Dancing for Horses, for AndalusiansofGrandeur

Balance & Trust work together.
I promised I'd post a description of the exercises in Christilot Boylen's book.
Here goes.

The section is called "A Free Dancer's Approach to Dressage". All of these exercises are easy, unless warned otherwise.

"Pelvic Tilt". Easy.
1) Top Picture, Lying Flat on the floor, legs straight, knees bent comfortably to the angle you usually ride, arms out straight, palms down on floor, but nothing forced. This is a "relaxed pelvis". Notice the hollow behind your back.
2) Bottom Picture, flatten your back to the floor, chin will raise slightly, heels will go down. Knees stay bent. This is a "tilted" pelvis. By flattening your back to the floor, you shorten the back of the neck and raise the chin. That's all:)
Repeat, one, two, one, two, if it hurts, stop.

No, I haven't posted a picture. No Scanner, yet, plus I need to get permission from Christilot, for my own peace of mind.

Do every exercise slowly and gently! Feel the work, but don't overdo too much.

"Posting on the Floor"- little harder.
Kneel, feet out behind you. Butt to heels. Raise your butt, BUT, keep it in line with your shoulders and heels. Hands behind your neck. Keep everything straight, in line. Keep your back flat. Don't raise butt too far too fast! It'll hurt! Feel that?

"Hardest Exercise EVER". Christilot just airily calls it "The Correct Seat" (the back kept completely straight, and the leg muscles active). Yeah, no KIDDING! It's not for the faint of heart.
Okay, this one's a toughy. Have a wall or a rail at straight arm's height in front of you. Something solid you trust. Know the "bar" Ballet Dancer's use? Like that. It's your balance, projected ahead of you. Don't fall back, always "fall" forward, it's safer! The bar is there to help. Ok, first really hard one, stand on the balls of your feet, toes as flat to the floor as possible, for their work-out. No scrunching of feet. Then, make the rest of your feet as straight up as possible, starting at the balls of your feet. Like wearing really high heels. Impossibly high heels:) Arms Straight Out in front of you. You can vary this part, but keep them coming straight out of your shoulder sockets in front of you. If you get this far, and need to stop, that's okay. Try again later. This is HARD. Believe me, start with arms out straight, first. Vary arms later. Trust me:) Use the bar to catch yourself, you will need it.
OK, super-dooperTrooper! hardest part, bend your knees (yes, you are still on the balls of your feet). And hold, until you squeal in agony, kidding, take it EASY, this one is HARD! Takes tons of practice.
Keep your heels straight in line with your hips and your shoulders and the back of your head. Back Flat. Tummy, just ignore it. Try to keep it sucked in. You'll find you'll fall over if your tummy isn't pulled back, anyway. It'll hurt, anyway. Remember how your neck stalk works, keep your head in the middle like kestrel said before. It's a screamer-hardest one, and if you have to work up through the steps, so be it. Do NOT hurt yourself! No Pain, No Gain, is very true. BUT If your body INSISTS on stopping, LISTEN. Only do it in gradually increasing increments of difficulty/time. You'll find your balance with this exercise. Your core and your strength are all connected. These exercises help the connection. BE CAREFUL, go slow !
I've survived another day. Hope y'all have too. Oh, and for the mugs record, I never had any issues with my temper, (after I grew up, at 18) with horses, ever.
I have indeed lost my temper with people. Horses, not so much. I'd never, ever lose my temper with a horse. What on earth would be the point? I'd be saying something totally wrong to the horse, is all.
To The Horse.
This post is for Andalusians of Grandeur, especially. Absolutely. kestrel, if I've described something a bit, or a lot, wonkily, PleasE chime in?

I promise to be quiet for awhile. Busy week ahead. Och, why am I LYING?
Business is dead. I mean, it's a floating sea-kitten in a bowl. I guess (face reddens, shuffles feet) I could shamelessly promote my business on my blog, what can it hurt? Heck, NCcatnip said she might. I couldn't believe it!! I am doing more price sheets this week, my FAVOURITE job:(

Why doesn't my link work?? Gah.
www.macgraphics.ca
I'll just type the darn thing then, fine thanks Blogger! (all embarrassed)
I am a link loser.

Screw it, next commercial, I just wish I didn't feel so, so. Corporate.
Again, why no link?? www.macgraphics.blogspot.com
Ditto.

Maybe I'd be able to afford the durn things again, someday... I "hate" money. I mean I hate not having enough money of course, but I hate the "well, without THIS amount of $$$$, you'd be hard pressed to really get ahead". I'm GREAT at math. I get interest rates. It pisses me right off:)
I'm always trying to be the good guy, I don't like to "blow my horn". I'm over generous and honest to a fault. I mean, a big fault. Who ever heard of an Honest Salesman?

Buy from me, I can't "sell" to you. I suck at it, unless I feel I'm in a certain "state", which is a rare state for me. I'd much rather teach people what to do.
i.e. I'm too bossy.
I'm hoping Madeline Pickens is a blogger, and needs NamePlates for her 10,000 mustangs:)
I'm hoping for really wealthy lurkers:) I think most of my dear friends here have some of the same problems I have. People that aren't VanderBilts/Gates/(who else-Och, blank mind) with horses have enough expenses to struggle with.

The Volcano Sleeps. AND, I'm still HERE. Glad y'all are, too. The CIA/AQHA laser blast did me no lasting harm. Ha, need more firepower than that, you WP/HUS cowfolk. KIDDING!ihope.
Play Amazing Grace for me, someday, AofG. I'll cry, unless of course, you're playing them FOR me:)
How Sweet The Sound, of Horses.

"Please, let's all be careful, out there."
Hill Street Blues Desk Sargeant's Heartfelt 'send the troops out' line, oh what was his name in the show?? Mom?? She can't remember either:) Kidding, Mom and I watched that show, every Sunday Night, my old puking, pooping, peeing big old silver tabby Jethro Cat draped over the entire tiny little B/W TV. Sometimes Old Jethro would vomit, all over the TV. I loved that cat. Jetharoses, noses, toes-es. He was the funniest, sweetest cat. He saved my Mom's and my life one day. Sorry, I'm REALLY blathering now, time for the week to resume. All the best!

(face beeet red, shuffling away, wishing for a pot of gold, for us all)