| In the current issue of the British | | | | is treated, unless in the case of |
| Horse Society's Magazine there is a | | | | extremes (weight or surroundings). |
| double page spread covered in furious | | | | People with open minds form their |
| letters from some seriously upset | | | | opinions based on sound evidence. They |
| readers. | | | | reflect on what they have discovered and |
| The cause of all these ruffled feathers | | | | work towards reaching a decision or |
| is a controversial letter that was | | | | conclusion that is based on fact, not |
| published in a previous issue. The | | | | feeling. |
| letter writer was of the firm conviction | | | | An open mind allows one to magnetize |
| that overweight riders should not be | | | | opportunities. A receptive mind is open |
| allowed anywhere in the vicinity a | | | | to all possibilities, big or small. A |
| horse's back. She stated categorically | | | | closed mind is a stubborn mind, wanting |
| that this could do immense physical harm | | | | immediate gratification and wanting it |
| to the horse. Further more, the writer | | | | as exactly as what the mind perceived it |
| claims, overweight riders who get | | | | to be, not willing to accept or try |
| injured in remote areas put a heavy load | | | | alternatives. |
| on the emergency services as it would be | | | | Whatever the mind can envision, the mind |
| impossible for them to be rescued | | | | can create. What the mind sees, |
| without spending a lot of money. She | | | | believes, feels and thinks is all |
| implied that an air-ambulance might be | | | | conveyed to the subconscious. Your |
| needed etc. etc. | | | | subconscious then establishes your |
| It is true that one should always have | | | | reality based on the filtered |
| one's horse's best interest at heart, in | | | | information from the conscious mind. |
| the first instance. A 22 stone rider on | | | | Bear in mind though, that it is not |
| a 13 Hh pony would be absurd and such a | | | | sufficient to merely imagine and hope |
| situation could be dangerous to both | | | | your dreams materialize. |
| horse and rider. But a 22 stone rider on | | | | You can achieve any thing you want when |
| a Percheron - I doubt very much that the | | | | you open up your mind to success and get |
| Percheron would notice specifically or | | | | rid of limiting thoughts. Even losing |
| that he would mind, considering this | | | | all the extra weight should you desire |
| breed used to carry knights in full | | | | to do so. When you decide to change your |
| armour to the Holy Land and back. | | | | attitudes and thoughts, and begin to |
| If you are an overweight rider who loves | | | | think without notable limitations, your |
| horses and loves riding, the only thing | | | | life's direction will begin to change. |
| you need to make sure of is that you do | | | | Whatever your dreams are, whether it is |
| not weigh more than 20%(17% is even | | | | losing weight, riding in a dressage |
| better) of your horse's total weight. | | | | competition, buying you own horse...you |
| Choose your horse wisely, use your | | | | can make them come true if you enlist |
| common sense and pay attention to your | | | | the power of your own conscious and |
| horse's physical reaction and condition. | | | | subconscious mind. Under no |
| As for the rest, pay no attention. And | | | | circumstances pay any attention |
| keep an open mind. | | | | whatsoever to the opinions of people |
| People with closed minds, like the | | | | with closed minds. |
| original letter writer, grasp a concept | | | | Focus on possibilities, rather than |
| without much concern for practical | | | | limitations and expand your thoughts to |
| evidence. Even when they are presented | | | | what you believe you and your horse are |
| with evidence that is totally | | | | capable of. And should you need any |
| contradictory to their ingrained belief, | | | | help, rest assured that access to the |
| they refuse to reassess their opinion | | | | internet now also provides you with |
| and immediately dismiss the evidence, | | | | access to e-courses, online coaching and |
| without giving it a second thought. | | | | several e-books created especially for |
| People with open minds weigh all the | | | | equestrians, and not just for thin ones |
| evidence before reaching a conclusion, | | | | either. |
| approving or disapproving the many | | | | Thoughts hold great power; yours as well |
| interpretations of the behind the | | | | as those of other people. Be conscious |
| belief. Another reader picked up the | | | | of the thoughts that comes into your |
| phone and rang her local ambulance | | | | mind; let the positive in, never |
| service to ask if all this was true. | | | | entertain the negative. Open up your |
| They reassured her that a person's | | | | mind to possibilities and opportunities |
| weight makes no difference to how he/she | | | | and never be afraid to try. |