Since the age of 10, I've wanted to ride like the old Masters; with lightness, good humour, spirit, expression and HEART.
Until this weekend I hadn't know how, nor had I had the luxury of actually experiencing what so few seem to achieve.
So "letting go" for me does mean, releasing that vice like grip on the rein. It also means giving myself a very clear picture of how to ride instead. It means less thinking and doing with my body and more feeling my body and setting that feeling up so Grace can join me there.
I think Gandhi summed it up when he said:
Until this weekend I hadn't know how, nor had I had the luxury of actually experiencing what so few seem to achieve.
Hope and belief can take us a long way, but at some point its nice if it can become reality - to help keep us believing!
This weekend I got it! Well, (the starting point at least) and there was a delightful irony to the learning.
For the last 7 years I have been coaching riders on the ground explaining the role and value of sports psychology, stressing the importance of "going first, (mentally and physiologically) where we want our horses to go" - i.e. 'lead by example'. Or as Mahatma Gandhi said
"be the change you want to see..."
Sunday's timely reminder went like this; it was only my fourth time in the saddle since the end of May. Only my second ridden lesson with our new trainer Mario - hot off the plane from Portugal.
How do I summarise one of the best experiences ever...?
The less I tried to ride the horse, the better the connection I got. The more I just focused on feeling what my body was doing, the more responsive Grace became. Her transitions seemed to happen like a warm knife through butter - and she stayed in gait. I did NOTHING!
-Simplicity
-Less was definitely more
- Poetry
- Poetry
-Goosebumps all over...
The less I tried to ride the horse, the better the connection I got. The more I just focused on feeling what my body was doing, the more responsive Grace became. Her transitions seemed to happen like a warm knife through butter - and she stayed in gait. I did NOTHING!
This is how riding SHOULD feel - I've known it, believed it, but now I actually felt it!
What did I learn?
How to use my hips to move us into the gait I want. Grace simply followed the movement of my body. If I want walk, my hips swivel. If I want trot they swing. Extraordinary how effective this was and at no time did I need to do anything so crude as kick!
How to use my hips to move us into the gait I want. Grace simply followed the movement of my body. If I want walk, my hips swivel. If I want trot they swing. Extraordinary how effective this was and at no time did I need to do anything so crude as kick!
What did we focus on?
Transitions, counting strides, and NO physical pull or push - just doing less each time I asked for a transition.
Transitions, counting strides, and NO physical pull or push - just doing less each time I asked for a transition.
Was there a 'game changer' moment?
Two!
The first was GIVE! Before applying any 'extra' contact on the rein for a downward transition - GIVE -even when it's counter intuitive (see Blog Instincts Can Let Us Down). Then ask and once again give back as soon as you've made the ask. "Be a gentleman" were Mario's words.
Two!
The first was GIVE! Before applying any 'extra' contact on the rein for a downward transition - GIVE -even when it's counter intuitive (see Blog Instincts Can Let Us Down). Then ask and once again give back as soon as you've made the ask. "Be a gentleman" were Mario's words.
The second was TRUST! Have you ever noticed that when things go well, it builds? Then, if things suddenly slip (you fall out of step with your horse's movement) you resort to old habits? Each time this happened it enabled me to see how quickly I grab hold of the reins to re-balance myself. Not good and not dressage, but a good learning!
Quick as a flash Mario told me NOT to do that. I had to internalise what I would do instead and realised that I had to TRUST that I could influence our speed from my body not from my hands. I had to trust and let go! I had to go back to 'giving' not pulling. Hauling on the reins just gave Grace more to tug back on anyway and that's not a fight I will ever win.
I'm sure that a drop in confidence has played a legitimate role in my rein grabbing tendency (plus the fact that I'm a polo player not dressage diva), however, having just cantered her around, on the buckle, and wanting to live the rest of my life in that feeling and in that moment. I reminded myself that my 3 falls off her have all been at the walk, with plenty of rein in my hand, which was of no help keeping me in the saddle!
So "letting go" for me does mean, releasing that vice like grip on the rein. It also means giving myself a very clear picture of how to ride instead. It means less thinking and doing with my body and more feeling my body and setting that feeling up so Grace can join me there.
I think Gandhi summed it up when he said:
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mahatmagan105593.html#i804VV4y5VApDx47.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mahatmagan105593.html#i804VV4y5VApDx47.99
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mahatma_gandhi.html#wogTZSOJZPDY5VCh.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mahatma_gandhi.html#wogTZSOJZPDY5VCh.99
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mahatma_gandhi.html#wogTZSOJZPDY5VCh.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mahatma_gandhi.html#wogTZSOJZPDY5VCh.99
Wow Debbie, so happy for you. xx
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