Centered Riding Book 1 Exercises

I am starting to review and practice the Centered Riding Book 1 Exercises, one exercise
or group of exercises a week.
 

Chapter 1: Introducing Centered Riding, where Sally Swift talked about herself.

Chapter 2 Exercises:  Pretend you are a horse.  The rider gets down on all fours and has someone
rub, squeeze or massage your back as you stand and walk.  How do you think the horse feels?

Chapter 3 was a review of the Four Basics, Eyes, Breathing, Centering and
Building Blocks and a few exercises of each basic. More on that tomorrow!

Chapter 4 Exercises: Learning and the Brain.  Use your hard eyes and left brain to think through the exercise/pattern/what to do and use Soft Eyes and right brain to feel the ride.  Learn to ride with one brain then the other brain. Don't dwell on one problem... Your body will respond will less effort.
Chapter 5 Anatomy Exercises.

1. Find the hip joint by lifting your knee up and down while searching for the
bend with your fingers.

*** You can rotate the thigh using a lot of muscle and tension OR you can use
soft eyes, play the internal videotape and see the greater trochanter move
"forward" through the muscles. Use SOFT EYES and see the motion inwardly.

I find that anytime I ride, I exercise the hip joint! This helps me to be more
flexible in my riding. This keeps my hip joint from "catching" or "cramping".
I start out by doing simple leg exercises, just rotate the ankle and lift it up
an down. Swing my lower leg up and down at the knee. March in place starts to
relax the hip joint. Then I swing the leg, back and forth, from the hip, and
not bending the knee. I can't swing the whole let too far, but even a couple of
inches will start to get the hip joint released and working.

As always, do a little at a time, and only what you can do so you don't get sore
muscle.

The review of this part of the chapter is on my chat, Horses Are Our Lives. Click on the link below to join. Read along and/or discuss this and other books with me. I'll soon be back to talking about riding and training tips, health issues, grooming, feed and nutrition, etc.

Join the Horses Are Our Lives Chat Group to learn more of the exercises at:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/horsesareourlives/

"Embrace the Journey!"
Brenda

Muscle Memory

I've just been glancing through the Centered Riding Book 1, and this statement caught my attention. "Changing old habits while riding". Muscle Memory.

I know we have muscle memory. And what our muscles tell us, or do to us, as in whatever position we hold, we think that is correct. Sometimes it is not, and we have to re-learn the correct way.

This was brought to my attention while I lope, besides other areas. When I lope, I lean back a little. To me, that is correct. When the instructor showed me where my body should be, I felt like I was leaning over the horse's neck.

As I'm changing my posture and balance, allowing my hips to open, and finding that neutral pelvis point that will also keep my legs under me, my upper body should improve. If my legs are forward, I'm leaning back. If my legs go to far back, it pushes me too far forward.

I ride a lot in 2 point, and that has brought me into a better alignment. I have found that balance point with my upper body, and I keep it when I sit. OR so I thought.

Tom took a few photos of me, which I posted on my Horses Are Our Lives blog. Not of me riding, just sitting still. But when I was loping Duke, I asked him where my alignment was, and guess what he told me? I was too far back!!! Not as much as 2 years ago, but still back when I loped Duke!

But I know why. That big boy has such a strong deep lope, he throws you back, even if you are in motion with his lope. But then that meant I was still behind the motion.

I went back to a little bit of 2 point and trotted him around. I loped him and asked Tom how it looked. Better, but still a little bit back.

Now that I know this when I canter, I make myself come a little forward. I need to learn new muscle memory.

The other area to remember that if you do this, don't let your back arch. Come forward, then flatten your lower back, keeping your seat bones in the seat.

Your lower back will thank you for this when you get done riding. You won't have a sore back if you remember to flatten your lower back, let yourself sink deep into your seat (no slumping), and then take a deep breath out and relax.

Do it now, while you're in a chair. You will like the feeling!

"Embrace the Journey!"
Brenda

It's about Time

It's about time to blog again. I just haven't had the motivation, or time, or topics to blog about. Well, about horses anyways. I could have kept blogging about the grandkids. But I should throw in things about horses every now and then.

I think we all are complaining about how hot and humid this summer was. Oh my goodness, just a week ago, last Wed, Thur and Friday was in the mid 90's, and humid plus!!!  Then all of a sudden, the weekend turned to a pleasant high70's - 80's.  We have had a perfect week, same temps, NO humidity, lovely afternoon and evening hours.

Just about perfect, except I ended up with a head cold. Little bit of a thick throat, then sniffles, now nothing, until night time! Then it's a head cold again. I hope the wine that I'm drinking helps. Otherwise, I've sworm that Baileys does wonders when you have the flu.  And if I have too many more of these evenings, I'm opening up that bottle that I bought last winter, and forgot about, and just found about a month ago!

(oops, hit send instead of save. Oh well.)

What I have done is finally got the momentum back. I'm ready to ride, compete in a few CTR's, and maybe go to another Centered Riding Clinic. I've decided to have a few more dressage lessons this fall.

I love riding Shaggy now, my horse I'll ride in Centered Riding Clinics, and Dressage lessons.  And I think I'll start desensitizing him to all thoses things that you need to do at trail challenges.

I say now, because I've always liked Shaggy, from the time he was a baby to a yearling, to a 2 year old. He was never an ugly yearling, like so many yearlings are.  But love. Sometimes Love is learned.

I love his quiet ways. I love his gentleness. I love how he wants to be a friend to all horses. Boy, can't we all learn from him?  Why can't everyone see the good in people like he does?

wow, this topic wasn't going to take this turn, but I guess my thoughts are on Shaggy tonight. I need to do right by him. I need to ride him as well as he rides for me.  I need to give him that chance to be an incredible horse.

And he already is.

His loping is incredible. Maybe next year when I read in my next CR instructor's update, they will see the improvement in how he carries himself.  He does carry himself well and it's up to me to show him all that he can be.

Hang in there with me, Shaggy. Sometimes, I feel like it's just you and me against the world. If we need to ride and strive for perfection to prove ourselves, then we will!!!

My First Alexander Technique

I just had my first Alexander Technique lesson this morning. WOW! As the day progresses, I have less and less tension in my shoulders and neck. By the end of today, I have no muscle tension or strain. Anywhere! I just hope I can remember part of what I have learned today.

Sally Swift, Centered Riding founder, followed Alexander and integrated Alexander Techniques into her program. She also wants all instructors to have a thorough understanding of both Basic Dressage, which is the foundation of CR, as well as Alexander Techniques, which is her foundation of proper body alignment.

All I can say is what a difference in how I felt after an hour of instruction in proper alignment of my body. First, Nada, the instructor, watched me walk. Then she had me sit down on a chair and stand up. After she analyzed how I did this, she had me sit on a stepstool to start my work. Nada helped me to realized how stiff I was through my sternum to clavicle and through my neck muscles.

First she showed me how to concentrate on my frontal lobe and to stand with my head first, without using neck muscles. She wanted me to release the muscles around my clavicle and stretch from my clavicle out towards my shoulders. She cradled each armpit and had me release my shoulder down into her hand. The results were huge, as I totally relaxed and my shoulders dropped. Then, Nada moved on to the elbows, moving them so my upper and lower arms relaxed. My arms continued to release until she could hold the very fingertips of my hands and move my arms.

Nada ran her hand up and down my spine, allowing it to relax the muscles and flattening my back. My pelvis tipped back.  She showed my that before, as I walked, my back was arched.  I was leaning backwards (which coincidently, as I loped, I lean slightly backwards too). Once I learned to stand with my head first, my neck and spine came into alignment, my pelvis was where it should be, I sat on my seat bones.  When I stood up, I didn’t lean back to walk.

This all felt strange, as what I had known before is what I thought was correct.  This new posture is correct, but felt strange to be sitting and standing the way I did.  But when I walked, I floated!

When I walked, I had a spring to my step, instantly, I felt like how a kid walks with a skip. Nada said I walked more evenly, as she said that before I collapsed the left side. I walked effortlessly, without a strain in my neck and without that tightness behind and between my shoulder blades.

She said that yes, kids walked like this, because they didn't carry any tension in their bodies. When I walk relax, I'll be able to translate this into my riding.

Next, Nada did some stretches with me laying down on a table, with my knees bent. She did some arm exercises so that my muscles would relax. She showed me how to breathe and think forward and out through my head, with my nose and jaw being a little heavier, allowing the muscles to quit holding my shoulders up.  She showed me how to lift my arms effortlessly, without any strain in the neck.

After I came up off the table, my walk was bouncy and even, with a lightness that I never had before. Now to translate that lightness to my riding.  I hope I can remember even part of this tomorrow.

What was interesting tonight, as I laid down on the carpet, with my knees bent, my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter laid down beside me, in the same position.  As I moved my arms, she moved hers.  How much fun is that to relax together.  Now, to just copy her an do my exercises with that same level of tension, which is none!

Read below to understand what Alexander is all about:

"The Alexander technique is a way of learning how you can get rid of harmful tension in your body. Although certainly not a full definition of the Alexander Technique, this is a good start.*

"The Alexander Technique is a method that works to change (movement) habits in our everyday activities. It is a simple and practical method for improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, support and coordination. The technique teaches the use of the appropriate amount of effort for a particular activity, giving you more energy for all your activities. It is not a series of treatments or exercises, but rather a reeducation of the mind and body. The Alexander Technique is a method which helps a person discover a new balance in the body by releasing unnecessary tension. It can be applied to sitting, lying down, standing, walking, lifting, and other daily activities..." (This more complete description is offered in "Changing The Way You Work: The Alexander Technique").

Horsemanship Clinic

I had a Horsemanship Clinic at Chance Ridge in Omaha.  8 riders attended.  I taught some Centered Riding exercises.  I love teaching these exercises to riders.  I love showing riders how to have a better riding relationship with their horses.

Thanks to all who came. I look forward to the next Horsemanship Clinic.

Traci and Katie, first listening intently, then who know what they are laughing about.

Chick

Dixie

On Bob, a gentle, quiet, soul!

and at the end of the day,



with Chick and Dixie, great lesson mares!

a well deserved drink of water!

Looking for an Endurance Horse

Photo of barn we saw. I didn't want to show any of the horses since I'm not interested in them. I pictured this barn for the construction - cement block frame, which hubby always liked due to the structure. Notice how the sides and windows were put in with the blocks turned sideways to allow air flow, allowing the horses to see each other, and to see outside. Smart planning!

A couple of days ago was our 30th Anniversary. Monday, I went looking at some Arabs, to potentially do Endurance Rides. That was a fantastic Anniversary day, to do something horsesy. Afterwards, we stopped to see Caden and take his mommy some flower plants for her birthday.

I’ve decided on looking for an Arab for CTR and Endurance rides. Why would a Quarter Horse fanatic want a different breed to ride?

Why would I want a smaller framed horse when I’m used to having a 15.3 hand horse under me? I’m used to a horse with a larger framed body and muscling. I’m used to horses who act like big puppy dogs, after some years to mature. I love the QH big stride of the trot and wonderful, deep lope. I love covering the ground in a collective, smooth canter.

Arabs are known for their endurance abilities. They are bred to cross the dessert. With a large heart girth and nostrils, they have the ability to take in a lot of air. Their fine legs gives them the agility to move. Their light muscling keeps them from tying up and their thin skin helps with cooling down. And their “want” to move out and go makes them a popular choice for those riders who want to move out.

Arabs cover the ground, ears perked, and ready to move out. No different than a sensitive QH, Arabs can move un-expectantly. Arabs have a ground covering walk, but they can trot all day. And I love a big trot on a horse. I better find an Arab who has a big trot, and loves to go!

The main reason I want an Arab is that I want to move out and go. I want to have a horse that will be competitive at endurance rides. I want a horse with a lot of heart and a lot of try.

I want a horse to be my riding partner on these fast trails for the next 5 or 10, or longer years. I have Shaggy for trail riding, Centered Riding, and dressage lessons. I have Duster coming along to become a buddy as much as Shaggy is being. And I have Starlet’s new foal that we are expecting to follow in them.

I’m looking for another horse for another reason and for another style of riding. That is why I’m looking for an Arab. Maybe looking for an Arab brings the excitement back to riding. Looking for an Arab makes me want to ride Shaggy for a different reason than for competition. Shaggy is going to be my “go to” horse for everything else. The Arab will be my “go to” horse for when I want to compete.

The search continues. And like Caden, I'll be wearing my helmet, too!

Book and Article Reviews

Click here to join the Horses Are Our Lives Chat Group. We'll talk about Centered Riding and exercises, horsemanship and training tips, and book and article reviews.

I'm going to start a book review every week or so. By spring or summer, it may turn into an article review when I don't have enough time to read.

This week, I finished the Book, "Chosen Forever" by Susan Richards, who also wrote "Chosen by a Horse". I'll wait and talk about these 2 books after I read Chosen by a Horse again. I read it 2 years ago, and I want to read it again and talk about it before talking about Chosen Forever. If you get the chance in the next week or 2, get one or both of these books if you would like to add some input about them.

Yesterday, I started the book, "The Soul of a Horse" by Joe Camp. He is a dog trainer and worked on the Benji movie sets. He met Monty Roberts and learned Monty's way of "Join-Up".
I think that is what I'll start with, the Monty's concept of Join-Up, as this is the foundation of Joe Camp's thinking. Later in the book, Joe talks about what he is learning from horses. With only a short time with horses, Joe's animal perception and what makes them why they are, is what his book is about.

Monty talks about 3 stages:

First: Grow yourself big, like a predator, then "chase" the horse by tossing a rope behind it to keep it running, not letting it stop running until the horse shows you some signs. This is Flight.
Signs that the horse wants to "communicate" with you"

1) The horse cocks an ear at you, turns his eye to you.

2) Licking and chewing

3) Head drops, almost to the ground, and the horse circles closer and closer to you.

You stop what you are doing, turn your back to the horse, and lower your shoulders. You are no longer the predator.

You have talked to the horse in "horse language".The horse does not look at you as the predator anymore.The horse is looking for you as a herd member and leader.

The horse needs to chose to come to you. With your back turn, the horse "joins-up" when the horse comes close enough to you to touch you with his muzzle and breath in. Now, the horse will follow you and treat you as his/her leader.

I've been doing this ever since I started round penning my colts. I round pen to let the horse know that I am boss. I move them until they turn and come to me. As I think about this, when I act as the "boss", I was the predator. When they turned to me, I lowered my arm/hand/rope, all my defenses, and they understood that they could trust me as I no longer acted as the predator. When they came to me and I rubbed their forehead, I was now part of their herd, friend and leader. I could be trusted. Now is the time to not break that trust. Now is the time to stop acting like the predator and continue to act as the herd leader.

and that is the Matriarch of the herd. More on that tomorrow.

For now, are you your horse's leader?

What do you do to become it's leader?

How will you change your thinking about being the herd member/leader without being the predator?

If you would like to join my chat group, to discuss or just to read the discussion, not just about a book or article review, but about Centered Riding and the exercises, horsemanship and training tips and ideas, or general health questions and concerns, click below to join at:

Horses Are Our Lives Chat Group.

Brenda

Goals for the 2011 Year

January 1, 2011

Happy New Year everyone!

I have thought of the year behind us now, and I'm thinking of the year ahead. What dreams do I have? What would I like to accomplish? What will I like to do different? Ride different trails? Go different places?I have thought of what I did last year, what I want to change and what I want to do this year. I'm thinking where I want to be next year, in 5 years, maybe even in 10 years.

Maybe some goals shouldn’t be made for just 1 year, but may take years to complete.For now, some of my New Year's thoughts and goals, as I'll change and add to thisduring the day today, through next week and the following months, are:

1) GET MY CENTERED RIDING CAREER GOING!!! I will attend a clinic this spring, and an update clinic if I have to. I want to qualify to be a Level 2 Instructor. I want to develop an outline that I will use for each lesson. I think when people can take home a description of what they have just practiced, they will remember what to practice and how to do something

2) GET HORSEMANSHIP CLINICS ON THE CALENDAR AND PROMOTE THEM!!! I have decided that I will just set some dates to hold some Horsemanship Clinics, where I can teach the CR exercises. I need to send out emails and try to get some out-of-town clinics together. I’ll try to do a free 4-H clinic, maybe more, and from there, work on getting some extra lessons scheduled.

3) ESTABLISH ONCE A MONTH ADULT RIDE TIME/LESSON TIME/TRAINING TIME, probably at a local arena. I have loved all of my adult lesson times. I just need to establish something here at my barn and maybe at a few local barns, on a schedule.

4) START A TRAIL RIDE GROUP, maybe a once a month time, with emphasis on IMPROVING HORSEMANSHIP ON THE TRAIL. Watch for details. I’ll start with a winter ride, here in February, weather permitting. No storms allowed.

5) KEEPING MY CALENDAR ORGANIZED!!! Write down ride times, training times,mileage etc. I love a calendar, that when you open it, has the week on 2 pages. My last calendar also had a month calendar before the weekly part. But I used my monthly part too much andmy weekly part not enough, ending up with a messy calendar!

6) 5 or 6 CTR's. I will try to attend most of the ones in our region. I see that this year, they have ride in July! I really hate competing during the summer months. I ride in the morning, and done by noon! But CTR’s start early, so maybe July isn’t out. It will all depend on whether the temps are in the high 90’s or not.

7) 1 or 2 ENDURANCE RIDES - maybe 1 50 and 1 100, or 2 50's. Enough said. I hope I can last the distance!LONG TERM GOAL...SEE TEVIS! This one may have to be on my Bucket List, but I want to go see Tevis, or see the area, or ride some of the trail, and within the next few years, ride TEVIS! But I'd be content riding the Tevis route some day! Traci, get ready. I’d really love to get out there this year to see it, ride the trail next year, and compete next year or the year after!!! Big goal!!!

What would you like to do this year with your horse or horsemanship goals?

I would always appreciate ideas on how to accomplish my goals too.We need to work together and encourage each other, and by the end of the year, we are better horsewomen, whether or not we even do a goal, because we are always on a journey, which changes and takes on new directions!

Start to get better organized! check! Well almost, as I’m thinking about it, but I don’t even have my 2011 calendar bought yet!

Happy New Year today and through the year!

2010 Comes to an End

As 2010 comes to an end, I think about the year that I have had. I think about happy times, and about some sad times. I think about what I am blessed with. I think about all the wonderful times that are now part of my memories of 2010.

I’ll start with my saddest times, as I’m hoping that, as the year ends and another year starts, the sad memories are replaced by acceptance and happy thoughts. This past year, with each moment that I thought about Finny, I have been sad. As the year went by, I thought I would be over the hurt and anguish of losing him. But as a good friend and some of my family know, I’m still very sad. I understand everything that they tell me, and I would tell another horse owner the same things, but it doesn’t lessen the pain yet. I pray that 2011 brings me some of the peace that I know my heart needs.

Some of my wonderful family times include a vacation in the sun and beach for hubby and I,

traveling to Colorado for Easter,

and again in June and December to watch the grandbabies play together. We were there for the birthday celebrations of 2 year old Makenzie in CO in December


and 2 year old Caden later this month in Nebraska.

We had many summer afternoons swimming with Jacob, Amber and Caden.

They were also able to come with us to CO for Makenzie’s birthday, and we are so thankful that we had that family time together. Micah wasn’t able to come, as he is still in College and going through finals, and I look forward to the time that we are all together again.

Micah was able to be at Caden’s birthday party and I enjoyed seeing the 2 brothers together, if even for a short time. We tried to get together to watch football on Saturdays as often as possible. We miss seeing Sara, Jake and Makenzie often, but this week, Hubby and I are spending the last 5 days of the year with them at their home.

We traveled to PA twice this year. Sara and Jake were able to bring Makenzie in February and we had a gathering with both sides of the family.

Once again, it was great to see family members that I haven’t seen in a long time.

Tom’s mom is in great health at the age of 90 and my parents are 83. That is wonderful that they are here to enjoy our children and grandchildren with us.

We celebrated my parent's 65th Wedding Anniversary in October.

For my horse business, I have the memories of another vendor booth at the Nebraska Horse Expo. I attended a AAHS, American Association of Horsemanship Safety, clinic in Georgia in May. I rode Shaggy in a Centered Riding Clinic in Colorado in June and I rode him for 4 days at a Peter Campbell Clinic in Omaha in September. I also took my 2 year old gelding Duster for the Foundation Class.

I got my first gaited horse, 4 year old Savannah, a TWH (Tenn Walking Horse) in June.

I competed in 2 CTR’s with Savannah in the fall, and I was thrilled with the rides she gave me, as young as she is.

I purchased Dixie in May, as a backup trail horse and as a lesson horse.

I also took a mini out to Makenzie in June and it’s great to see her love of horses, and of all animals, blossom! She sure loves her bunnies, and chickens, can kitties, and dogs, and horses, and Pody! Caden is enjoying seeing the horses too, and loves to pet them whenever we walk to the horse lots.

I have wonderful memories of Tom and I on a quiet Thanksgiving Day, giving thanks to our family, even though they couldn’t be with us that day. We enjoyed a movie together and some down time. With another grandchild on the way in April, we are remembering that we need to spend more time together with our children and grandchildren. The babies are growing too fast and we don’t want to miss out on too much of their lives.

Centered Riding continued to provide the path of the journey that I am on. I am and hopefully, will always be, searching for the life with horses where I was meant to be. I am teaching other riders the Centered Riding exercises, and will continue to train on horses with that same centered and balanced principles. As I study and learn, horses get deeper and deeper into my soul. The lessons that I have given this year have shown me, that with a Centered Riding influence, we can change how we ride and how horses respond to us.

I want to wish all of you a Happy 2011 Year. I pray the New Year bring you the love and peace of family and friends. I pray that you have the life of horses that you are meant to have also. Remember to enjoy what you have, as we are all blessed by the quality of what we have and what life gives us.

“Embrace the Journey” that you are on.

We are on a Journey

I am reminded that we are all on a Journey. The Journey is ever revolving into a life that we could never have imagined, but we can imagine it now, if we let it be. I have made changes in my life with horses, from how I act around them to how I teach. I am continually making changes to be the best person that I can be.

My Journey into Centered Riding has changed my whole life, from how I think, to how I feel, and to how I respond. I’m searching for that place in the universe where I am meant to be. I’m searching for something inside me that brings out the best in me. I’m searching for the gifts of knowledge and patience and empathy. I’m searching for the power to teach in an understanding way and to give the rider and the horse exactly what they need. I’m searching for the “how.”

I’m searching for what is the best for me. But I’m also searching for what is best for me, AND my best buddy, Tom. I want what is best for the two of us. I want what is best for my children, and now my grandchildren. I want a life, rooted by the Centered Riding philosophies. Centering can be part of your life, bringing out the how and the who, by bringing out the best in you.

I feel an overwhelming need to get this right. And to pass it along. I want others to have this centering and this feeling, and to develop this bond, not only with their horses, but within their life. I want them to find that feeling, deep down in their core, where they are right with the world.

I’m starting to feel that the person needs to find what they need, and to work on that. When the rider has discovered what is the most important parts of their life or of their riding to work on, then they find that special peace. We may always be working on that area of our life or our riding, but pinpointing what it is, understanding it, and knowing that we are working on developing it, brings a sense of relief, and a sense of peace. Maybe that’s where to start… think about what you need and start there. Fulfill that need first, to be able to move on. Care for yourself before you can care for others. Understand what you need in your own riding. Give yourself time to develop into what you need, both from yourself and from your horse.

I feel very spiritual today. I feel that God is not only in my life, but within and wrapped around me. I need Him to show me the way that is best for me. For my family. For and with horses. If I follow God’s plan, then that is what is meant for my life. His way has to be the best for me. He will show me how to respond to horses. He will show me how to teach to each individual. He will guide me in my Journey.

What Journey are you on and how has your journey changed your life? Maybe you haven’t thought about this before, and maybe you can be aware of where your journey is heading.

A special prayer goes out to a very special person, who needs to find that special place within her that she is searching for. With all my heart and soul, I prayer that God grants her that special feeling that only she can know and understand. I prayer that she has a overwhelming sense of fulfillment and peace. Hugs.

Building Blocks: Balance Your Head!

As I'm thinking about teaching Centered Riding to adults new to Centered Riding, I work on the Building Blocks. I balance each part of the rider's body, top to bottom. Head to foot.

I have discovered that starting with the head and neck is important. By starting with
the head, which weighs 10-14#, I have each rider nod back and forth, and move
their head side to side, to find that middle spot where the head is in neutral
position.

Before I do this, I have each rider look at the wall and remember where they
are looking. After we balance the head, I have the rider look at the spot again. We
always look a little higher after balancing our neck.

We raise our head a little, and by doing so, we raise our shoulders up and back,
and raise our whole body up. This is the desired effect.

We also bring our neck up and back. Think about your head being pulled up by a string. This image causes us to lift up and straighten our neck. This image doesn't quite do it for me. I understand it, but my body doesn't move. Another image is the turtle sticking his head out of his shell. My neck looked like that. Squished down and out. I asked the Instructor of my Level 1 clinic to demonstrate what I do. When I saw her tuck her neck down and out, then pulled her chin back and straightened her neck up, I got it. I practiced all last fall, and I am starting to carry my neck straight. I will say that my neck and shoulders ached a little all the time for at least 3 months. As I practiced every day, I'm sure that I kept a little strain in the muscles that supported the neck. Over the winter I didn't practice the exercises since I wasn't riding. I think it gave my neck time to relax and to become used to the new building block position.

Take your time when you stretch your muscles or reposition your body. There will be some strain and you will want to go slow with changing your body.

Try it now, sitting in your chair. Try it when you get on your horse.

I'll talk about other body parts next time.

I sure hope this humidity stops soon so we can get out and practice and ride!

Centered Riding Introductory Lesson

Sunday, August 22, 2010

I had a great group of riders here for a Centered Riding Introduction lesson Sunday morning. Three of the riders where new to me for lessons and 1 of the riders is already taking lessons from me. We started at 9 in the morning with exercises on the ground. Here is a brief report of how much we did in 2 1/2 hours!

We first had some stretching exercises. We worked on opening the chest muscles, both out and up.

We worked on having Soft Eyes and how much more you can see when you use soft eyes as compared to hard eyes. We broke out into pairs, with one person standing still and staring with hard eyes at something on the wall. The other person walked around them, and put a mark on the sand when they walked out of the view of the person who was staring. Then I had that person take a deep breath, and then used soft eyes without staring. Their partner walked around them again, and remarked an area in the sand when they walked out of view. Each time, the person could see at least a foot further with soft eyes.

We worked on deep Breathing and how to do that. I think breathing deep and using your diaphragm is one of those things that you hear about but don't do unless you are a singer and have been taught how to breathe deeply. Everyone only moved their chest when they breathed. I had them put a hand on their belly, and breathed as deep as they could, making an effort to fill their lungs with as much air as they could. This will cause the diaphragm, the largest muscle in the body, to push down, which causes your belly to move.

We talked about out Building Blocks and how to balance our bodies, starting with our head and working down. Our head weighs 8-14 #, and tipping it slight forward puts that much more weight on the horse’s withers and front end. Tipping our head back puts the weight on the back part of the horse’s back or loin. We rocked our head back and forth, and side to side, to find that point where our head is balanced. I find it interesting that every time I do this, I look a few inches higher than I did before.

Then we talked about out Center, where our center is, how our center moves, and how to relate that while on the horse. We have an imaginary ball within our center, spinning at the speed the horse is moving. We can regulate the speed of the horse but slowing or speeding up our center’s motion.

Clear Intent is riding with a purpose and we didn't talk about that except to mention it. During lessons, I talk about having a plan or purpose about where you want the horse to go.

We Grounded our feet, and talked about where to place our foot in the stirrup, which is usually a little further back than where we traditionally put the stirrup. Each person grounded their own feet, finding where that spot is on the bottom of their foot where they feel a “zing” up into their leg. Unless they are like me, and I only feel a dullness.

We did the same exercises on the horse. I Grounded everyone's feet, so they felt that place again on the bottom of their foot. They felt the sole of their foot in the stirrup.

We worked on Balance, starting with balancing our heads and where we are looking. We balanced our upper bodies, rocking back and forth until we found that spot where we weren’t rocking any more. We “woke up” our leg joints, by doing some leg stretches. We rotated our ankles, we moved our legs up and down, we stretched our knees by marching, and the hardest stretch, moving a straight leg from the hip joint. You need to swing your leg slowly, as when I do this, I can feel a “catch” in my hip. We repeated the arm and chest stretching exercises on the horse.

We found our Center and our Neutral Pelvis. We placed one hand in front of us, thumb on our belly and fingers pointing down. The other hand was on our lower back, directly in line with the first hand. Then we felt our hip joint as we swung our leg. By imagining a line between the hip joint and the center of our hands, we found our Center.

To sit balanced, we should be sitting on our seat bones. To find this area, we placed first one leg, than the other, onto the pommel. Slowly dropping each leg and picking up stirrups, we are now sitting correctly. I also did a hip release on 1 rider, showing the correct alignment for the leg. I showed the riders how they can do a hip release by themselves.

We worked on the Following Seat, allowing the horse to move freely and to feel the movement. Imagine a ball in our center, spinning backwards, and imagine the size of the ball. To increase the speed of the walk, imagine the ball growing, spinning larger and faster. To slow the horse's motion down, spin the ball in your center slower and decrease the size. To maintain a slowness but with an extended stride, imagine a large ball spinning slowly. Every now and then, I reminded the riders to use Soft Eyes and Breathe.

We worked at the trot, posting while using our leg joints. While in a revised seat, standing balanced in our stirrups, we worked on allowing the ankle, knee and hip joints to take up the movement of the trot. By doing so, there will be less stress on our joints, allowing our bodies to move with the horse. We worked on Dancing Knees, allowing our knees to move while the horse trotted.

At the end of the 2 ½ hour lesson, 3 of the riders practiced the lope. I had one of the riders practice loping off with their center, by thinking of sending her center forward in time with the horse’s hind leg. I had her maintain a feeling of sitting up as she loped. I wanted her to lope with a feeling of “up” through each stride when the hind leg pushed off and into another lope stride. By just thinking up, the rider had a more correct and gracefulness to her body. It was exciting to see the change in the horse‘s movement also, as he maintained a more collective stride.

Each rider worked at their own level within each of the basics. That is exactly
why Centered Riding works for all disciplines and all riders. Everyone is a
different point in their riding skills but you can work on the exercises and
maneuvers at every level of ability.

I'm excited that 2 of the riders were new to me and they are continuing lessons.
One of the riders wants to continue lessons and learn how to work with desensitizing her horse and to ride balanced if her horse should be jumpy while riding. I can't wait to have my next group lesson!

Click here to check our more about Centered Riding.

The journey has begun for a few more riders!

“Embrace the Journey!”

When the Un-Expectant Happens

Horses are so unpredictable sometimes. When you think they are riding just fine, they will, all of a sudden, get ansy, jumpy, snorty. What just happened?

As I concentrate on my Centered Riding exercises, I ride with "open eyes". I see the world around me. I know when I do that, I'm breathing better. This doesn't stop my horse from spooking at that bird that just flew up, but I'm more prepared for the spook. I sit more relaxed these days. I have even a deeper feel for what my horse is going to do. And when I feel that spook starting to happen, I sink deeper into my center. By doing so, I've deepen my seat and I have a greater grounding feeling in my stirrups.

I’m aware that my horse is a little goosey or jumpy. I’ve only had Savannah, a 4 year old, TWH, for about a month. Yes, that’s not very long. Yes, she is young. But yes, she didn’t use to spook. What changed?

First off, I’ve been feeding her very well. About 6 hours of grass and the rest of the time is spent on a round bale. She is eating all the time. I thought she was a little lanky. I slowly increased her pelleted grain from 1# to 2# to 4# per day over the first 2 weeks, changing the increments about every 3rd day. I felt she was still lean, as I‘ve been riding her every week and she has been sweating with this heat and humidity. What I have been graining her is probably at maintenance level for the amount of work that she is doing. I slowly increased her to another 4#’s, but this time, she was on a very good grain mix that is high in nutrients, but also high in molasses and fat. I think my young girl is feeling very good. Too good. I’ve decreased her feed back to 4# of the pelleted feed. No more high energy feed for her until her energy level drops!

In the outdoor arena, she used to ride fine. Then one of those gigantic black flies landed on her one day. I saw her out there, running and bucking. I think that monster fly bit her, and now every time I ride out there, she is watching for it. I make sure to totally fly spray her croup and back legs. And I’m watching out for those black flies. I have never seen so many as I have seen this year. It must be the heat and humidity bringing them out!

She also started seeing monsters in every shake or sound in the trees. I have desensitize her to every sound out there, and she never spooks when I’m on the ground. She is a little better when there is another horse in the arena or in the adjacent lot. I think she is very insecure, and maybe a follower. When I’ve had her on a trail ride, she leads out fine though. I have started lunging her before riding. I want that energy level decreased and her attention on my cues increased. This has helped.

I have also stopped pushing her into the gait as much as I had been doing when I ride her. I’ve left her to walk the arena and outside areas. Walk and relax. And I relax and breathe and use my soft eyes to see the area around me. By doing so, I’m watching for things she can spook at. Not to anticipate, but to be prepared. I’ve ridden enough to stay relaxed, even if my horses isn’t. This has helped to ride her at a slower pace.

As I relax, breathe, and use my soft eyes, I also feel very grounded. My feet are solid in the stirrups, as if I’m standing on the ground. This doesn’t mean that I’m pushing down into my stirrups, but my legs are laying in a relaxed, balanced position, and my feet are “grounded”. This grounded feeling gives you a more secure position.

I have also started lunging her with the backpack on, with a slicker thrown over the saddle, and with water bottles in the backpack. I want her used to the items that she will carry, BEFORE we are on the trail with them. She was a little bucky today at the lunge time, feeling the backpack behind the saddle. I had it secured down at 3 spots, but the sounds were still there. And the sounds were coming from behind her head, which seems to cause her to be a little bit more scared. But it seems with Savannah, once she gets over being spooky about something, she never spooks at that again. She could care less if I swing the slicker over her neck, but on that first day of showing her the slicker, it took 15 minutes of waving it around before I could approach her with it.

She took her time to realize that some items won’t hurt her, and she is fine. Just like when I opened the wire of the fence to let her in the grass area. She wasn’t going to stand by me as I moved those wires that first day. She was at the end of her lead rope, but to her credit, she didn’t pull back to try to run off. Now, 4 days later, she is a few feet from me, at a safe distance so as not to get the wire tangled in her feet, but the lead rope is slack.

If you’re wondering why in the world would I be opening up a wire section of the fence, with my horse standing near me, it is to desensitize her to the wire. We never know what we may come up on out in the real world of trails, and fences, and pastures. She knows that she doesn’t have to be scared at what has scared her in the past. She has an old wire cut on her back leg, and I’m sure she has been caught in wire before.

I’m hoping that with all the desensitizing that I am doing, the next time Savannah is spooked, she’ll be brave enough to stand and wait on my cues. I hope to build her trust in me. I want her reflex to not be scared and for flight, but to be stop and stand, and trust!

As I work with Savannah, I continue to work on centering myself. Just as I want a more relaxed response out of her to be natural, I also want to have the centering to be natural to my body. It is true that as you search for the correct balance point or a specific feeling, that it becomes natural. Your body wants to naturally seek to find that spot. I not only want my body to naturally find that spot, but to always be in that spot.

Come along on the journey!

Hot and Humid Weather

With this hot, humid weather, how do we practice any Centered Riding exercises? I ride early, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be riding. Even in my lessons, we go through a lot of slow, walking times and do a lot of stretches. I’ve done more stretches and exercises than I ever have in lessons. If I didn’t, the horses would be lathered in sweat, instead of just wet with sweat.

Why is this summer so hot and humid? Is it the extra rain? Is it the pivots adding moisture to the air? Is it global warming? Yea, right, this past December and January, there was no global warming here!

All I know is that the humidity is draining everyone’s good moods about horses and the desire to ride. How can we enjoy our horses when all we do is sweat? I try to stay calm and breathe…. Slowly.

But on the bright side, maybe there is only 1 more month of summer before the cooler weather of fall is here! Well, maybe a little over a month.

So in a month, get prepared to ride. And a lot! With a lot of homework from me! Every week, we’ll concentrate on a different Centered Riding exercise. I’ll through in an AAHS exercise. We’ll concentrate on making ourselves a balanced rider.

Sally Swift, founder of Centered Riding, said that we need to work on 75% on our riding and 25% on the horse. When we concentrate on ourselves, the riding gets easier.

Ok, plan on riding by Sept. I sure hope August isn’t so hot and humid as July!

100 Things About Me

(inspired by Linda, Just Another Day on the Prairie)

Linda has inspired me to do 100 things about myself.

1. I love my hubby.
2. I love my family.
3. I love horses, and
4. I love riding.
5. I love owning mares,
6. And I love horse babies,
7. And I love all babies, especially my grandbabies.
8. My hubby is my best friend (most of the time, anyways).
9. I know a lot of people,
10. but I don’t have many close friends.
11. Currently, I own 9 horses,
12. a Springer Spaniel female,
13. and an Aussie, Australian Shepherd, female,
14. And lots of barn cats.
15. I am 52,
16. and have been married 29 years.
17. I have 3 children, ages 23 to 28.
18. I have a girl and 2 boys.
19. I have a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law.
20. I can handle organized chaos.
21. I tear out pages of things I like from magazines (then file them in categories).
22. I enjoy photography,
23. And taking pictures of the horses, my grandbabies, the scenery, and the country.
24. I love reading books,
25. And I want to find the time to read my horse magazines.
26. I read Home Decorating magazines, and watch Home Decorating shows,
27. And I enjoy renovating my home.
28. I give horseback riding lessons,
29. I train horses and I enjoy making horses ride better.
30. And I try to teach what I know about horses to whoever wants to learn.
31. I had a tack store for 5 ½ years, that I closed this year,
32. so now I’m selling my inventory (eBay, here I come).
33. I have taken a Centered Riding clinic last year,
34. And then became a CR Level 1 instructor.
35. I will work towards becoming a CR Level 2 instructor next year.
36. I get so much more out of the CR books now.
37. Centered Riding has affected my life in more ways than in just with horses and riding.
38. I enjoy working with people who really want to learn how to ride.
39. Someday, I want to travel and give clinics.
40. I enjoy trail riding,
41. And I have bought my first gaited horse, a Tennessee Walking Horse.
42. My other horses are Quarter Horses, mares and geldings,
43. And I have 1 stud.
44. I bred to have 2 foals next year.
45. I have done 3 years of CTR (Competitive Trail Riding)
46. I want to trail ride in a new place every year.
47. This year, I am going to Custer, SD.
48. I want to do more CTR’s next year.
49. I want to start to do some trail challenges.
50. At 50, I started menopause.
51. I get “hot” at night, then cold.
52. I wake up 3-6 times a night.
53. I am looking forward to this stage of my life to be over,
54. Because I’m really tired of these dark circles!
55. I am also tired of mosquitoes, flies, deer flies, and those big black flies,
56. And I don’t like ticks! I despise them. But I believe that there is a cure for an incurable disease from ticks.
57. I love flowers,
58. And I want to plant more flowers next year.
59. I want to have a garden next year (It’s been a long time since I have had a vegetable garden).
60. I grew up in PA,
61. And have lived in New Jersey, Michigan, and
62. I have been in Nebraska for 24 years.
63. I was in PA for 24 years.
64. I will always be a Penn State Fan.
65. I played softball during the summers when I was a kid,
66. I played basketball
67. and ran track in High School, both on our school’s first girl’s teams.
68. I graduated from PSU in 1980 in Animal Production.
69. I have an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technician from MI.
70. I have a BS Degree In Ag Business from UNL.
71. I am a Certified Equine Massage Therapist.
72. I have the AAHS certification (American Association for Horsemanship Safety).
73. I work for myself so I can set my own hours.
74. Have I said how much I love to ride horses?
75. I love to shop for antiques, when I have time.
76. I cook only because we have to eat.
77. But I love to cook around the holidays.
78. I always make a large turkey for Thanksgiving,
79. a Cook’s ham for Christmas,
80. And pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day.
81. I have done some needlepoint, and would like to get back to it some day.
82. I love the color blue, especially the blue of a bright blue sky on a sunny day!
83. My Grandma’s name was Ruth, and that is my, my daughter’s, and my granddaughter’s middle name.
84. I love blogging, and telling my “story”.
85. I love mowing grass, from a riding lawnmower.
86. I love the smell of fresh hay.
87. I love my coffee in the morning.
88. I love a good steak.
89. I don’t love looking over the edge of very high buildings, cliffs, bridges, whatever.
90. I don’t like people who talk behind your back.
91. And I don’t like people who say they are your friend now, only because you are helping them with something, then they aren’t your friend in a few years??? Who needs them, anyways?
92. I love the crisp, cool days of fall.
93. I love a good, smooth Merlot,
94. Otherwise I drink boxed Zinfadel mixed with Crystal Light peach tea for a cheap winecooler.
95. I love walking the beach on a sunny day.
96. I really love being a grandmother.
97. I love God.
98. I believe things happen for a reason, and sometimes we just need to wait to see that reason or "hear" the why.
99. I love living in the country.
100. I love my life.

Now, I challenge you to do 100 things about yourself. Let me know when you do!

“Embrace the Journey!”

The Journey is Long

Life is a journey and lasts a lifetime. Life is ever changing. We are always on a journey, finding our way.

The journey can change direction. Paths twist and curve. There are stops on the way, which makes us stop to think what is next. There are crossroads, where we need to decide which way to go. Sometimes, the path ends and we need to backtrack to find where the path was. Sometimes, we are one a path, thinking that we are heading one direction, and the path changes direction without us realizing it. Or sometimes, we just have to make our own paths!

Life is about growing and maturing into wisdom and patience. Time helps us to grow from an infant to an adult. Time and good nutrition and overall good health. That includes our mental health. We need to take care of our body, as well as our mind. They both need rest, and need to be refreshed. Within our busy lives, we need to take time for rest and relaxation. As we grow, our body matures. Our minds mature, and we change.

Only time will tell how much we change, and that is also determined by how our life circumstances change. Life brings us a wisdom and patience that only time can bring to us. Life’s troubles give us wonderful hindsight for later circumstances. We change how we handle things that come our way, even changing how we would do something the next time we encounter the same situation. We mature and we may take the time to think longer or think things through more thoroughly. We gain patience, and if you do what I do, I pray for patience all the time. I pray for the knowledge of how to do something.

Life is about nurturing and comforting when someone, or something, is hurt. Through time, and becoming older, my age has brought a slowness, that isn’t from moving slow but from taking the time. Taking the time to look, think, and ponder about things. Nurture yourself and others when you need to. Find something that brings a comfort to you. Read. Find a hobby. Give yourself time to enjoy life.

We cause our life to take different paths, and the longer we think about the path that we want to take, the better the choice of our path will be. We may not choose what someone else will choose, and that is ok. It is about you and your life. Find what is right for you. When life seems to have a different path in front of you than what you thought you would take, then take that path. Remember, you can always back track later, if the path doesn’t seem quite right for you.

Paths take us on our life’s journey. Many paths and many directions. Take the time to use the knowledge and the wisdom that you gain along the way to decide what direction you want your journey to continue. It’s ok to stop and stay where you are, or take a little longer before moving on. But life won’t wait on you. Life continues on. We have the choice do stay and do nothing or to move along.

Enjoy your journey. Allow your life to grow and change. Look forward to the changes, as it can bring a wonderful, new feeling.

As I grow and change, I find a peace within me. It is a comfort for me to allow my life to go where it takes me. I don’t think and ponder the paths in front of me. I know things happen for a reason, and I allow God to guide me. My journey has become a journey of finding more peace. My journey has centered me, and that is one reason that studying Centered Riding has appealed to me and for my love of horses.

Life is good if you let it be. Let the opportunities, that happen along the way, happen for a reason. A good reason. A reason that is right for you. Enjoy your life today.

Come along on my journey with me, and as always, "Embrace the Journey!"

Learning to Lope

For tomorrow's lesson, I have an adult who wants to learn to lope. My lesson mare, Starlet, is great for this. She is a little western pleasure loper, very true and very smooth, if she goes slow. Starlet listens to my cues, so I have the rider on the lunge line, and we both cue Starlet for the lope. The rider gives the body cues, and I give my subtle cues with my voice and body. This gives the rider confidence in knowing how to execute the lope.

How will I use Centered Riding, and CR exercises? I will ground and center myself first. Then I will have the rider do some exercises while on the lunge line. Before asking for the lope departure, I'll have the rider breathe, center and have clear intent on asking for the lope. I'll let you know tomorrow how the morning goes.

Soft Eyes and Breathing

First, I’d like to say Happy Birthday to my friend Gretchen. I hope you had a fantastic horsey day with Rainbow and Tootsie.

Let's work on Soft Eyes and Breathing. Even though this seems really easy to do, once we start concentrating, we move into hard eyes and quit breathing. We start to stare at 1 spot. We start to hold our breath. We tense. And our horse tenses as well. We forget about the world around us, but our horse hasn’t. Feeling the tension, our horse starts to tighten his muscles, he lifts his head, and may start to be skittish.

As we tense, we tighten up. Our shoulders get stiff. Our hands tighten on the reins. Our arms quit moving with the motion of the horse. We lose our center and our seat. We tip forward or backward. Our thighs tighten, and we start to grip without knees and calves. We lose our weight in the stirrups and the grounded feeling.

Now take a deep breath, then take another deep breath, and let in sink into your center. Take another deep breath, and let it settle and sink down into your seat. The 3rd deep breath should sink down into your feet.

Now take a moment and see everything that is around you. Open your eyes, while looking straight ahead, still see what is around you. Breathe deeply. Now see the same view, use your peripheral vision. How much more can you see? As you breathe deeply, how much more relaxed do you feel?

Begin to walk your horse. Breathing deeply through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth, feel how much more relaxed you and your horse is. Breathing deeply, realize how much more you can see. Pay attention to nothing. Ride anywhere, allowing your horse to relax and drop his neck.

As your horse relaxes, you as the rider, relaxes. The horse begins to move freely, and you as the rider, begin to move more freely. As you move, the tension leaves the moving parts. Therefore, you can’t be tense and move. As you look around, you breathe easier. You aren’t concentrating on 1 thing, but you are taking in everything.

Before, we were spiraling downward, as hard eyes and holding our breath was causing tense muscles and a tense horse. The tenser we got, the tenser the horse got. We caused the tension with the hard eyes and lack of deep breathing.

Now, we are spiraling upward. As we soften our eyes and breathe deeply, our horse relaxes. We feel the horse moving freely and we relax. The more relaxed we became, the more relaxed the horse became. It is easier to see everything. It is easier to breathe deep. Our limbs move, our joints are relaxed, and we’re riding the horse without tension. The horse moves out freely. His movement becomes deeper. The tension leaves our body and we move freely also.

I'll chat more about this topic on my chat Horses Are Our Lives, at
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/horsesareourlives

Come join in on the discussion, and the journey!

Embrace the Journal!

Shaggy in Colorado

The Centered Riding Update Clinic. Enjoy the pics!



Our Centered Riding Clinic in Steamboat Springs, CO. Beautiful country!


Shaggy in the outdoor arena. Memories of Finny in the same arena come flooding back.


Shaggy is so quiet at the clinic. It is amazing. This is the first time that he has been off the place.


What an arena! Dressage barn with mirrors! But what makes it wonderful is the people! Regina is the perfect hostess. What I love about her is how much she is willing to share, and how much she wants to!


Danicng Knees, but I could have had them bent more,


Sitting the trot down the rail,


Relaxed,


Arena of my dreams!


Bending very nice!


Collecting at the trot,


Trot to Walking transitions,


Posting Trot, and showing off some muscle,


Bending in a Figure 8 Circle,


and finally, the lope departure,