Spirals

Continual Movement

As the rider's torso rides the horse's spine up and down forward, the sides of the horse alternately lift and drop generating a twirling motion along the length of the rider's spine.  This matches the spiraling, twirling motion of the horse's spine. 

The up and down forward motion of the horse's spine moves the rider's torso through space.  The alternate lifting and dropping of the horse's sides changes the shape of the torso as it moves through space.  

This changing of shape/twirl/rotation, in the rider's spine is generated by the alternate movements of the horse's hind feet and there is a similar changing of shape/twirl/rotation along the horse's spine. 

If you wring a washcloth tightly, you'll notice a bend develops.

This is the 'bend' we want in our horse.  It is created by the even twirling of the vertebra along the spine.  

This is the 'bend' we want in our own body when we position left or right.

A couple exercises that can help you find this in your body are 

REMEMBER: (!) only do what is comfortable (!)

Personally, I have to be careful with some of these as my back can go out and then I've got to run to the chiro.  So only go to your end range of motion and maybe not even that far.  The mental neurological map is the important thing to access.

These exercise are way more than you'll ever do on a horse.  When you're on the horse, to be honest, it is the image of the spiral that turns the horse and not the physical movement of the body.  It's entirely possible to turn the horse with the merest hint of a physical twirl.  These exercises, however, clear your body to allow the physical movement to move through it unimpeded -- which is the important part.  Any kinks in your spine or the horse's spine will affect the quality of the bend and whatever movement you wish to do with it.

Thread the Needle from Yoga

On all fours, slide your right hand between your left hand and knee and then away from you at a right angle to your body so your shoulder drops towards the floor.  

If it's comfortable, you can angle your spine to the floor, (not changing the front-back curves -- ie don't introduce an arch or a roach!) allowing your shoulder to rest on the floor and enjoy the twirl in your spine.

Repeat on the other side.

If this description doesn't make sense, a quick search online will turn up some videos.

Saw the Toes from Pilates

If this description doesn't make sense, a quick search online will turn up some videos.

Sitting on the floor, spread your feet apart so your legs create a triangle.  Keeping the front-back curves -- ie don't introduce an arch or a roach!, rotate so your right pinky aims for the outside of your left foot, pinky toe side and introduce a 'sawing' (back and forth) motion within the twirl.

Repeat on the other side. 

Back Twirl

(This is the one I've got to be really careful with!)

On your back, arms spread eagle at shoulder height, looking at the ceiling/sky, feet on the floor/ground so knees are up in the air, move your hips slightly to the right and then let your knees fall to the left as you rotate your head to the right.   (This is the movement for haunches right.)

Find it on your horse ...

I recommend the walk beginning w/ a 'straight' horse on a straight line.

As your horse is walking, notice your right hip goes forward then back then forward then back, etc.  As it does this, notice it's relationship to your spine -- how far forward?  how far back?  does it circle in in front and in in back?  or anything else?
notice it's relationship to your center -- same questions!
notice it's relationship to your ribcage -- same stuff!
notice it's relationship to your right elbow -- when is your hip in front of your elbow?  when is it behind your elbow?
notice it's relationship to your right shoulder -- when is your hip in front of your shoulder?  when is it behind your shoulder?

Now notice this on the left side.

Can you find both movements - left and right, at the same time?

How high up the spiral can you go in a smooth movement?  (left side / right side )

When this makes sense at the walk, you can play with it in the trot.  When it makes sense in the trot, you can play with it in the canter.  You can also find this in the halt and the rein back, turns on the forehand/haunches, etc.

Ideally the spine will also be twirling left or right and only momentarily passing through 'straight.' 

Lynn

6/20/23