my journey s t u d i o e v o l v i n g

If we promote riding with an incorrect seat, and incorrect aids, we will only have an accumulation of mistakes. The longer such people ride horses, the more damage they can inflict. Yet correct riding should produce the opposite, for classical horsemanship is therapeutic riding. It is aimed at the restorative functions of the horse's natural balance. It is therapeutically concerned with the suppleness of the spine and musculature, and the even loading efficiencies of the hind legs.

Charles de Kunffy, The Ethics and Passion of Dressage

Introduction

This is my journey of my passion for horses and riding and how this passion turned into despair in my striving for the perfect riding performance. I thought their must be a better way and my search led me to the work of the Australian, F. M. Alexander and 3 years full time study to qualify as a teacher of the Alexander Technique. The principles of the technique apply to a broad range of disciplines to increase an awareness of self care. The technique is not a rider coaching course but it has changed the way I look at my self and my self-awareness to such a degree that it has changed my relationship with my horses and the way I ride. After six years of post graduate work on my self, I am now learning how to change, and realize how much more I have to learn.

Contents

• A brief history of my riding and competition experience
• My struggle for perfection in riding
• How I can help you

Background Riding Experience

I have had over 30 years experience and over 20 years teaching horse riding with a passionate involvement in many fields of the industry including;

• Horse management
• Horse breaking
• Horse training and
• Competition

I have taught these skills to both individuals and groups such as pony clubs and adult riding classes. I have had extensive experience in setting up adult riding clubs, competitions and training days.

During the 1980's I was part of a group (foundation member) that established the Riding Schools Association, setting up standards for public safety and horse welfare. During this time I was in a 10 year partnership managing a 80 acre property with 25 horses, preparing horses and riders and taking groups on horse back on high country treks including organizing all meals and safety backup with 4-wheel drive support.

I trained 3 horses from the racetrack that had no dressage or jumping skills, to bring them up to 3-day eventing level. During this time I traveled Victoria to compete and develop skills and spared no effort in seeking trainers to learn from.

Eventing involves the multi-skilled disciplines of;

• Dressage
• Cross country
• Endurance
• Show jumping

I was always placed well in the dressage phase and often pleased to be vetted fittest horse after the cross-country phase. Over the years being placed in most competitions I took the horses from novice levels to open classes in 3-day eventing until I suffered a serious accident on a course and injured my back. I have since concentrated on dressage, the most sophisticated of all categories.

Developing this highly disciplined art takes years of evolvement for rider and horse. All my horses have been trained with all-round attitude, taken to local shows, hack competitions, show jumping, trail riding over serious mountains and long distances. Above all, they are allowed to be horses, galloping up hills, along beaches, with lots of playing and un mounted work involving hand signals, body language and free work.

Tactile therapy is very important as is their balanced diet, but the most important thing that I can share is how the Alexander Technique can help the horse and rider refine their skills.

Lossing and Finding Direction

Over the years as a dressage competitor, I lost my joy and pleasure, the lightness, beauty and grace in my riding. The unity and harmony eluded my connection with my horses. In dressage competition I reached a plateau at Medium/Advanced level. Ambition driven with visions of trophies and medals. I trained harder and tried harder, attending clinics, Judges, schools, with more coaching and training horses.

And then there was the pain that just would not go away. I tried yoga, aerobics and jogged for miles. I experimented with the horses trying chiropractors, physiotherapists acupuncture etc., but the lameness and sore backs prevailed. What was I doing? I'm sure I was not alone in this journey. Look around at any competition/show and see unhappy riders and horses.

As a riding instructor I already appreciated the riders contribution and need to develop body awareness and suppleness. We were already doing un-mounted warm-ups, stretching, and yoga postures. There was something missing. For me stopping competition and then 3 years training as an Alexander Teacher has lead me to a continuing exploration of applied Alexander Technique principles to the art of horsemanship and riding.

Richard Weiss has taken his experience of this exploration to a very high plane and place with the German Equestrian Association. Rider training in the future will be influenced by his work.

Insights into Working with Riders

Whether you are an experienced rider steeped in the traditional and classical work or higher levels of dressage, or just a liesure rider, my guidance as a teacher of the Alexander Technique can be a significant benefit to you.

Communication between horse and rider is through their bodies. Good communication requires harmony of movement between the two. (Maintaining balance, poise and suppleness). The rider must be able  to feel every movement of the horse and give body instructions with such clear effortlessness that the horse willingly embraces every  direction without restriction and confusion. Both rider and horse need to use themselves well.

Horse Riding

The holistic artistry of horse and rider in a united and harmonized performance of movement.

Alexander Technique

To do with the proper organization of your body in a way that will be a pleasure for yourself and your horse.

I use the principles of the Alexander Technique to teach you to become aware of your body and its habits that constrain your whole connection with the horse. Riding is a holistic activity requiring a relationship of mind, body and spirit of both horse and rider. This requires a greater discipline of application to raise the level of self-awareness to control the use of our selves into self-carriage. The rider must learn to distribute effort evenly, to move with and direct the horse.

The 'gravity' of horse riding is to do with the way you use your body to go with the horse.

The subtle changes in the way you use your body are the instructions to the horse. Placement of your centre of gravity is a subtle instruction to your horse to change its centre of gravity to coincide and move with your weight. Our challenge as riders is to learn to know our centre of gravity and the implications of the way we hold our 'whole' self (often unconsciously) - if we are stiff, holding in some way, constrained in movement, one sided or suffering pain etc. The process is not achieved over night and will often involve re-education or 'unlearning' of your riding techniques. So much that it may even feel wrong.

I am teaching you to stop (inhibit) your usual response. I guide you to allow yourself time to instruct your body (direction) how to respond to achieve an efficient communication with your horse and remain in total balance. To enhance an increased awareness of how you use your body and to teach you how to help your self in a way that will also help your horse.

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