Insights by Steve

Insights by Steve -- Light at the End of the Tunnel

Insights by Steve -- Teaching An Old Dog

Imperfect ~Steve McClure (Reno)

In one of my previous blogs I mentioned that “perfection” was always just “out of reach”. That applies to everything from a rope throw to the tiniest atomic interaction. Perfection is unobtainable. For the world to behave as it does this must be so. That thought was the single most important discovery of twentieth century physics.

Consider a referees call in football. Was the player in or out of bounds? One says yes, the other no. Even the video playback is inconclusive. As we zoom in the picture gets grainier and grainier and the answer leaps further from our grasp. The world, folks, is fuzzy!

Is there a perfect riding technique? You could describe one, I suppose, but in execution it would always fall short. English versus Western, Texas versus Californio style and so on. The list is endless. That’s why records are constantly being smashed and horse folks outdo each other on a regular basis.

There was a famous British scientist in the late 1800’s, named Lord Rutherford , who said that all the important scientific discoveries had already been made. Boy was he wrong! It is the hubris of mankind that they may think they have achieved perfection when in fact it is as distant from us as the farthest star.

Martial artists have known this for centuries. In their many disciplines they constantly strive for perfection knowing full well that its achievement is impossible. In the sword art of Kendo some practitioners spend their life simply drawing the blade or consistently make the same cut trying to achieve what they know is unobtainable.

That’s why we strive even though we are fallible. We all have that particular mammalian curiosity to constantly attempt perfection yet never reach it. You see it in all aspects of human endeavors, especially sports and the arts. In our own small way we come back to the barn hoping to feel, however briefly, that less was more and that we and our mount were closer to becoming one.

~Steve McClure (Reno)

To read more by Steve McClure (Reno)--see below.

Insights by Steve -- Steady

Insights by Steve -- Light at the End of the Tunnel

Insights by Steve -- Steady

Teaching An Old Dog ~Steve McClure (Reno)

It seems like every time I talk to Steve Lundean and relate a “horsey”experience that I’ve had he says, "you know Reno, that would make for a good blog piece". I should know better by this time and keep my mouth shut because that remark has accounted for more than a few of my submissions. By now I'm sort of primed to recognize an experience and I jot it down before Steve bugs me to do it.

One of my"experiences" occurred, some years ago, during one of Steve’s clinics. I was trying to be both photographer and videographer which are jobs, like writer, that I am not really suited for. Even though I was consumed with my digital tasks I was also listening and processing the presentation that Steve was making. As always, Steve was prepared, clear, on point and involved with his students.

It got me to thinking. In my more than forty years of martial arts training, I have been exposed to the instruction of some of the greatest martial artists in the world. Most of them achieved their rank not just because of skill but by having the ability to impart their knowledge to others as well as improving the art itself to some measurable degree. I remember a discussion I overheard with a master instructor when he was asked for his advice on how to best train in his particular martial art. His answer was simply to “not train until you find the right instructor”.

I have taught martial arts to my own students so I know a little about it. I know when an instructor is out of ideas or interest, loses their students attention or is at the limits of his/her knowledge. Teaching is not easy. It is a reasoned, methodical process but ever changing depending on conditions and is time constrained. It takes more than knowing a subject. One needs to continually improve their own understanding and have the ability and passion to transfer it, with ease, to an audience of varying experiences and aptitudes.

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My son Corey (SFS alumnus and a fine instructor in his own right) and me attending a tournament (late 90’s).

I am fortunate that I have found real teachers in my “horse” journey. Jennifer Gaudes–Raemisch of Sun Fire Stables has had me under her “wing” for many years. Her passion for “all things horse” is infectious and I consider her a true master of her art. She still puts up with me and considers my ongoing attempts at horsemanship her “job security”. Nice!

She knows the subject matter and teaches it without criticizing and corrects without admonishment. She can both break concepts down to understandable steps but then connect them into a smooth skill set and that ability is a gift. When I run out of things to teach or reach an impasse in my classes I just give push-ups to my students and regroup. I am used to the rapt attention from my students because of the martial nature of my particular area of expertise. In her case, only an ongoing connection with her students insures that she is teaching efficiently. She is both approachable and attempts to expand your abilities with humor and all without sacrificing safety.

You can’t be a phony and connect with people for long. I guess all this accounts for the loyalty of her students, who return time after time. They see the genuine article, a real teacher who has something to offer and is passionate about what they do. I highly recommend her.

~Steve McClure (Reno)

To read more by Steve McClure (Reno)--see below.

Insights by Steve -- Light at the End of the Tunnel

Steady ~Steve McClure (Reno)

During a recent conversation with Steve Lundean we eventually got around to talking about our individual physical maladies. Yes, men do that. Typically I listen more than I speak because I usually learn a lot more that way but Steve’s a good friend as well as a good listener so I got to feeling sorry for myself and opened up a little bit more than I normally do.

You see I just turned 69 and more than just a year for me it has also been a benchmark time in my physical life. I’ve always been blessed with good health but in recent years I have begun to be plagued by a few complaints. Now I am the first to admit that there are others that have it far worse than me and I know my frailties are insignificant in comparison to some other folks but it has begun to make me think about their effect on life in general.

During the first cattle clinic I ever attended, Steve went around the group and asked each of the participants what each wanted to achieve in their “horse life”. When he came to me I immediately replied and unrehearsed by the way, that I wanted “to be a good hand” and I meant that literally. I wasn’t trying to be the best but I only wanted to be someone who could be relied upon to get a job done. Steve says that I live the “Cowboy Code” but that code is indistinguishable from the martial code I’ve lived by for decades. It also stems from my religious life as well and the way my parents brought me up. Lord knows I have strayed many times but my salvation has always been to get back in the“saddle” (there you go again) and pick up where I left off.

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The concepts of balance, timing and energy which are the core of my martial arts apply equally well in horsemanship. I am often amazed at how similar these pursuits are and how their respective terminologies can be interchanged. The code of humility, honesty, perseverance and dedication are the same in both the Martial and Cowboy codes. To the Samurai of Japan, horsemanship was a martial art and essential to the training. The concept of “Hara” or working from your center to maintain harmony is at the heart of the martial arts of Aikido and Hapkido.

Balance is everything. It must be applied to the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of life. I have spent many decades studying and teaching balance and re-directing oncoming energy as well as applying it more than a few times. I think that’s why I enjoy working cattle so much since the horse and I must be in harmony to recognize and re-direct the energy of a herd or a single cow to achieve a desired result.

Low stress cattle movement was a revelation to me. Learning to apply minimal energy to achieve maximum results sounds like the title of an Aikido Clinic! As you get older you have to adjust. I may be slowing down but I’m not stopping. That won’t be me high-tailing past you chasing a cow or kicking up a dust cloud doing a sliding stop but I’ll be around.

Many years ago when I started as a carpenter apprentice there was an older laborer and a man of few words, who worked for my employer erecting scaffold, mixing mud and doing general loading and cleaning duties. He was of German ancestry and had a thick accent. We would watch him and although he wasn’t very fast we noticed that by the end of the day he had as much or more done than the younger faster guys. Finally my boss asked him how he accounted for it and he stopped, took a moment and simply said “well I ain’t speedy but I’m steady!” I’ll settle for that.

~Steve McClure (Reno)

To read more by Steve McClure (Reno)--see below.

Insights by Steve -- Light at the End of the Tunnel

Insights by Steve -- Light at the End of the Tunnel

Cowboy Lunch ~Steve McClure (Reno)

A whole lot of the “West” is considered desert. The area I was in was classified as semi-arid in the climatology books but all I knew was that the air was really dry. You can tell by how your skin, especially your lips feel. We were at about four thousand feet with a deep blue sky and you could see clearly for miles. I was one of six riders trailing the herd of 300 pairs (black angus) north. We were carrying water in our saddlebags which was periodically being replenished by the accompanying trailers. The cattle and horses had no problem drinking since the area had an uncharacteristic major rain event the week before and there was plenty of standing water.

It was to be a two day drive, moving the herd from the south ranch to the north ranch. The trailers were used to transport the horses and to supply our food and water. The first day was great. Our lunch was spread out on a truck bed. There were sandwiches, chips, all kinds of bakery and a cooler full of various drinks. Heck, I don’t eat that well at home. The problem for tomorrow was that, due to flooding, the bridge was out so the trailers would no longer be able to supply us.

We set the herd in a huge pasture that first night, loaded the horses (they were rode down) and returned to the main ranch. Pastures out there were often hundreds of acres. Several times in the course of my time on this ranch I was asked if I could see the gate so I could help steer the herd in the right direction. I couldn't even see the fence much less the gate! You just nod your head knowingly and hope for the best.

CrossingSmallCreek

Crossing Small Creek

Of course when we arrived the next morning we found the herd as far away from the gate as possible. They were tired, mothered up, feeding on good grass and didn't understand why we would want them to move again. After unloading the horses we stocked up with water and began the final push. We spread out for the gather, got them to head up, put some motion in them, steered them out of the gate and started heading north. The sky was clear and a stiff cool wind blew. When we got to the washed out bridge the trucks and trailers were left behind and we had to pick out the next best route across the river. We only had about four or five miles to get them to home pasture but the pace was slow since the herd was tired. We stopped frequently to let the herd “mother up” and eventually we pretty much used up our water supply. Now I’m not one of those folks who needs to have a bottle of water everywhere I go but I was getting plenty thirsty and hungry to boot. Some time during the late morning the ranch owner, Craig, turned back and rode south. I had no idea where he was going and it sure wasn’t my business to know and besides, I got Craig's job of cutting out parts of the middle of the herd and driving them forward, to string them out. It was good practice and it sure beat riding drag

CowboyLunch

Cowboy Lunch

Later, at one of our stops in the early afternoon, we finally spotted a lone rider coming up from the south. As he got closer I realized it was Craig. He was carrying something using his coat as a bag and had a large container hanging off his saddle horn. When he was close enough I relieved him of his “bag” and he got off his horse. As it turned out he had gone back to the trailers and grabbed as much grub as he could pack using his coat and slung a large thermos of water over his saddle. We all sat down and had a quick lunch. When you are really hungry everything tastes good and this was no exception. He even managed to bring mayo and mustard for the sandwiches. The water was shared by all using the communal thermos and was quickly gone. It was a lunch I will not soon forget.

The stock were tired and the last mile of the drive was a long one. It was on the road bordering north ranch property but this was the "west" and properties could go on for miles. I didn’t know the area or how far we had to go yet and I sure wasn’t going to ask. We finally got to the gate and set them all in new pasture. After we had unsaddled our horses and turned them out we walked back to to the main house and there was cold watermelon waiting for us on a picnic table. Now I love watermelon but I don’t remember ever eating so much. I didn’t realize how thirsty I had been. It was great.

Craig had to jump start an old pickup truck (never saw a spread with so many vehicles) and we all rode back to the washed out bridge, forded the remainder of it by foot, got in the trucks we had left and went back to town. We headed straight to Dairy Queen (a staple out west), for supper, and tromped in with muddy boots and spurs. Heck, we were in Belle Fourche and this has always been a cattle town. It does not get any better.

~Steve McClure (Reno)

To read more by Steve McClure (Reno)--see below.