Horse Rider Tips- Assessment Opportunities

TOP 5 Physical Assessment Opportunities

PC: Cassy Kendall

Of yourself, any time you work with your horse, but especially if you feel out of your "comfort zone."

When learning or experimenting with a new way of communicating and interacting with the horse, people can unintentionally develop intensity in their facial expression, tension in their posture, increased energy, and tight movement.
Without meaning to, as a person is trying to mentally assess, process, and physically coordinate their communication with the horse, they may also be conveying unintentional signals to their horse.
This adds unnecessary confusion when attempting to change old patterns in the interaction.

#Equi-Quality Challenge Day 2- Change Hands to Improve Adaptability

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alternative Horsemanship Coach (@alternative_horsemanship)

Horseback Riding: Building balance in the Saddle

Many folks think whether in the competition arena or riding for pleasure have misconceptions as to what being balanced in the saddle is.

Improving your Riding without the Horse

 Missing time in the saddle? 

I've found 50 gal barrels have helped countless students find their seat bones and center. 

This has helped them learn to discover and engage the correct muscles to become balanced and what I call "plugged in" when sitting in the saddle. 

 Practicing while keeping the feet off the ground allows the barrel to reflect the human's imbalance if it begins to roll. 

Recently a student posted this, 

"How often do we get to take the time to work on the finer details of our horsemanship? Well when its 36 degrees and blowing snow Samantha Harvey of Alternative Horsemanship Remote Horse Coach says its an "opportunity ". I had an amazing lesson today!"

What other non-horse activities or creative things do you do to help improve your body movement awareness and balance?

Basics of Balance: Assessing your riding behaviors

Rider:
When the rider has the ability to use all of their aids (hands, seat, upper leg, lower leg, upper body, head) independently of one another.

i.e. If you move your left rein does your right lower leg grip the horse's side? If you rise up in the upward motion of the post in the trot, do you tighten your fingers on the reins? When you are trying to turn your horse with the rein and you lean with your upper body towards the direction you were attempting to turn.

Challenges:
A major challenge for folks creating independent aids is a general lack of body awareness in general.

Yes, they are sitting in the saddle. But how? Are their seat bones "plugged in?" Do they understand what part of their body conveys what communication towards their horse? Are they able to offer a variety of energy in their fingers, seat, and legs?