TeresaAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05311118900077951863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-45582912571795998862017-08-07T10:26:01.011-07:002017-08-07T10:26:01.011-07:00yea i love seeing how other ppl handle their own i...yea i love seeing how other ppl handle their own individual situations too. my own personal style of thinking things through often leads me to act like theres a "Way" things ought to be done -- except simultaneously i also tend to believe that's not at all true for horses. that, instead, there are many 'right' ways to do things with horses and actually surprisingly few 'wrong' ways. so finding out how everybody goes about their own ways is really useful for me to remember that my way isn't the only way lolemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-4932564858265040392017-08-07T10:24:05.990-07:002017-08-07T10:24:05.990-07:00"hell i can try that" --> YES, that&#..."hell i can try that" --> YES, that's exactly the feeling i had too! that's exactly that feeling of accessibility i got from reading about other like minded individuals of similar backgrounds, resources, and interests who were going out and making things happen for themselves. <br /><br />and agreed that it's been so helpful and inspiring in transitioning into a new discipline, as eventing was new to me too (previously was an h/j rider). keeping my blog up during that transition was also very helpful for me in seeing the changes over time too. hopefully you find the same thing to be true!emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-77167244646970056782017-08-07T09:36:23.807-07:002017-08-07T09:36:23.807-07:00I agree- in that I like reading about how other pe...I agree- in that I like reading about how other people handle their individual situations, and I like sharing my own experiences. I do not necessarily blog to seek input about problems- unless it's looking for the next "it" brand of tack, clothes, etc. Basically, the big decisions are made by my A team (trainer, assistant, vet, farrier), and the little stuff I try to figure out of my own. I DO like input on small conundrums, preferences, etc. I really like to read people's product reviews for example.<br /><br />Great post!<br /><br /><3 Kelly @ HunkyHanoverian.comKelly the HnkyHanoverianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18336047158009394408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-59149468429017367952017-08-07T09:31:15.329-07:002017-08-07T09:31:15.329-07:00I agree with this very much. After watching Rolex ...I agree with this very much. After watching Rolex 2016, and suddenly thinking I just might want to try eventing, I immediately felt overwhelmed. I knew absolutely nothing about the sport, hadn't even ridden English in years and felt that I'd be a total failure before even attempting to try. But slowly I kept looking at things that "oh okay I really can do baby stuff" and "maybe this won't be so daunting". Then I stumbled upon a blog because of a review. Low and behold it was an eventing blog. Then through their blog I found yours and others that I now follow. And it was amazing, like there actually are other people like me who are doing the small stuff, who are starting out new and fresh or just doing the small stuff like I want to. I think finding that blogger community really helped me realize I could do these things - within my horse's parameters, of course, but that hell I can try. I was originally going to just blog about things I'd had, western and English, but it was after reading your blog as well as others that I thought maybe there was someone else out there just like me - western and wanting to suddenly try something very different. So that was what ultimately caused me to start mine. And through reading yours and other blogs, I have gained so much more knowledge about things. I have yet to develop my own "A team" if you will, simply because I am unable to at the moment, but it's difficult because I believe there are two people in Vegas who've evented - thankfully one's a vet and one is a trainer. So right now I try to learn from you guys. And it really has been so informative and helpful. I don't have many readers or commenters, but that's not why I post. It makes me write down my progress, it makes me take photos so I can look at myself and learn, and it allows me to maybe help someone else as you guys have helped me. And I really enjoy this community who understands horses and the struggles with them. Haha sorry for the rambling! That was a little long, but this post really spoke to me.Mandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14485570296592298816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-88295813374058984292017-08-07T09:15:40.659-07:002017-08-07T09:15:40.659-07:00glad you think so! glad you think so! emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-1503668349077364972017-08-07T07:56:05.042-07:002017-08-07T07:56:05.042-07:00Interesting post!Interesting post!L.Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05052638724440787772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-20033415225256513822017-08-07T07:52:51.909-07:002017-08-07T07:52:51.909-07:00agreed completely! like, even stuff i don't re...agreed completely! like, even stuff i don't realize i'm internalizing -- suddenly some horse or friend i know will come up with some question about a skin funk or a question about like, idk, stirrup irons or something, and i'll be like, "Oh yea i've actually totally read about this before! here's what other ppl used or found helpful!" <br /><br />it actually in a weird way kinda feels like i've got all these "past experiences" that exist only in my mind bc i've read about it from others lolemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-73816164259728275492017-08-07T07:49:18.858-07:002017-08-07T07:49:18.858-07:00I think you've really isolated and put into wo...I think you've really isolated and put into words what I find so appealing about blogging -- I can take a peak into corners of the equine world I don't know much about (eventing, endurance, driving, what have you) or find out about products people are using with various degrees of success, whether it's remedies for minor ailments or useful tack or fun clothes. It's greatly expanded my horizons and knowledge bank, which is always a good thing! TrainwreckInTealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557554448624901955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-47836641760908928892017-08-07T06:43:27.668-07:002017-08-07T06:43:27.668-07:00yup - and perhaps you noticed i didn't write a...yup - and perhaps you noticed i didn't write at all about what type of feedback was or was not allowable or preferred here. i'm simply addressing my own habits of how i write and how i go about my own side of this interaction. folks are always gonna say what they're gonna say - this is the internet after all. emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-932439930694780998.post-81558839184292019242017-08-07T06:36:40.428-07:002017-08-07T06:36:40.428-07:00There are two sides to this (as every) issue thoug...There are two sides to this (as every) issue though--by merit of being willing to put our equestrian experiences online, we are inviting commentary by others, like it or not. I venture that most of the time, that commentary is going to be away from the comment section as other people problem solve their own lives and your blog because an example. However. It's going to happen online too and while I 100% agree that it's important to have your in-person A-team and make your own decision, you are going to get feedback if you keep putting yourself out there. Some feedback is good--I have been contacted more than once by people telling me what a positive impact I've had on their life by blogging about XYZ. Some of it is negative--people going completely apeshit on me for reasons I may never know. I'm still here and still blogging because for me, for now, it's worth it. <br /><br />Welcome to the global town hall that is the internet. SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.com