"Habits begin as spiderwebs and turn into steel cables"
It's an old story that starts with a new horse owner who's chosen an inexperienced horse to train the way they like. I have long noticed, however, that those clever beasts align themselves very quickly with their rider's weaknesses. No one's immune to this phenomenon. My youngsters are smart & sensitive, so as much as I am training them, I am also self-assessing regularly to see if there's a link between the current issue and something I'm doing incorrectly. One of the first places to look for gaps is in one's own position.
Try this: lie on your back on the floor and raise one leg, then the other. One leg will be smooth and easy, the other will pull and stop much sooner. Quite likely, the connection between your legs and core are asymmetrical, and that will affect your work in the saddle. You might hide this on a trained horse that only requires subtle aids, but to teach a youngster, you must be prepared to adjust.
A rider works on their position every time they sit in the saddle.
It's an old story that starts with a new horse owner who's chosen an inexperienced horse to train the way they like. I have long noticed, however, that those clever beasts align themselves very quickly with their rider's weaknesses. No one's immune to this phenomenon. My youngsters are smart & sensitive, so as much as I am training them, I am also self-assessing regularly to see if there's a link between the current issue and something I'm doing incorrectly. One of the first places to look for gaps is in one's own position.
Try this: lie on your back on the floor and raise one leg, then the other. One leg will be smooth and easy, the other will pull and stop much sooner. Quite likely, the connection between your legs and core are asymmetrical, and that will affect your work in the saddle. You might hide this on a trained horse that only requires subtle aids, but to teach a youngster, you must be prepared to adjust.
A rider works on their position every time they sit in the saddle.
Ludi is learning the lateral work. My husband took some video of our schooling a little while ago. I watch it many times, in different ways, from the perspective of a trainer, judge, student, and try very hard not to be my own worst enemy. I see my right shoulder raised in the frames where I'm asking for more right bend from Ludi. My right hip is tighter than my left, but I also tend to hold a longer right rein. In that moment, I'm not sitting with equal tone on that side of my core. It really doesn't feel this way at the time!
But I AM keeping my right shoulder down! wah!
Ehren has been trying very hard to find a connection with me, and is finally starting to relax his back and take a half halt calmly. The right, upward-balanced feeling comes when I support him by sitting with a more open back (tilted pelvis), but keep the reins shorter.
A horse & rider's skeletons must match. If we want our horses to be flexible in their backs, we have to support them with our own confident position. If you know yourself well enough, much can be addressed on the yoga mat to find success in the tack. Just as I work both sides of my horse, checking their ability to move their shoulders & hips, to relax, and to push when I ask, we have to match. It's like we go in a 'bubble' together and I take responsibility for the work I need to do, so that they can move in the most beautiful way with me.
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