Howdy Folks,
It was a number
of years back; I think Dancing With The Stars was only in its second season. I
was doing Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding. Many times using it to help
rehabilitate the Tennessee Walking Horses Diane Sept was helping to heal. Diane
suggested the sport for I had not heard of it. And by golly I'm sure glad she
did. I met so many wonderful horses and people who really knew how to ride and
take care of horses. I learned so much in the few short years I participated
from both the people and horses. I really enjoyed every minute of it, the
camaraderie, the food, the horses, conditioning, training and the competition.
 |
| River and Dutch take a cooling off break during the NJ 60 mile CTR |
I never did
tremendously well. Oh sure we managed to snare a few ribbons. As one ride host
announced at the awards supper as she handed me my ribbon, "Even a blind
squirrel finds a nut every now and then." The ribbons are in a bucket in
the tack room now.
Well back to DWTS … One evening Ravishin' Robbie and I were camped next to our friend, Betty, who always did very well. Very well indeed. We were enjoying the campfire, watching the sun sink low while Betty, shared a few stories of past rides. At some point she asked if we ever watched DWTS. No we said, not sure if we'd ever heard of it, we replied. She assured us it's a wonderful show and she never misses it. Of course she explained her being a competitive ball room dancer might sway her judgment, but she encouraged us to have a look ... Ball room dancer, I thought, now I understand your grace in the saddle. And friends, Betty could sit a horse like few folks I'd ever seen. Light as a feather, she truly was part of her horse as they glided down the trail. As if they were dancing.
Robbie and I watched the show the very next week and have been DWTS fans ever since. What hooked me then and continues to today, is how everyone on that show strives to be the very best they can be, each and every week. Something so very grand about that.
The pros, tasked
with not only teaching the stars, but also the choreography designed to showcase
the stars' talents and yes, minimize their weaknesses. In just a few days, how
incredible! The stars, how they work around schedules, pain and even injuries
amazes me. The commitment to the challenge they display is so wonderfully
instructive. Just do your best, don't quit and you'll go far. Reach for the
stars, or mirror ball trophy. I'm not sure we hear that enough today. I must
admit it's thrilling to see the professional sports players and Olympians
attack it with their unique drive and zeal.
The band. Holy
cow, how can they learn all those songs in a few days?! It's amazing each and
every week. Such talent and the pursuit of excellence is just spectacular.
The judges. Sure
they need to ham it up sometimes, but they give honest, helpful critiques and
even those of us in the audience who can't manage to put our left foot in front
of our right, unless we're riding our horse, can understand and learn from
them.
Tom Bergeron,
what a host. Quick witted and able to keep things on track, add a little, or a
lot of humor as the need might be to the moment.
Well friends,
DWTS in my humble opinion is one of the few shows today where striving to be
the very best you can is the focus, and the message they send each week is,
reach for your goals. You can do it! I can't help but feel we could use a
little more that today. And that's why I'm hooked on DWTS. Thanks Betty.
Gitty Up ~ Dutch
Henry
Glad to see this post! I, too, am a huge DWTS fan. I love seeing the transformations that occur on the show.
ReplyDeleteThanks cbaz! ... What a show to demonstrate going for the best you can be, and as you say the transformations in the dancers, the growth of relationships ... It mirrors I think the pursuit of becoming a better horse person, rider, partner ... I saw that too in the CTR rides :)
DeleteYou are so right......TV is not riddled with self-esteem building shows. Thanks for sharing this story! When I was taking Dance Lessons, I realized a very big connection of people that love to Dance and love to Ride Horses. Every lesson I heard the other ladies in the room talking about their horses. That would make a great research project......what is it that connects people to dancing and riding? Anyway....have a great day Dutch!!!!! Great blog as always :)
ReplyDeleteKathryn, so you took dancing lessons... How cool! I'm doing a clinic in New York in May and a woman who teaches dance at Julliard was one of the first to sign up ... I'm pretty excited about that! ... I like your idea about asking the question about the connection of dancing and riding ... would you be interested in posting your comment on my facebook link too & see what you can get started?
DeleteI would never have made the connection between DWTS and trying your best at something and striving hard, but you saw the connection and now I see it and agree with you, Dutch. Then again, you strike me as an extremely positive person, something that shines through all your posts and responses.
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling me about DWTS. I'll have to give it a shot.
Patti
You're sweet, Patti. Thank you, I think you are a positive person, too! ... I think you'll enjoy DWTS as much as we do ... Tonight is the results show, someone will get voted off, but they do a lot of recap then too, I hope you'll have a look ... The other connection to good horsemanship is how the pros need to "listen to, and understand" their stars so they know how to teach them. ... Ah, Listening ... how important ... Thanks, Patti :)
DeleteI love to dance too...just am not very good at it...I guess I am going to have to watch DWTS...Darlene
DeleteYes do watch tonight, the results show is on at 9 Eastern ... Thanks for reading the Coffee Clutch! .. Oh and tomorrow's post will be one more thought on DWTS ~ Dutch ...
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