SAVE
this Date! August 4-6, 2010
“Riding as One”
Clinic
Explore
Our Tao of Horsemanship Riding Approach
to Being One with Your Horse
Caroline not only teaches you all about
emotional and mental connection; i.e.
join up, she helps you transfer that
to your riding…exercises that help you
stay aware (safe) and connected! She
will also be focusing on exercises that
develop your center of gravity, balanced
and independent seat.
Cost $600 (per participant, all 3 days)
and includes lunch and refreshments!
Click
Here to register online or contact
Erika@riderhorsemanship.com
Location:
972 Canal Road Extended
Manchester, PA 17345
We have a NEW INDOOR!
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Come Join Us at VA’s 2010 Equine Extravaganza
October 29-31,
2010
Come join Rider Horsemanship at this
year’s 1st All Women Trainer Challenge!
Caroline has been selected as
one of three women to participate in
VA’s 2010 East Coast Trainer Challenge.
Come and support her as she will be
demonstrating her approach to gentling,
and riding, a young horse that has never
been handled, let alone ridden.
Click here for details: http://www.equineextravaganza.com/challenge.htm
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This
Month’s Topic of Interest:
“Riding as
One with Your Horse: Part I”
What do I
mean when I say let’s all “ride as one”
with our horses? There are several contributing
factors to this and I will list each,
as well as explain my reasoning.
For me, the way in which I choose to
Be with a horse – that is before I actually
do something with them, has everything
to do with a mindset, or state of mind.
If you’ve worked with me before, you
have heard me talk about connection,
being connected with our horses emotionally
and mentally before we physically do
anything with them. It is this level
of mental and emotional connection that
not only brings more awareness to our
situation, what we are asking and doing,
it also prepares us (both horse and
human) for safety….and that level of
safety is most important to achieve
BEFORE we ever get on and ride as one
with our horse.
To achieve togetherness, or a state
of oneness with our horses, we need
their hearts and minds…mental engagement.
Obtaining their hearts happens when
they choose to be with us…accepting
of our partnership and leadership skills.
This shows up also in our horse as calmness,
attentiveness and willingness to do
what we ask. It is also a “softening”
from within our horse that allows them
to not only trust us, but accept us
as one of them and better yet, as their
leader. When a horse is soft in their
mind, their body will follow, thus softening
to our touch, our aids. If not, they
are tight and or oppositional to our
request…fighting us, or arguing, every
step of the way. The key to obtaining
the softness within is acceptance of
us. When a horse accepts us, they not
only trust us, they believe in us and
ultimately will follow us anywhere,
anytime. And, this is where safety comes
in. Horses are natural followers and
need a leader. If they accept and trust
you, they will feel safe and comfortable
in your presence. Therefore, they will
no longer act as a prey animal…flight
or fight, nor will they be buddy sour,
barn sour, tight and oppositional, fearful
and/or just plain crazed!
With all of this being said, my main
purpose of this article was to enhance
the soul of both horse and rider so
that they are united, as one FIRST by
their bond and second in their movement
together. It is no different than engaging
oneself in a dance with a partner you
are connected to and/or attracted to.
If you are, there is a “law of attraction”
or deep pull as I put it that envelopes
the both of you and creates the level
of synchrony every good dancer needs
with their partner...it just flows and
everyone can see the naturalness and
fluidity between both. As I always say,
“Once you have your horse’s mind, his
heart, you will have his feet.”
Stay tuned for our next issue where
I will elaborate more on my riding approach
to developing a balanced, centered seat
when bareback. I will also address creating
confidence in both horse and rider.
PS…all of this is covered in my “Riding
as One” clinics…next
one is August 4-6!
