Music and Riding

Music and Riding

(Author unknown but believed to be an Australian who posted on an early website from 2002. Artist for the image also unknown; please advise if either are known.)

Music is often considered to be one of the highest art forms, due to its wholly abstract nature and yet uncanny ability to evoke emotions and feelings in the listener directly without the literal intervening use of words, paint or stone. It is that most intellectual of pursuits which demands the abeyance of the intellectual faculties for its enjoyment. This consideration of music is also due to its ephemerality; the moment a note sounds it is also disappearing into the abyss of silence which existed before it started, and which ultimately awaits every composition at its conclusion.

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Magnum Opus – Coming Q4/2024 & Q1-Q2/2025

Magnum Opus – Coming Q4/2024 & Q1-Q2/2025
[“View and perspective of Versailles from the Grand Courtyard” Gabrielle Perelle]
Magnum Opus: a large and important work of art, music, or literature, especially one regarded as the most important work of an artist or writer.

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Glorious Horsemen: The Legendary School of Versailles and Its Legacy for Equitation Today

Glorious Horsemen: The Legendary School of Versailles and Its Legacy for Equitation Today [PART 1 OF 2, 2 COMING SOON!] This “paper” was presented on September 10, 2024 at the virtual portion of inaugural Cheiron Journal conference “Horses in Our Heritage, Past and Future.” The conference was organized by Dr. Anastasija Ropa and Dr. Miriam A., Bibby, editors of Cheiron: The International Journal of Equine and Equestrian History. It was sponsored by the Latvian Academy of Sport Education and the Riga Stradinsh University.Conference. Doctors Ropa and Bibby, thank you for your professional courtesies and I hope to attend the next conference in person! K.M.]

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The Ecuyer Cavalcadour…Patient Teacher of Young Horses

The Ecuyer Cavalcadour…Patient Teacher of Young Horses

[Johan Elias Ridinger (Attributed) “Cheval d’Holstein”]

© Kip Mistral 2024

“We shall take great care not to annoy the horse and spoil his friendly charm, for it is like the scent of a blossom – once lost it will never return.”  ~ Antoine de Pluvinel (1552-1620)

In the United States, my country, in many communities it is common practice to put a young horse under saddle on or around the time of its second birthday. For some reason, to many people that mark in time seems to make a horse fair game for work. Why feed a horse that isn’t earning its keep, seems to be a sentiment simmering in the background.

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Reasons for Riding (On the Freedom, Lightness and Enjoyment of the Horse)

Reasons for Riding (On the Freedom, Lightness and Enjoyment of the Horse)

(I printed out this article from an old internet site (http://members.ozmail.com.au/) on 7/12/02. It does not display the name of the author. The site’s name may have had something to do with Inner Riding. I put out a call for help on Facebook to see if anyone is familiar with the author, his/her esoteric writing or the old site, but so far have had no luck. If I could be in contact of course I would seek permission to reprint! I have kept the original UK spellings of the wording.)

Reasons for Riding: On the Freedom, Lightness and Enjoyment of the Horse

Watching riders work their horses, and handling them on the ground, makes me wonder sometimes why we own horses. I see riders who seem to have lost all sight of why they first were attracted to horses and riding, or what they are trying to achieve with their horses.

They shout at their horses and hit them every time they do something wrong (‘wrong’ in their owners’ eyes, anyway). I wonder if they realise that all they’re doing is displaying their lack of knowledge and understanding of horses.

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