tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post1620001385924264788..comments2024-03-11T21:51:38.696-04:00Comments on The Dressage Curmudgeon: When I'm walkin' I strut my stuff..but my reins are all strung out...Bad hands, I know you're the ones...Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862983598055228855noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-52049605501032718852012-10-11T22:53:01.507-04:002012-10-11T22:53:01.507-04:00This is why I'm am terrified when I meet a gir...This is why I'm am terrified when I meet a girl who says she's a hunter. Or who transfered to my mostly dressage barn from a hunter one.<br /><br />I run away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-4246495464990584632012-10-02T18:06:08.028-04:002012-10-02T18:06:08.028-04:00I didn't start out in hunters... I was a crazy...I didn't start out in hunters... I was a crazy eventer. But I SO identify with this post! The problem with eventing is that you have to ride a dressage test. So you actually reeeaaally think you know what the hell you're doing when it comes to dressage. Whooooaaaa, what an eye opener when I actually started riding dressage with an honest to god dressage trainer. It was ever so humbling... And it still is. I expect I will continue to be humbled throughout my dressage "career". Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-11560100890387521282012-10-01T15:54:36.526-04:002012-10-01T15:54:36.526-04:00Really not sure why someone wants to be coached by...Really not sure why someone wants to be coached by a self-proclaimed surly amateur over the internet - but whatever floats your boat. Meanwhile I am heartily amused - Ride on, Curmudgeon! Ride on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-42970254010033349242012-09-22T18:56:01.603-04:002012-09-22T18:56:01.603-04:00I did hunter eq through college, had my greenie fo...I did hunter eq through college, had my greenie for eventing for a while, rode a few sundries... then when I go back to riding for my old college coach, there's lots of snarking about the fact that I *am* sitting up and don't have hunter hands and...<br /><br />Even in college, I was more effective than pretty. Which tells you how un-pretty I really was!Bifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648037666735227722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-32988820214399024832012-09-20T13:33:14.517-04:002012-09-20T13:33:14.517-04:00Here's a suggestion Julie - don't read the...Here's a suggestion Julie - don't read the blog. Wow, what a simple, effective idea!Amandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-63879711154162424582012-09-19T23:11:55.448-04:002012-09-19T23:11:55.448-04:00Sounds like someone has busy hands in their crotch...Sounds like someone has busy hands in their crotch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-20585750238755632812012-09-19T21:05:51.634-04:002012-09-19T21:05:51.634-04:00Yah, I really don't care. But I do appreciate...Yah, I really don't care. But I do appreciate everyone's support. <br /><br />I was going to suggest that if you don't like my blog, you can extend your middle finger and ..."lengthen your reins"... If you get my drift. <br /><br />(Not because I care. Because I am a bit simple and this makes me giggle).<br />Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00862983598055228855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-47386994175968692002012-09-19T21:03:08.450-04:002012-09-19T21:03:08.450-04:00Mr. Motard may disagree with you re: truth in adve...Mr. Motard may disagree with you re: truth in advertising when he finds out I have a penis.<br />Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00862983598055228855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-50252686792300714892012-09-19T17:59:09.236-04:002012-09-19T17:59:09.236-04:00Stephanie, I don't really know you, but I bet ...Stephanie, I don't really know you, but I bet I'm right when I say you could care less about what someone writes in your Comments. Nonetheless, I'm just here to remind you that 99.9% of your readers think you are PRICELESS. Useful nuggets of information sprinkled with a large dose of humor mostly directed at your very own self... it's all good! :) No, I wouldn't want my trainer to talk to me in this fashion (I mean, DUH) but it sure as heck is fun to read here.RiderWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679157278313699794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-83540777347705714462012-09-19T17:53:23.615-04:002012-09-19T17:53:23.615-04:00Please, Curmudgeon, don't change a thing. (Not...Please, Curmudgeon, don't change a thing. (Not that you would.) Your blog is my absolute favorite. I am hoping you will write a book.Audreynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-3739349597161865002012-09-19T15:55:34.545-04:002012-09-19T15:55:34.545-04:00I love this blog. It makes me laugh til I cry ever...I love this blog. It makes me laugh til I cry every time. <br /><br />I'm in the weird position of re-training a dressage horse to be a hunter (I'm a former eventer and then I switched to show jumping, being a hunter rider was always kind of a tertiary career) AND working with a dressage horse who is supposed to stay a dressage horse, but whose owner slapped draw reins on and called it a "frame." Look y'all, I can't afford my own horse so I ride what other people want me to.<br /><br />I don't know what to do half the time, thank goodness for my trainer, so I read this blog and laugh and that helps. :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-16006192674928763152012-09-19T14:06:28.330-04:002012-09-19T14:06:28.330-04:00Oh this was a good laugh! As a hunter rider that a...Oh this was a good laugh! As a hunter rider that attempts some dressage here and there, I was nodding and chuckling to myself. So true! You hit the nail on the head Curmudgeon! (not that I actually *do* any of that stuff... haha) <br />To the people who can't laugh at themselves, perhaps you should find another blog. We enjoy the Curmudgeon's sense of humor and sarcastic wit. Michellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-44144016036365935122012-09-19T13:50:48.675-04:002012-09-19T13:50:48.675-04:00Ok, no puppies or rainbows. Check. You require cri...Ok, no puppies or rainbows. Check. You require criticism and honest assessment, maybe some sincere praise. Check. Also, unless there's something you're not telling us, you're not paying curmudgeon to speak to you. What's your complaint again?Triggerfoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03069673076810582395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-55028717145197780832012-09-19T12:56:31.122-04:002012-09-19T12:56:31.122-04:00Um, I'm pretty sure this is mean't to be ...Um, I'm pretty sure this is mean't to be a humorous look at dressage....unless you have no sense of humour, then i don't know wtf to tell you.Junenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-23259653184316070012012-09-19T12:56:04.157-04:002012-09-19T12:56:04.157-04:00He? Stephanie, you grew another appendage!
It ha...He? Stephanie, you grew another appendage!<br /><br />It happened even with Violent Femmes references in your title. Wow.<br /><br /><br />I'm going to go dance to the soundtrack running on repeat in my head now...Nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08817230186352688525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-78421669738640249442012-09-19T12:29:09.353-04:002012-09-19T12:29:09.353-04:00And he does bill himself as the "surly curmud...And he does bill himself as the "surly curmudgeon" - at least he's consistent. Truth in advertising! LOL. Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01080476493173707482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-17835011601188241962012-09-19T12:04:47.701-04:002012-09-19T12:04:47.701-04:00You are correct, Net, it isn't. I was respondi...You are correct, Net, it isn't. I was responding to the condescending, bitter tone. I didn't miss the humor of the article, believe me, I was just saying I don't think most people are motivated to learn that way. Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01080476493173707482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-83897045040826531412012-09-19T11:54:57.380-04:002012-09-19T11:54:57.380-04:00I'm not sure why I can't actually reply to...I'm not sure why I can't actually reply to Julie's post, but now I'm also glad that a quick check this blog is also NOT now titled "A surly trainer trying to take your money"!Nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08817230186352688525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-16831152029567293342012-09-19T11:47:18.488-04:002012-09-19T11:47:18.488-04:00Did I say I wanted puppies and rainbows?? C'mo...Did I say I wanted puppies and rainbows?? C'mon, LISTEN, don't just read. I'm not looking for fawning praise and no criticism, and to give my hard-earned money to someone who won't tell me the truth. I am making the best of what I have to work with to move forward in my riding goals. I seek out criticism and honest assessment so I can grow. And I like good writing and sharp wit as much as the next person (maybe more than the next person). I just lived with hopelessness and negativity in my own head too long, and now that I'm past that, I find that MOST people are motivated more by a balance of honest assessment, helpful criticism and sincere praise. The surly curmudgeon's perspective of biting sarcasm, withering disdain, and bitter negativity might be fun for a blog but I sure wouldn't pay an instructor to speak to me like that.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01080476493173707482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-85236851890423354942012-09-19T11:38:31.535-04:002012-09-19T11:38:31.535-04:00It is like the show hack riding at the arab shows....It is like the show hack riding at the arab shows. Some of the horses in them actually do dressage but MOST just fling their feet x amount of times and look tense and hot at appropriate times. I get an earful of how its exactly like dressage enough times to want to trip and fall on my pumpkin carving knife... Yes that is a fall joke LMAOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-81163534701959565982012-09-19T10:39:02.232-04:002012-09-19T10:39:02.232-04:00Some of us respond very well to sarcastic diatribe...Some of us respond very well to sarcastic diatribes. While reading this I was thinking, "Oh christ. It's been so long since I took a dressage lesson, I bet I HAVE reverted back to hunter hands. Note to self: fix it."<br /><br />So let the curmudgeon curmudge. If you want puppies and rainbows you might be better off looking elsewhere. Those of us that like this hopeless negativity need a blog to read too.Triggerfoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03069673076810582395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-73360914213586365902012-09-19T10:32:51.176-04:002012-09-19T10:32:51.176-04:00Agree with Net... rode hunter for 20 years and old...Agree with Net... rode hunter for 20 years and old habits are hard to break. Having a sense of humor about the process doesn't mean I don't have hope that I will one day perfect my chicken arms or will suddenly miraculously sit my ass down in the saddle one day. It just means I can laugh at myself at the same time. Horse people take themselves too seriously!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-41699463730610763562012-09-19T10:15:07.401-04:002012-09-19T10:15:07.401-04:00Oh, phew, I just checked. Yep, the header still s...Oh, phew, I just checked. Yep, the header still says "A restrospective journey from backing to PSG through the eyes of a surly Adult Amateur." For a second I thought I had mistakenly ended up on the "Blowing air up your backside with an unrealistic glimpse into the butterfly and rainbows transition from hunter to dressage."<br /><br />I'm still in the middle of the hunter to dressage rider transition after 3 years of working on it. Somehow, it's just easier to perch, not open the hip angle, not ride effectively.... I see myself in this blog and think it's HILARIOUS! But then again, my hope and positivity comes from my everyday life. Not the internet.Nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08817230186352688525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-81704253208773982882012-09-19T09:59:24.723-04:002012-09-19T09:59:24.723-04:00Wow. "Curmudgeon" is right. There's ...Wow. "Curmudgeon" is right. There's no pleasing you, that's clear. Yes, I got the point about the hands, but the dripping-with-contempt tone is SURE to motivate people to try harder, right? This kind of snob-drenched nonsense might have an insider's knowledge of the various levels and expectations of show dressage, and yes, it's cleverly written, and even moderately funny, but in no way could I envision this sarcastic diatribe encouraging people to take risks to keep learning, keep getting better, keep hoping they can ever achieve their riding goals. <br /><br />Now this writer's perspective I find very hopeful and encouraging: http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/how-do-you-develop-feel-in-horseback-riding/. This is the kind of writing that makes me want to keep dreaming I can ride well and easily with joy and confidence one day, to keep sacrificing my time, money and diligent effort to improve my skills and authentic connection with my horse. I remind myself of the progress I've made so far, and thank God at 52 years old, I'm healthy enough to dismiss such hopeless negativity as yours and keep on going. Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01080476493173707482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571933866625297210.post-54292625064160138602012-09-19T08:49:31.905-04:002012-09-19T08:49:31.905-04:00So true!!!! So true!!!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com