Yes, Maia, you may!
Hannah Rivard, a horse trainer in the North Star State, won
Maia, her 2006 Andalusian mare, in an essay contest four years ago.
“For as long as I can remember, I would dream of the day
when I might have my own Andalusian and fly on the wings of Pegasus,” Rivard
recounted.
Given a magazine ad by her sister, Rivard entered a contest in
2008 with the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse and won the Pure Raza
Espanola (PRE) mare.
“I named her Maia, which is Hebrew for ‘close to God,’”
Rivard explained.
Initially, Rivard practiced clicker training and natural
horsemanship with Maia. She struggled to forge a strong bond with the mare.
For
a while, Maia played hard-to-catch in the pasture and challenged Rivard in
groundwork and saddle training.
Rivard eventually explored other methods, focusing on
bridle-less work and pressure-free exercises with the graceful gray horse. She
pored through horse training books and prayed plenty. And finally, the two
experienced a monumental breakthrough.
Maia’s training diary is available
online.
Now Maia is prancing prettily and peacefully, doing
bridle-less Dressage.
Last year’s A to Z
post: Mairzy
Doats
.
.
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Image/s:
Maia photos provided by Hannah Rivard
2012 A to Z Blogging
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How cool to win an Andalusian. They are a beautiful breed.
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