Blog #4: Narrowing your topic
I believe that the best topic for me deals with horses. I have been ridding horses since I was seven years old. When I was younger I was exceptionally shy; granted I am shy now, but believe me it was much worse when I was younger. My parents tried everything when I was younger to get me more involved with people, including ballet, crafts, soccer, tee ball, etc. They didn’t know how to break me out of my shell. To their surprise horses did the trick. There are many things about this topic that interest me, especially the fact that many people think this “sport” (many people won’t even consider this a sport) is all glam and every rider is always immaculate and has to do no dirty work. What I think many people do not realize is that fact that this type of sports takes a lot of work and many riders have to do many “dirty” jobs, including cleaning stalls, shaving horses, feeding horses, bathing horses, etc.
This topic is important to me because I believe it is what helped me “snap out of my shell.” This was the one thing that helped shape who I am today. My riding horses/taking care of horses I feel like I have become a stronger, more independent adult. When my mother first divorced my dad I cleaned horse stalls and took care of horses to help pay my mothers rent. Yes, this was difficult for an 11 year old but I loved it. When my mother and I were more financially stable we were able to take our own horses and move away and as a result we started getting into more competitive horse shows. My mother loved doing this with me and we became very close. Every summer we did competition and I competed against other riders and she was my “groom,” meaning she cleaned my horse and I and made us “presentable” before each and every class/competition.
Questions I have:
When people think about “horse people” many terms come to mind including dirty, “country people,” stuck-up, etc. I always feel like some people think I am “out there” when I talk about owning horses because it isn’t that common. I also think that many people will not understand what I am talking about, but I am going to try and explain everything. For example, I will not have “show names” said without explanation, but I feel like some things people will not understand. Many people do not realize that horses are bathed like dogs, or groomed like dogs, so this might need explaining. I also do not know what questions people might have about riding/raising horses. I am used to the “horse world,” and think that many people find it to be bizarre.
As an outsider I would like to show people how horses are easy to get along with, and how they usually understand humans and relate to us more than dogs do Many dog owners think that their dogs relate to them, but surprisingly I think horses understand us better than dogs to and believe me, I have raised many dogs. I would also like to show people how horses and the life associated with horses is not all glamour and “clean.” Raising horses is usually more difficult than people think and takes a lot of hard work and dedication.
Chelsea,
After reading your recent blog post, I see your love of horses in a totally new light! Sure, you like horses, but it’s even more than that–horses helped you connect, helped you become your “true” self, as you say “brought you out of your shell.” As an outsider to the horse subculture, I’m fascinated in learning more about this world. But even more importantly, I’m interested in understanding what it was about horses that helped you. How can you invite viewers like me (who are outsiders) in to your world and experience? How can you help us see, experience, and understand (however briefly) what horses are like for you?
Megan
fulwilem said this on May 14, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Going back to yesterday’s conversation about conceptions and misconceptions of equestrianism, I will say that there are certain sports (and yes, I do consider horseback riding to be a sport) that carry certain connotations (golf and tennis being the primary two) of being a “club sport” (that which allows some–i.e. the wealthy–in and excludes others), and I tend to lump equestrianism in this group. However, in this blog post you show a little bit of the financial difficulties involved in maintaining this lifestyle and the work and growth that went into overcoming that tough time in your life. I’m very much interested in this aspect of the story.
jenn said this on May 14, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Chelsea—when you talk about “breaking out of your shell” all I can think of is “The Horse Whisperer.” In a good way!! Whenever there is a common cultural reference, it means that people have particular associations with it. Like Megan and Jenn, I think there’s something very compelling about the contradiction between your own experience (mucking out horse stalls to help your mother) and a young Scarlett Johannsen being led around the paddock by Robert Redford.
So, start thinking about the kinds of particular images or moments that you’d like other people to see, in order to understand your relationship to horses, and how that differs from what they might assume.
kmiddleton said this on May 14, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Chelsea,
I think the topic you have is very interesting. I really know nothing about horses and when I tihnk of them the only thing that really comes to mine is the Saratoga Race Track becauase that’s all I really know. I think it would be interesting to get to see the other side of your sport. I think that you experiences with horses is one that is very personal and meaningful. I mean it broke you out of your shell, and made a bond between your mother and you much stronger. I would like to deffinitely see the side of the “horse life” that you know.
Stacey
Stacey said this on May 14, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Chelsea,
I really like the idea that your love of horses brought you and your mom closer together together. I think that could be a really good, personal element to your film. It just seems like horses did so much for you as a person, sounds like it is going to be a really great topic for you. I also like how you said that the horses seemed to break you out of your shell. I am excited to see where your film goes.
awebs02 said this on May 14, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Chelsea,
I really like your topic and think you could do so much with it. I used to take horseback riding lessons myself so I know how dirty it can be. I think you just have to try to make the film in a way where outsiders know what your talking about. I think that could be easily done with visuals.
Michelle
mch0601 said this on May 14, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I think that horses are a good topic for you. After watching that video in class yesterday I would like to know more. I would like to see the daily ‘chores’ that have to be done to keep the horse fed, clean, and healthy. I think that adding something personal maybe about you teaching her sister or how riding helped you would be good too.
Sara
sara925 said this on May 14, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I really like how you talk about what people dont know about horse riding and taking care of horses. I think you should explore that. You probably have some funny vieos and pitures that you could use and it would teach the audience about horses. I also think you should include how you have been riding since you were 7 and why it is so importaunt to you.
KAtrina
Katrina said this on May 14, 2008 at 2:18 pm
This seems like a good idea for you. It is true that many people don’t know what it’s like to not only take care of a horse, but also ride them. I liked your idea about how being around horses has broken you out of your shell. I think that would be an interesting idea to focus on as well as the other things you have going.
Anonymous said this on May 14, 2008 at 3:35 pm
That above anonymous comment above is by me, Jess… I probably forgot to put my name in. My bad.
Anonymous said this on May 14, 2008 at 3:36 pm