Dressage is a french word for training. It is the constant pursuit of perfection. The rider and horse are given a score out 100%. This is such a demanding and tedious sport that the current world record in freestyle Dressage is 89.4% by Edward Gal (one of my favorites) on Moorlands Totilas.
Why am I talking about this on an aquarium blog? Because of my reasons for getting into this hobby (and because my mother in law asked hubby what got me interested and he couldn't come up with an answer). At the moment, my station in life does not allow me to pursue dressage as much as it deserves and as much I feel is necessary to maintain my current skill, let alone surpass it. The last year has been difficult for me to reconcile that I need to "hang up the bridle" so to speak. I'm not giving up my passion, but it is a fruitless endeavor to pursue something I only have half of everything it deserves. I will still ride when the opportunity presents itself. My cousins own horses, there are a couple customers at work I ride for when I have the time, and my in laws have a friend I've yet to take up an offer to ride with so there are sparse opportunities to at least scratch the itch.
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| Pumpkin, the last horse I was riding before leaving for college (me in the background) 2008 |
But I love dressage. I love the challenge. I love the pursuit of perfection. I love the idea that every day until the day I die, I will never cease to learn about the sport, about the horse I happen to be riding (everyone is different), about myself and my body and its limitations. It is very addicting. And when I read this:
"A word of warning: starting and keeping a marine tank cause a serious change in human behavioural patterns - looking dreamy eyed at your tank for hours on end; phoning your loved ones (or anyone!) in the middle of the night to tell them about a new polyp, worm, glowing thingy about 1mm long, ... which you have just discovered; not buying new clothes, furniture etc. because your tank REALLY needs that new light, filter, ROCK, etc.... Oh well, maybe you won't get hooked so badly."
I knew I found my new hobby. It was exactly how I feel about dressage. Keeping a salt water tank is a lifelong learning experience. It's complex, it's exciting, it's always changing. There is always something new to learn about whether it's a new coral, a new piece of equipment, a newly observed behavior in a fish kept for years that revolutionizes the approach to keeping. This is exciting. I was that person who talked endlessly about how my horse finally moved how I wanted which meant nothing to my husband, my parents, no body except for those familiar with my sport. But for me, every little thing was a high.
I have longed for a hobby that fill those needs. I refuse to believe dressage is the only thing that can do it. And the more I research, the more I am intrigued, the more excited I become. The passion that I was longing for after realizing I needed to give up dressage for a time, is back. And I am thrilled to death and very daunted. Because if there is anything horses have taught me, is anything good and miraculous takes a really, really, really long time to cultivate. And I think, judging by my research, any one who has kept a salt water tank can agree with that as well.
Here's the link to that awesome article I quoted. It is a great run down on FAQ for starting a tank: So you want to start a Marine Tank
And, if you're interested, an article on my favorite rider and his record breaking ride: Moorlands Totilas Ridden by Edward Gal to World Record Score of 89.400 Per Cent
Happy Swimming!
PS Today I bought Krylon Fusion Patriotic Blue gloss spray paint and Krylon Fusion white spray paint for the tank. Both are at Ace Hardware for $5. I plan on buying the tank this weekend or the following weekend. I just started working after being on a 2 month emergency out of state and I forgot when I get paid. haha
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