It is like learning how to walk all over again, with the focus on body awareness and position for both horse and rider- the images below tell the story as a little picture book.
Why do we look at very slow and gentle movements and think – how can these possibly do anything?
Isn’t harder and faster better than slower and softer?
No..Why?
Because if you want to make your movements more efficient, you have to be aware when you are working too hard.
If you slow down and thereby increase your chances to sense differences in the horse’s muscular effort level, you increase your ability to sense and correct any potential excess and unnecessary effort eg Overloading the front leg, using it for balance, not engaging the core and leaving their hind legs behind.
Reminding him, he has a hind leg and encouraging him to bring it further under his body. One step at the time.
Next is to encourage him to lift his chest and withers up.
Overloading the front leg using it for balance, not engaging the core and leaving hind legs behind.
A little less strung out and beautiful position from his leader a partnership starting to form.
We move on with the work:
Matching front & hind legs and more lift through the wither, core starting to engage and a healthy, aligned step forward.
Hind legs, joints flexible, working on pushing and sitting power. All in the walk one step at the time. This has the least impact on the joints. It gives you and your horse time to work on placement and coordination as well as increasing the horses confidence as he works in better balance.
He is looking softer and rounder his withers are starting to lift his back is filling up and his front legs are coming off the ground. The lovely change is starting to happen. As he doesn’t constantly feel he needs to rush as he starts to use his hind legs more.
So like the feeling when you stumble and put in a few quick steps to catch up rather then tripping over your own feet.
I hope this helps you to see the changes in the horse’s outline after this work… Happier and healthier horses… and happier riders!
