Today I experienced a benefit from keeping an equestrian training notebook that perhaps only a true garden girl can appreciate -- the harvesting of previous entries. The harvesting of one's notebook is where the accumulation of focused previous entries (goals, notes and reflections) have taken root deep inside the brain and have become strong enough to remind us to do something when we need that reminder most.
For example, over the past week, I've written in my notebook about keeping my chin up. And a month ago, I wrote down what one trainer said which was, "Ninety percent of all riders look down." Within the past year I've written several similar reminders. Today, all of these reminders harvested, ripened, broke the surface and in a powerful way, became quite helful. "Chin up, now!" my voice blurted out just a few minutes into my ride. I raised my chin immediately and from then on forward enjoyed a productive, rewarding, uphill, well-balanced ride. I was thrilled it didn't take me 20 minutes or longer to remember it, as it usually does.
What is most important to remember about an equestrian training notebook is that skills develop out of the neural network in our brains and if a rider hasn't planted the idea or the "seed(s)" about keeping the chin up, then how is he ever going to remember to do it physically, consistently and correctly?
To read my entry "Chin-up now!", posted inside my online notebook please go to barnbynotes.com and use the two week trial. It is one of many entries I make where all this talk of harvesting begins.
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