14/ FEBRUARY 2011 THE RIDER Fitness for Riders: Harmony With Your Horse By Heather Sansom.
We often here people talk- ing about being in harmony with your horse. It’s probably true that disciplines like dressage tend to emphasize concepts like harmony more openly, but no
Whatever you are asking your horse to do, there is an optimum moment when the movement seems effortless. It’s like the ‘sweet spot’ in golf. If you’re trying too hard, it’s prob- ably that you haven’t found the right way to ask- or that you are sending your horse conflicting
matter what you do with your horse, simple biomechanics apply. Your horse’s move- ment and efficiency is affect- ed by every minute movement you make (or don’t) in the saddle. For example, you are familiar with the idea that it’s important to prepare for a transition so that the moment you ask coincides with the moment your horse’s feet are in the optimal spot to begin the new gait.
signals. To me, that’s kind of like being ‘in the right place at the right time’ with your horse. There are aspects of ‘right place right time’ we can’t con- trol 100%. For example, you are teaching flying changes or side passes to your horse, but you have to spend months get- ting certain elements in place before you can put the pieces together. The day YOU think is THE day, might not correspond to where he is at, and you may be a ride or a week later. It’s a continuation of the same approach you take backing a horse. You kind of know when he’s ready for the saddle, and then for the next step because you’ve been working with him and watching his understanding and comfortability with various
concepts evolve, and you’re reading his body language. He tells you when the right time is. I really enjoy backing horses because I love watching this crazy relationship establish itself. We say I AM THE BOSS, and then we get to use our undisputed authority to say things like ‘may I invite you to consider trusting me enough to hold this piece of cold metal in your mouth at this moment?’ If he doesn’t say no outright, we just take charge and put the bit in, and then say ‘thank you ever so kindly’. All because a horse wants leadership, but also needs to trust and enjoy you and you want a horse that wants to work. When we are riding, we are engaged in a similar conversa- tion.
Don’t Miss Our Can Am Issue! Deadline February 28th
Six Time
Recipient of the Ontario Equestrian Federation
Media Of The Year Award!
Like those flying changes or side-passes. You get the biodata from your seatbones about the softness of his back and position of his hind legs, biodata from your seat, hands and eyes about the balance of his front end, and you know when the moment comes up to ask for a smooth first step so that he can stay in bal- ance. You also know when it hasn’t arrived yet- such as your seat isn’t in the saddle because he’s as stiff as a board, his ears are back, and he’s decided an all out gallop to the other side of the arena is a better idea. You may be required to crack down on him, but you ultimately return to trying to get back to the harmo- nious conversation where you get to pick the right moment to say ‘now’.
So, ‘right timing’ is partly within your control, but not completely- just like life in general. You can create the possibility of opportunities, but that out of the blue connection is still something out of your complete control.
place. My motto is, be in the right place all the time, and sooner or later the timing will also be right. As a rider, that means a relaxed readiness or relaxed respon- siveness in your body and mind. If you are stiff, sore, upset about something, or your body has created pat- terns of tension to compensate for weakness, you can- not stay balanced AND relaxed, or relaxed-but-ready. The relaxed readiness applies to both you and
your horse. A beautiful ride feels like a conversation that goes something like this:
You: May I suggest an extended trot in about 6 strides?
Horse: What’s that you say? I was eyeballing the cor- ner—there’s a fire-breathing…
You: Yup actually it’s 1 stride now (various adjust- ments and persuasions)
Horse: Best extended trot coming right up! look at meeeeee spring, spring, spring
You: Lovely! Bravo (various adjustments to let him out)
Horse: Happy to oblige- hey check this (wuffles nos- trils, fills ribs, reaches further)
You: I’d like to think about collecting in a few strides
Horse: This would have been tiring for much longer anyway, thank you, c-o-l-l-e-c-t-ing swing, swing, swing. Wuffle and chew.
You: (down transition to walk on long rein) that was marvelous thank you ever so much- what good work today—you’re a champ.
Horse: I’m special I’m good, we’re happy (tail side to side, more wuffling, reaching)- uh, does this involve a treat? I get a treat right? You got those treats? (I knew you’d like that collection and I’d get to stop and you’d have treats. Pretty slick on my part dontcha think? Got ya in my pocket. Pocket. Treats in the pocket?)
Advertise your show, stallion, tack shop or product with a display ad, directory ad or classified. We have a place waiting for you in The Rider!
Keep in touch with your industry. The Rider covers it like no one else. Subscribe today and stay informed!
For subscription or advertising information please contact 1-877-743-3715 (RIDER-15) or email
barry@therider.com
Visit our website at
www.therider.com
Check out The Rider online at
www.therider.com
The part you can control, is being in the right
You can apply the same idea to a conversation about fences, passing things on a trail or any other work you do with your horse. These moments do hap- pen- you’ve had them. Getting in the zone. You want more of those moments at home, because odds on get- ting in the zone corresponding with the 5 minutes you have under judging at a horse show on Friday in July months from now are much higher if you have more of those moments at home to start with. Of course, the same would be true if your ‘moment of need’ wasn’t a horse show, but a situation out riding on the road/trail in which you needed instant co-operation from your horse.
Your conversation with your horse is entirely physical, or kinetic. The smoothness of the conversa- tion depends on clear signals, good vocabulary and lack of tension. Vocabulary in a physical sense is related to all the different ways your body works. The less you do physically in general, or the more you do put your body in the same posture or in a repetitive movement, the more your vocabulary diminishes. You get used to using yourself certain particular ways, which may or may not be constructive to the ride you want to have. Keeping yourself supple and keeping up a variety of activities is really important if you want to keep the pathways between your mind and muscle as open as possible. You need to be free from obstruc- tion both to listen, and to provide clear direction- and stay out of your horse’s way so his body can work the
Continued on Page 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60