Fit For Riding

Butch STILL hasn't finished his new book yet:) He's been all distracted since I showed him Dena's Micah's Daisy. I've tried to explain, rollers can't do rockers, but nope. Dumb oldblood.
I am totally avoiding decorating my rock.


snicker.. Which one is Loopy?


The Tree of Sticks:)
This is one of the keepers, over many years now of "erm, thanks!" gifts from in-laws. Darn thing will not quit. Who Knew you could keep re-using your Christmas Tree? Unadorned here, of course, just some afterthought-where-do-I-put-this everyday stuff:) Cardinals are my favourite bird, we have conversations in the summer time. They play a big part in my feeble attempts at "decor".

Okay, Fit, for riding?
Or, how not to have a fit.
Reasons you give yourself fits.
Because you are not "that" fit. You are slightly crooked in your body design. You have round, not long narrow, thighs. None of that matters, today, on this horse.

You can't lose the fear that can haunt you, if you don't learn how to lose it while you're up there. Muscles remember fear, just as they remember a knee-jerk reaction. You help your body re-learn to relax and Let Go, on the *grope* (explanation forthcoming). Then your horse starts to Go, too.

The best way to allow yourself to follow any horse's movement, independent of your hands, is on the longe line. With a sympathetic groper. I mean lunger person. See, Longer is wrong:)
Now, the longe line can also be spelled the lunge line. It's odd, but it's true.
I theorize that the words "long rope" were contracted to "longe".

"Grope" didn't have quite the same ring to it. But it works, in an evil way, too. You can "grope" a little with your hips, like a blind person searching for the next solid object. When you're on the longe, you can disconnect your two halves of your body, and allow the top half to simply follow the bottom half.. What the heck else can it do, anyway?;)

Tack GoLightly up, will ya? Saddle first, of course. (Amazes me how many riders will put the bridle on first.) Look how he wiggles his nose at the bit, seeking it, opening his mouth, helping you out. I love a horse that looks forward to it's job.

Now, let's get goin'!

You know that scene in "The Black Stallion" where they are galloping on the beach? Kid puts his arms in the air and just allows the go to happen. Bliss occurs. Above your hips is suddenly weightless, because you have no weight to be afraid of, in your hands.
People spend too much time, while they're on, thinking about what should be happening, what has happened, what will happen.

Why not let it happen? That's what the long rope is all about.

You can experiment with the different balances your body achieves, in three different positions. The dreaded two-point, the normal-vertical seat, and the "behind the motion" seat or driving seat. And you'll often discover these different positions by the horse's own reactions to your changing angles and weight shifts. The goal is to ride the horse with as little discomfort as possible. To You, too.

The horse over time,learns to make the adjustments necessary to relieve whatever discomfort his rider or his management applies to him, sometimes knowingly, often not. Same goes for the rider, it's a two-way street.

I guess I'm trying to say that if the horse is bouncing your kidneys out, don't automatically blame yourself:)

All of this while I stand on the end of the long rope, and with the help of my SchoolMaster, GoLightly, using loosely fitted, perfectly even side-reins, I'll be able to show you tiny flexions, AND straightening. How YoU sit, when the horse is in these positions. You see, long roping doesn't even have to be done on a constant circle. It is easier on your equilibrium to think of riding boxes instead of circles. (stops the dizzies)

Isn't it wonderful to just let him Go. Keep your stirrups for now, let's warm him up a little. Trot on, close your eyes if you like, imagine which way you want to go! I'd recommend forward and straight, to start. You don't bend into a pretzel when you turn a corner, neither does your horse. I'll follow your lead, and just allow the horse to go forward. (My lead?? You're thinking. Well, who's riding the horse?) I let you do whatever is comfortable. We use the end of an arena, or the corner of a paddock, with clearly marked boundaries. You feel utterly safe.

Relax... Getting behind him a bit? Big trot, huh. Take your inside hand and grab the pommel of the saddle with a finger or two, and pull your "fork" forward, while stretching down low and long with your legs. Allow the horse's turning to square your shoulders to his. You mirror the horse.

Yes. Feel that? Hang on, his trot stride is humungous. Let's walk, catch your breath. yeah. He's one hell of a horse, this big bay GoLightly horse.

(I couldn't keep the groping joke going, this IS G-Rated, I think. Ya never know with horse blogs:)

I was chuckling to myself, about an old schoolie of HSE's called Red Cloud. Tall bay blanket Appy. Narrow as a rail, choppier strided than a square-wheeled car. He really was reserved for the advanced riders, as he'd have turned ANYone off of riding, in the first five minutes of his trot.

ow, ow, OW. Horses are PAINful. First Timer thinks "To heck with this! Riders must be freakin' masochists!"

Red Cloud was a good jumper, and well-broke. He just bounced beginners right off, over the side as it were. Nothing malicious, he was HARD to sit properly, and man, it wasn't that pleasant anyway. There's a reason we sculptured their bodies to make them more comfortable. Our backs.

Red Cloud has retired:) Jumping was pretty hard on Red Cloud, given his conformation. His high neck attachment gave him an extra jolt of talent for over fences work, though. He was fun to ride, and two-point was your friend:)

Now, I can hear you thinking "But, shouldn't I be able to sit any & ALL horses movement comfortably?"
Strike off the "comfortably", and I can agree. Depending on your own physical limitations, be they self-inflicted falls or whatever, or age, or knees giving out etc., some horse types can be extremely hard on your returning to riding body, after however long a hiatus.

Not necessarily because of huge movement, but because of the horse's own "way of going". It's unique, to each and every horse alive. It's how the two of you can manage to fit together, that matters.

I think Red-Cloud learned how to rid himself of beginners. Just the right ooomph...

Don't forget the exercises! Do extra, whenever you can, that increases your balance, and/or symmetry. It's a life long thing, the striving for balance and strength.

Okay, if I don't start to decorate now, I NeveR will.

Thanks for being there!

Okay, this time, let's try it without your stirrups.