Quoting without context because I don't want to taint the original with my digression, > If these folks would develop a modicum of emotional intelligence, they wouldn't be so easy to trigger. /1

After far too long, I have the first take of my first shot for my video project. And while it does not suck, it is also only marginally useful. We'll try again tomorrow.

I want to read a Pintereque sword fight.

Mulling on Dunstan's Dictum (that society is best which recognizes excellence in one another's peculiar nerdery). My corollary is that there is a class of problems that everyone recognizes but nobody wants to invest effort to solve. Admirable problems.

Amy Skinner again - worth quoting again about horses and other things, "Good training is never about winning the moment. It is about thoughtfully layering experiences, one interaction at a time, until the horse discovers that movement with us is where balance, security, and confidence are found"

"Like a handshake, a dance, or a hug, it isn’t something you can coerce. You can invite it, cultivate the conditions for it, and then allow it to happen. It is the natural result of balance, confidence, and understanding." [A. Skinner horsemanship|l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...] Brilliant

Combined martial practice this weekend in Highland Foorde. Discussion afterward made me reflection on Dunstan's Dictum, "The society is its best when we support and enable one another's nerdery." The society is like improv; we need to say "Yes, and.." Every attempt to control harms. #mysca

I am beginning to doubt that car dealers ever sell anything. There must be some other economic incentive in place. Simple requests go unanswered, requests for offers are ignored. I _want_ to give you money; why do you make it so hard? Who is paying you and why?

Not riding while the mare is on stall rest is ... not fun. Yesterday I tracked up the substitute mare. Ten minutes reviewing the use of the mounting block, which she had forgotten. Walked twice around the arena before a loose horse escaped into the arena and I had to hop down. Not satisfying.

A good trainer is worth their weight in peppermints! Problem diagnosed. Now we solve

Very strong Atlantia University this weekend. Possibly the most consistently strong I've attended. Particular wordfame for Caterina da Savona, whose class on promoting events was brilliant. #mysca

I almost didn't write this paper because it was too simple; I worried that I'd have trouble stretching it from a paragraph to a page. Six pages in I'm about to address the central question....

Who am I when I am not of use? I must invest my time/energy/effort in such a way that I create utility that I consume. I am, in short, a being of leisure /f

I do my best to be useful to my partner. I am useful to my horse, and I hope soon to be useful to my horse*s*. I constantly struggle with how much of my effort I wish to invest in the SCA, in part because the consistent feedback is that investment there is not met by usefulness/value.

That means I need to find a new consumer of the value of my effort. Much will be diverted to self-maintenance; if I wish to be healthy, I need to devote an ever increasing effort to self-maintenance. But there are other areas where I choose to invest my effort to be useful to myself. /3

The tersest possible treatment would address the the predicate - *useful to whom*? I'm effectively past the phase of my life where I am useful to my family and I'm nearing the end of the phase where I am useful to an employer. Each of these intimidate me. /2

Elsewhere 𝘔𝘶'𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘩 Tala al-Zahra asks "Have you ever wondered to yourself: "𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗺 𝗜 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹?"", which is a poignant and difficult question. A full treatment would require delving into unpleasant collegiate memories of *the individual vs the community*. /1

Achievement of yesterday - first leg wrap. Achievement for today- endure the suspense until I can discover whether the leg wrap is still intact. #eqsky

Briliant quote, "Real riding skill is not a collection of techniques. It is a conversation, and like any conversation, it requires fluency before it can be nuanced. Fluency comes from repetition that is deep enough and varied enough to stop being conscious" www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/05/22/y...

You Can't Optimize What You Haven't Built Yet - The Plaid Horse Magazine

BY PARKER WORTHINGTON There is a certain kind of rider who arrives at the barn with a spreadsheet. Not literally, perhaps, but figuratively armed with podcasts, clinician quotes, training philosophies...

theplaidhorse.com

I am not allowed to start any new projects until I finish some of the projects in progress. Which shall I work on first? Let me build a database of projects in progress, customers, suspense dates...... oh, wait.

There is a difference between wanting to be a Laurel and wanting to engage in Laurel like behavior. I don't want to play at the peerage level, but I can still improve my A&S game. Today's obvious thought brought to you....

Bloodwork complete. A conspiracy of phlebotomists and technicians have confirmed that I have blood. Waiting on official decision from an MD that it is useable blood, but we are, at this point, optimistic.

Twice a year I have fasting bloodwork. After which I have breakfast and attempt to make up the caffeine deficit. Twice a year I learn that normal caffeine on an empty stomach is a bad plan.

Lesson plan out the window yesterday; horse voted to work on "gate sour" There is an odd sort of focus required to work on _my_ body movements while remaining aware of and prepared to release the horse in response to movement away from the gate.

I've been slowed down on my lance research - waiting on a lameness exam for my mare (good for a 26 year old) and because the lances are in the trailer which is in the shop. I'll try to experiment with filming soon. #mysca #equestrian

Not interested in AI = Good/bad. Am interested in the "All hallucinations are caused by inadequate prompt crafting". Feels almost like a mythology or a shibboleth.

Horses are not pokemon. It is fine to want more horses than I can afford to keep. #eqsky #equestrian

The mare continues to find longlines to be suspicious tomfoolery. Her eyes say "You've trained me for years to walk by your shoulder. Why have the rules changed?" OTOH, I did much better with my connection yesterday and we managed turns and something that approached a circle. #equestrian

Today's equestrian goal was to improve my following hands. So we did the exercise where I ride with my eyes closed, concentrating only on the feel of the reins. This had the unfortunate side effect that all day I closed my eyes when I asked for half-halts. #eqsky #equestrian