"Deep Sea Fishing"

Letting the Horse Self Correct

If you've ever had a young horse on the lounge line, you know what I mean!

As part of basics and later as warm up, I have found this simple lunging exercise to be priceless.  It is from the book Common Sense Dressage by Sally O'Connor and as I re-read the book this morning, I have to say she has totally undersold this exercise.  It does some amazing things.

On those days when I 'couldn't be bothered' I have done this with the horse in a halter.  

While we never really want the horse rocketing around, if it is, this will help to settle it.  If it's already a solid citizen, the reeling in and casting out will help with flexibility and lubricating the joints.  You will be getting on a much softer and more tractable horse if you add this to your warm-up.

This is an exercise that produces calm, balance, coordination, and carriage.  Add in a few poles for guidance and you get even more.

modified page 33 of Common Sense Dressage by Sally O'Connor

I will do two or three rounds of the exercise.

The steps for 'one round' 

• Starting on the large circle, let the horse establish some rhythm.
• Then repeat two or three times:
  ~ Draw the horse inward for '4 steps'
  ~ Let the horse the go on for '4 steps'
• Allow the horse to do a round or so of the smaller circle as it's capable
• Then repeat to return to the large circle:
  ~ Release the line outward for '4 steps;
  ~ Let the horse go on for '4 steps'
• Encourage stepping under of the inside hind and crossing over of the outside fore.
  Time the in/out with when the inside hind and outside fore are leaving the ground.

And if you find this interesting, there is more where this came from!  Drop me an email: lynn@satoriconnections.com 

L

Are you looking for something more in your riding?  Something that really connects the inside and the outside? Sometimes a hands on experience can do a lot to clarify something written.
I've studied horse and human anatomy for twenty five years.  I started with Centered Riding and that is solidly based upon how bodies work and how brains process information.  I know Alexander, Feldenkrais, Trigger Point, myofascial, Ortho-bionomy, how to develop resistance training programs, and more recently I am incorporating concepts from Body-Mind-Centering.  I've done yoga for more than forty years, studied (and used) the chakra and meridian systems for over twenty.  Sometimes I don't go into theory because in the middle of a lesson it would detract from the practical learning of how to ride, but I do clinics where I share this information along with how to incorporate it into your training program.  And if you really don't mind listening to me yak forever, I can easily do that during a lesson, too.  It's just most folks want to ride!