For the Scholarly Pursuit of Riding

Read, Ride, Reflect is a book club in Leesburg, Virginia.  It is also this website.  The brain-child of Callie Fulmer, Read, Ride, Reflect is dedicated to the promotion of the scholarly pursuit of riding.  What in the heck does that mean? 

To put it more simply, I believe that riding (and horsemanship) is more than a sport.  Though the physical aspects cannot be denied, it is the intellectual pursuits for both the horse and the rider that bring us truly together.  I believe the best approach to the education of the horseman is the one that emphasizes "the big picture".  It is here, exploring the theories and big ideas of the topic that truths are exposed.  In the standard lesson or clinic, the discussion is centered on what is happening with that specific horse, and that specific rider, in that moment in time.  While this is helpful and necessary, it frequently leaves the budding horseman at a loss on how to proceed.

So you have read some books about riding.  That's a wonderful thing!  But to truly experience the big picture, you must not only read books about riding in the discipline you practice, but also other disciplines.  Anatomy, bio-mechanics, veterinary science, driving, circus training, and racing would also be on the list.  Add to that philosophy, science, music, mathematics and engineering.  I would encourage you to read this article from St. John's College website "The Last Don Rag" .  For it is not by surrounding ourselves with like minded ideas that we grow as humans, but by exploring into the strange and unusual.  This is how Truth is revealed.

Using This Site

Here you will find information about the goings-on of the Leesburg book club as well as book reviews, information about finding books, and hopefully a discussion board if I can figure out how to add that to this site.  If you live within driving distance of Leesburg, you are welcome to stop by a meeting and join the club.  Otherwise, stop in and stay awhile.  Enjoy :)

“Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's understanding without guidance from another. This immaturity is self-imposed when its cause lies not in lack of understanding, but in lack of resolve and courage to use it without guidance from another. Sapere Aude! 'Have courage to use your own understanding!' - that is the motto of enlightenment.” -- Immanuel Kant