| A lot of people desire a 'joining up' with their horse. | | | | There are three main things to remember |
| When you feel connected to your horse it can make | | | | 1) Ride every stride |
| it a totally different ride to those days where it feels | | | | 2) Dance - swing through your body |
| like there is nothing. Most problems in riding occur in | | | | 3) Give the horse somewhere to go - allow |
| transitions or in halt. The transitions just aren't | | | | Riding every stride means we follow the horse's |
| happening or the horse is running through your hands | | | | movement. Our hips match the horse's - our right hip |
| and not listening. When this happens all the horses | | | | moves when their right hip moves. Our hands, wrists |
| 'balance' is lost. | | | | and elbows move with the head movement. Horses |
| Getting connected to your horse is important. Staying | | | | can feel a fly! By riding every stride, when our body |
| connected is even more so. But how can we stay | | | | stops - the horse stops. A clear message to the |
| connected when we are riding? One of the most | | | | horse and almost imperceptible cue to observers. |
| common answers is you need to gain the respect of | | | | Dancing means you are relaxed, flexible and rhythmic. |
| your horse. And certainly this is true. However | | | | Specific moves from dance enhance the way you |
| perhaps more importantly, for truly beautiful | | | | ride. Moves can be practised on the ground before |
| transitions and halts - you must respect your horse. | | | | you get on. This creates lightness in transitions and a |
| Hard when they're not behaving - you say? Again | | | | swinging ribcage on your horse- allowing the back to |
| true, but these are the games horses play. The ironic | | | | round and enables balanced turns. The horse rounds |
| thing is when you show a horse respect - everything | | | | naturally when you ride with grace, and natural |
| changes. | | | | collection results. |
| If we can show our horse respect - the horse starts | | | | Giving the horse somewhere to go means we need |
| to look at you in a new way and becomes lighter | | | | to get out of the horse's way. If our hip, or hands |
| and more responsive. How do we show a horse | | | | are blocking the horse in a movement, the horse's |
| respect? When we can have clarity of | | | | movement will be stilted. Learn to use the rotation in |
| communication, focused intention and perfect timing | | | | our hip sockets effectively and our riding efficiency |
| and response we are coming close. We also need to | | | | increases. Again dance exercises on the ground will |
| lighten up and have fun! | | | | help your body understand before you try it on the |
| How to have perfect transitions and the perfect | | | | horse. |
| stop? Ride every stride. | | | | This process also creates a natural joining up with |
| It can be easy for both you and your horse to have | | | | your horse. So try Joining Up Art+Dance+Equine and |
| beautiful transitions. | | | | see how it ADE's your riding. |