Getting the horse in front of your leg is similar to revving the engine of your car. Imagine that the engine of the horse resides in his hind quarters. We can summon energy from the engine and it can manisfest itself in changes of balance that match our intent. I think knowing what you want, but using force will deny learning the timing and feel needed for success. Gripping shuts the hip joint and makes the horse fight moving forward. Exploration as to what horses like, what works biomechanically, and how to request energy are the keys. It is amazing how happy, free and well oiled things feel when you apply your aids and the horse finds the bit that is available and offered to him to connect into. To be truly in front of the leg, the energy will also express inself by forwarding a front leg. This energy that front leg expresses helps connect the neck out to the offered rein contact. The horse makes the committment by submissively jumping in front of the leg with dispatch and allows the energy to be packaged on to an awaiting rein.
Focusing on changing up the timing of what rear hind is on or off the ground creates an amazing communication base if the rider will get to know his/her torso and the ways to channel the energy as it is created.
I do not truely believe that most folks really know what it feels like to have the horse shoot in front of soft coordinated forward driving aids. The strength used in the application couple with a lazy type of response is not a rev of the engine. With the the type of moving forward I am talking, the horse submissively renders his hind feet to my control therefore "he who can move the other's feet is top dog.
Please feel free to share any feedback, thoughts, or insights that you want to publically share? Or try my email ceeceerider@charter.net
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2 comments:
Hi CeeCee,
I was wondering if you have any suggestions for a Hunter Seat Eq rider to get a feel for a deeper seat. As a kid, we spent a lot of time in a half-seat and not sitting in the saddle. Now that I'm an adult, I find it tough to adapt a different body position. I love Hunters, but since I live in Germany, there's a lot of pressure to ride in a more dressage-style. Plus I definitely see some benefits. Any tips would be much appreciated!
I have found so much value in using my breath to organize and soften joints that need to allow gravity to take the thighs down. I do a tranquilizing breath to send air where it helps me balance and stay with the movements. I do not like to say keep more core or navel back for your hip joints will tighten. I like to think of core as just that amount of tone that is generated by imagining that I have a zipper going from my sternum down to my crotch and with a long exhale barely escaping through pursed lips, I close the zipper tight while working my way down to my crotch. If I still have exhale left when I reach my crotch, I will exhale as strong as I can and zip up as low as I can. I then allow my body to catch it's breath and allow myself to notice where it gets full and soft. This natural inhale tends to stay low in the torso for now but can be sent to anyjoint or tight muscle and be used to release tension that you are holding.
The spine also can be raised with the imagination of air in between each vertebrae. So by sitting with this balancing breath you will also learn to organize your frontline to stay organized and not let your tummy get pushed back which can happen in two point. this exercise creates a passive pelvic tilt which I think is the first layer in correct riding before getting more tone.
I also do the scissors on the horse with my toes down and knees locked to broaden the sitting surface under each bun. Again this feel can be applied to being able to hold an outer supportive thigh and seat when maintaining the outer outline of the horseon curved lines. Enjoy :)
cc
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