What I like about this time of year is I can really think about the details of good riding. For instance, I recently read an article in Practical Horseman by Sandy Howard (http://practicalhorsemanmag.com/activity-feed/userid/40379) about how to sit the trot. Although it’s a great idea to have no stirrups November, riding without stirrups doesn’t necessarily teach you how to really sit. The Practical Horseman article is a great read and I highly recommend it because it provides specific imagery and techniques to help anyone improve. It explains that the two-beat trot is difficult to sit because we tend to rise easily but sit too slowly, which puts us out of rhythm with the horse. Starting by sitting in a chair, the author walks you through learning how to align your body correctly and to rise and sit in the same rhythm by lifting your knees and tightening the tendons under your knees, which enables you to come down as quickly as you go up.
After visualizing and practicing in my chair, I tried this new way to use my muscles on my horses and it worked great! I couldn’t get it all the time at first, but with time, it’ll become second nature.
I also read a great tip from Jane Savoie, who talks about the relationship of the reins to the bit and how to establish correct contact. She has us imagine tying a sweatshirt around our pelvis and holding the sleeves in front of us, which is such a great way to think about the rein tension we aim for while keeping our arms positive toward the horse’s mouth. For me, this was a helpful visual.
I’m never completely satisfied with my riding, and feel that to be my best I constantly need to figure out ways to improve both my own style as well as my teaching style. Reading articles and putting them to use helps both me and my students. I’ve been riding a long time, and no one had ever explained things to me in these ways. I’ve learned something new after all this time!
I’m sure my couple days at the USEA Annual Meeting will provide me with more knowledge to pass along. Meanwhile, search for the things that you feel are weak in your riding, read up on ideas to improve them and then go out and practice!
After visualizing and practicing in my chair, I tried this new way to use my muscles on my horses and it worked great! I couldn’t get it all the time at first, but with time, it’ll become second nature.
I also read a great tip from Jane Savoie, who talks about the relationship of the reins to the bit and how to establish correct contact. She has us imagine tying a sweatshirt around our pelvis and holding the sleeves in front of us, which is such a great way to think about the rein tension we aim for while keeping our arms positive toward the horse’s mouth. For me, this was a helpful visual.
I’m never completely satisfied with my riding, and feel that to be my best I constantly need to figure out ways to improve both my own style as well as my teaching style. Reading articles and putting them to use helps both me and my students. I’ve been riding a long time, and no one had ever explained things to me in these ways. I’ve learned something new after all this time!
I’m sure my couple days at the USEA Annual Meeting will provide me with more knowledge to pass along. Meanwhile, search for the things that you feel are weak in your riding, read up on ideas to improve them and then go out and practice!
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