Many things can negatively impact our riding, causing unclear communication with our horse, resulting in a confused, unhappy or resistant equine partner. Assuming the horse is sound and healthy, with correctly fitting tack, performance will improve when the primary focus begins with what the rider is doing, rather than the horse.
Almost all of us have acquired negative postural habits over time that contribute to incorrect alignment, inefficient movement, and faulty proprioception. Any injuries and/or inherited conformational anomalies compound the problems.
Because our brain and body will “lie” to us (faulty proprioception) we need someone else's eyes to evaluate what is actually happening in our body vs. what we think or feel is happening. Then, we need biomechanically-proven techniques to progress. We are all crooked in some way. We may look down, hold our breath, sit heavier on one seat bone, jam heels down causing joints to lock, or force hands to be “quiet” by eliminating movement in the shoulders and elbows. These diversions from pure balance and alignment create tension and impede movement—both in the rider and the horse. How can we expect straightness and quality movement from the horse if we are tense and crooked?
Improvement is facilitated by awareness—it’s hard to “change” something that you are not aware of doing. When we become aware of our own issues and learn how to correct them, the horse’s responses and performance improve, often immediately! Find out how rider and horse can more fluidly balance and move together, creating a happy partnership.
Kathy Culler - Traveling Riding Instructor/Clinician
Level III Centered Riding® Clinician
I would love to work with you!
Explore Centered Riding®—from the basics to advanced techniques. Learn how to apply these transformational skills to your riding. Connect with me and stay in touch by subscribing. You can also check out my Facebook page: Kathy Culler Riding Instructor
I'd Love to work with you!
Centered Riding concepts can provide the tools that enable you to more easily access the mind/body and biomechanics principals to enhance your skills and help you to become an effective rider—regardless of riding level or discipline. For more information, go to:
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