deconstructing riding – Page 16

How To Be An Active Horseback Rider (a.k.a. Riding With Intention)

What do you do when your ride isn't going as planned? How do you respond when your horse scoots out from under you, spooks at the horse-killing object, or flat out ignores you?

Do you tense into rigidity as panic slides through your body? Do you get mad/get even after regaining balance from the spook? Or maybe you just give up after the hundredth try?

You need to know that horses are virtually mind-readers, likely thanks to the close proximity of the horse/rider combination. Let's face it - the horse can probably feel every fiber of your being while you are on his back. Your tension, fear, or withdrawal comes through loud and clear and transmits messages that you are probably not even aware that you're sending.

What is the real root of the problem?

Listen carefully to your self-talk during these sorts of scenarios. Before you ever go into physical action, your mind is working a mile a minute. When the horse runs off, your mind is screaming for the stop. When he spooks, you are first thinking about the source of the spook, and then you think about all the reasons the horse should not be spooking. For the horse that tunes you out - the thoughts of your frustration come through to the forefront. You react to the horse's actions, and forget all about what you wanted to do in the first place. Without realizing it, you become a reactive rider.

Does any of this sound familiar? Of course, we've all been there.

How to be an "active" rider

It's all about riding with intention.

And intention starts with the mind.

You have to learn to re-program your thoughts during those sticky situations. When the horse scoots forward, think: "Go with the horse, then half-halt, half-halt, half-halt." When the horse spooks, think: "There is nothing out there to hurt you. Just move your inside front leg more to the inside." When the horse does not respond, think: "Take that first step."

Talk to yourself especially through sticky situations.

The power of self-talk: think in words, not sentences.

Break down the thoughts that go through your mind - don't think in long, detailed sentences. Reduce your thoughts to just two or three things you want the horse to do, and stick to those. Be as specific as you can possibly be. Rather than thinking "Slow down! I can't stand it when you run off!", think, "Bend", or "Step to the inside", or "Circle".

Keep it simple and clear. Use positive action statements. Think what TO do rather than what NOT to do. Avoid waiting for the horse to take the lead; instead, be the leader by giving clear, quick instructions.

Then act on your thoughts.

Your horse will be relieved to discover that you can communicate clearly and with purpose.

*Note: There is one more phase to being a truly active rider. Once you have trained your mind to think through the ride moment to moment, you will discover that at some point, you can stop thinking. Your body can continue to "act" on its own without you having to be consciously aware of each movement. When you can let your body "take over" in a productive way, you know you are well on your way to becoming one with the horse!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Personally signed books available! Just send me a message.

Would you like to be the rider that all horses dream of?

By following simple, useful exercises, you will be able to develop a better understanding about many topics including:

- the rider’s aids

- the use of the seat

- the half-halt

- accurate turns and circles

- transitions

- horse ownership and horse care

- goal setting for the rider

- rein lameness

… and much more!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

When “Good Enough” Just Isn’t Good Enough in Horseback Riding

We all like to say that we are "good enough" at what we do - and riding is no different. We ride our horses, get on, ride on the trails, ride in the ring, get off and do it again another day.

We like to think that what we are doing is good and true and accurate and improves our horses... at least, in our opinion!

So what if the horse forever shies at the same corner in the same way under the same conditions? We can easily avoid that corner. So what if our horse's coat condition isn't just "perfect"? The shine and sheen you can get from a coat is overrated anyway, as long as he is getting fed. Why bother with improving the transitions just a little bit when we do get from the trot to the canter eventually? ANY canter is better than no canter.

And seriously, what does it matter if the horse never really responds when we want him to? We can cut him some slack and let things happen when he feels like it... who does that hurt, really? We get our enjoyment from riding whether he is point-perfect or not.

Hiding "behind the barn" hurts not only ourselves but our also our horses.

We fall into ruts and routines that prevent us from going further in our education. We get used to running into the same old trouble, and rather than challenge the status quo, we:

- suffer the problems.

- avoid the circumstances.

- "victimize" ourselves into thinking that in order to get our ride in, we have to go through those rituals.

We come up with all sorts of excuses to explain why we don't want to or can't get past the problem.

Have you ever heard someone say, "The horse feels like it," or "The horse doesn't enjoy it," and they truly seem to believe that nothing can be done to change the situation?

Why we must get out of our backyards.

Unfortunately, this type of thinking is what sets apart the people who "do" and the people who simply don't. The ones who do progress and improve and develop are the ones who can set aside their egos and take a leap of faith - in themselves, in their horses, in their peers and even in their coaches.

They are the ones who get up early in the morning and set off for the show - despite being nervous, stressed or unsure. They are the ones who take an undesirable result and turn it into a learning experience. They are prepared to put it all "out there" and head off to a clinic where a multitude of faces watch their every move and an unfamiliar (but respected) clinician picks apart their skills.

There is no way to improve other than to put ourselves "out there".

When we head to the show, or the clinic, or especially the riding lesson, we are putting ourselves in a position to be scrutinized, compared and even evaluated. We expose our skills and training and get feedback.

We learn that perhaps there is a way to get past that spooky corner. Perhaps the riding ritual we find ourselves in can be redirected into something positive and useful. Maybe high-quality grooming can be an accomplishment in itself, and kept up at home. And we realize that it might be in fact possible to ask our horse to respond more promptly, and discover that we both enjoy the improved communication.

The learning curve can be steep and may make a big impact. It may be uncomfortable at times, difficult to be sure and possibly may turn out to be exhilarating. But one thing is constant - that self-improvement occurs. "Good enough" starts to become "better". We progress past the learning plateau and move on to new heights.

And the horse is the one to benefit.

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Other posts you might enjoy:

Speaking "Horse" (a.k.a. Pushing the Envelope): You must learn how to understand the language of the horse.

Ask 25 Horse People One Question...: ... and get 25 different answers! What to do with all those opinions.

To Lesson or Not To Lesson? That isn't even a question!

On Enjoying the Path: You have to enjoy the "work" in riding and not just the "fun"!

Too Good To Be True? Finding Your Horse’s “Happy Place”

Did you know that through riding, you can help your horse achieve a happy, content outlook on life? Sounds ridiculously far-fetched? Too good to be true?

We have already discussed the Top Nine Ways to Prevent Your Horse From Finding His “Happy Place” in Riding in our previous post - so this time, we're going to tell you how to find the "happy place" we all so desire for our horses.* The ideas below are written with riding in mind.**

Try a few of these tips and see the results you get from your horse. Then comment below and share your insights.

The outside of the horse mirrors his internal state.

Horses don't lie. Without a doubt, you can clearly "read" how the horse feels just by watching him being ridden (or riding him yourself - then, you get even more feedback). Essentially, the horse's "outline" tells you his state of mind. Of course, you need to know what to look for, but once you can identify the communication signs, you will know exactly what is going on inside the mind of the horse.

A round, forward-moving, enthusiastic horse is in his happy place. His ears will be lightly forward (occasionally flicking back and forth on and off his rider) and he will be moving with expression. He looks like he is enjoying what he is doing, and moving on his own initiative.

In contrast, the unhappy horse is reluctant, sluggish, ears back (not necessarily pinned), and looking like the movement is belabored. The strides are short, the back is hollow and the horse is not "using" himself well enough to be comfortable under the rider. He will have a tendency to be on the forehand, and inconsistently responsive.

Have a consistent "yes" and "no".

Horses are just like the rest of us: they thrive on positive feedback. In establishing your riding parameters, you must communicate "yes" (harmonizing) and "no" (resisting) regularly and consistently. In fact, you might need to communicate one or the other message as quickly as stride to stride! Be sure to communicate frequently enough so that your horse won't end up wondering - what am I doing wrong?

Many riders use a low, soft "goooood" voice aid to reinforce the correct response from the horse, however, the same effect can be gained by saying "yes" through the body. If you can find a "yes" answer physically (release of your joints, following through the seat versus resisting, or allowing through all your aids), you can communicate the "yes" message faster than you can say it. And this is the way your horse can find his happy place - because he knows where he stands and gets regular and consistent feedback quickly enough to be able to respond to it and find his place of comfort.

Listen for the snort and feel for the licking and chewing.

There is no more obvious sign of the horse in his happy place other than the snort. A little snort is a good sign, a loud, wet, heart-felt series of snorts that rock you out of the saddle is ideal! (Have a snorting contest with your riding partner: who can be the first to get a snort out of their horse? Who can get the most snorts out of their horse?!)

In general, after the snort session, you will find the horse licking and chewing like he just ate something exquisite and tasty - and yes, the horse can do all the above even while trotting and cantering. The final sign of contentment is the saliva that coats around the lips of the horse. A dry mouth usually denotes discomfort or stress of some sort; drool is a key indicator of "happy place" heaven!

Do something fun!

When the "learning" part of your session is over, or if you want to take a brief reprieve after a difficult stretch of work, let the horse do something he likes. One horse might enjoy a stretchy trot; another prefers a lengthen; still another gets a kick (not literally!) out of a flying change! Every horse has one or more favorite exercises - listen carefully to your horse to identify his preference, and then use that movement as a moment of celebration!

Look for any excuse to celebrate!

Everyone loves a celebration! Don't leave your horse out - invite him to celebrate with you at every opportunity; in fact, look for excuses to celebrate! Did he just struggle through a particularly difficult movement? Celebrate! Did he lick and chew and release his topline for the first time in the ride? Celebrate!

I'm sure you're starting to get the idea. Let me know if you gave any of these tips a try, or if you have any other "happy place" tips you can share. Happy riding!

* The assumption is that all the other bare necessities (feed, shelter, etc.) as discussed in the previous article have already been met.

** Note: The "happy place" discussed here is the one your horse can find in the ring, during the lesson/workout/training session. There are many other ways to change up the routine (e.g. go for a trail ride) but that is a completely different topic!

What You Ought to Know About Instant Gratification in Horse Riding

There is no such thing.

As you become a better rider, you begin to run into obstacles that were previously unnoticeable. Invariably, there comes a time when the simple becomes complicated. Without warning, riding becomes more than just the various gaits and transitions, more than a turn with the hands. You read and study and watch and discover that there is so much more to each gait, more to each turn, and more to the joys of riding.

The original walk that once felt adequate is no longer satisfying. That wonderful canter is now not quite balanced enough. You discover nerve endings where there were none before, and you are inspired to reach for new heights thanks to energizing "feels" emanating from an enthusiastic horse, confirming more than ever that you are on the right path.

The joy that went along with the simplicity of riding might be temporarily gone. You approach days of confusion, questions, and ultimately, frustration. You wonder why there seems to be so many details, so many little nuances that change sometimes on an even daily basis. And you begin to wonder:

Why is riding so difficult?

The quick and easy answer is that riding horses is about combining many and varied details into one - nothing can be achieved in isolation.

Everything matters:

- the mood of the horse

- the weather

- the horses around you

- the regularity of the the exercise the horse gets

- the type of feed

- the riding environment

But there is more!

Living, breathing horse — Photo Credit: C.C.

Aside from the environmental factors, riding is an especially difficult sport because of the balancing requirements inherent to moving through space on a living, breathing animal. Charles de Kunffy says it so well in his book, The Athletic Development of the Dressage Horse (1992):

The partnership between horse and rider is difficult to achieve and even more ambitious to make beneficial to both. Horse and rider posses the two most unlikely anatomies to be harmoniously united for the purpose of progressing effortlessly through space. The horse has a narrow, precariously balanced, horizontal structure, much like a pipeline. This structure has narrowly set, weak underpinning, the legs, bridged by a weak back. There, almost at its weakest point, the most unlikely candidate for partnership, the vertically pipelike human, wishes to intercept at a 90-degree angle. Both are creatures of precarious balance, even when left alone to cope with the ground. In riding, we wish to harmonize our balance with the horse's for common progress through space. (p.2)

Obviously, there have been thousands upon thousands of "mutually beneficial" partnerships in the past and in the present; apparently, the human body can in fact become united with that of the 4-legged horse that travels so relatively effortlessly over the ground. The trick is to learn how to become harmonious - how much to give, how much to take, and when to accept what is being offered to you.

So many questions!

You must learn to differentiate between too much, too little and just enough; between too early, too late and just in time; between resisting, energizing and being plainly passive. When is the horse going too quickly, too slowly, too enthusiastically, too lazily? What do you do in each case? How do you combine all your aids to communicate the right message at the right time? How do you not only refrain from interfering with your horse, but even learn to improve your horse to become better than his original state?

What is the answer?

There is no easy answer. The most obvious consideration is to seek out a credible instructor well versed in not only in all things 'horse', but also in instructional techniques and experience. There is no replacement for an 'eye on the ground' - no blog post, no (however well written) book, and no video - although such media do play a role in the over-all education of a rider. The person on the ground is the one who translates what the rider is doing now into what the rider can do in the future.

The other task, however difficult, is to try, try, try and try again. Pack it in one day, and start all over again tomorrow. Learning to change muscle memory and developing a blueprint takes time, dedication and repetition. Each time you change the 'rules' on your horse, be ready for a step backward before a new step can be reached. There is no other way.

Be patient - with yourself and your horse, and find joy in the pure accomplishment of learning from your horse; focus more on the journey rather than the goal. As Mr. de Kunffy writes so eloquently, "Riding is, therefore, an ongoing, never-ending, challenging process. That aspect makes riding so intelligent and significant an effort. One merely strives, one never arrives." (Ibid, p. 4)

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

From the first book:

"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.

Riding gives us the place to just be.

Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.

But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."

And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience

Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!

Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Stepping “Forward” in Horse Riding

The term 'forward' is used liberally in horse riding but is often misunderstood. We tend to think a horse is forward when the legs are moving and the horse is flying along - but this picture is far from the truth. So if forward is not an increase in tempo (the speed of the footfalls), then what is it?

Imagine a mother/father and child walking along holding hands. There can be several variations in this scene:

- both parent and child are walking along in tandem, progressing through space at a mutually accepted pace, reaching for each other's hand willingly and confidently

- the child is pulling ahead of the parent, thereby pulling the parent off his/her feet

- the child is pulling behind the parent, thereby causing the parent to slow down/stop

- the child is pulling sideways from the parent but the parent isn't letting go; this causes the parent to be dragged left/right, again causing a disturbance in the progression

The only 'forward' scenario is the first. The parent and child move along in tandem while holding hands, matching stride for stride and walking/running in a cooperative, mutually beneficial manner.

Similarly, when a horse is 'forward', it is reaching ahead of itself, gamely assuming a forward space each stride, reaching confidently to the bit, and showing a calm, confident, round and overall happy and willing demeanor. The horse can reach forward for the bit in the same way that a child offers his hand to be taken. Of course, the hand of the rider must be as accepting and gentle as the hand of the parent, inspiring the horse to want to reach even more and settle into a comfortable "happy place".

A horse can be forward while slowly progressing through space - so speed is not a variable in being forward. In fact, a horse can be moving backward and still be 'forward'! Confused yet?!

Even though being 'forward' is primarily a secretly hidden feeling kept between the horse and rider, you can actually see 'forward'. (Click here to tweet that)

What does it look like?

- the horse is round, calm and athletic looking: it appears as though the horse can stop/turn/change gait at a moment's notice

- the horse has soft (not perky), forward ears; it looks like he is eagerly moving to somewhere he wants to go

- the hind legs are freely reaching deep underneath the body (as far as conformation allows)

- there is a sense of graceful power; the horse can float into upward or downward transitions without losing balance

- the horse is off the forehand; he is neither heavy on the hands and heading into the ground nor is he hollow-backed with a 'giraffe neck' sticking upward at an awkward angle

- the tempo of the gait is strong, powerful, supple and almost leisurely - there is no scrambling for speed nor does the horse look like it's stuck in quicksand

- most importantly, the horse looks to be comfortable, confident and enjoying the moment

Realistically speaking, we spend most of our riding time NOT being in a forward state. Many factors contribute to a horse being 'backward' including rushing/being lazy, scary spots (spooking), distractions, uneven footing, and even the mood of the horse or the rider. In fact, being forward results in an improved psychological and physical state - for both the rider and the horse.

Do you have a better word for it? How would you describe being 'forward'?

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Stop wandering round and round aimlessly!

Horse Listening Book 4 is a compilation of the best patterns that have been shared on the Horse Listening Blog. The book is divided into five sections: Warm-Ups, Left and Right, Straightness, Suppleness and Collection. Each section has specific exercises and theory based on its topic.

But there's more!

There is a Special Center Section dedicated to only Transitions - something that we can all work on throughout our riding careers. And finally, scattered throughout the book are chapters that clearly explain theory, technique and skills that can help improve the featured exercises of teach Section.

Use these 20-minute exercises!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

A Cautionary Horse Tale

Black and White — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

Once you decide to ride horses, you put into place a domino effect of consequences, which will occur whether you are conscious of them or not. It is like a rule of nature - the results are the results regardless of your intentions, desires and motivations.

And so you proceed to put your weight on horse's back, asking him to move in tandem with your (sometimes uncoordinated) instructions, changing the weight distribution on his back and legs and (quite) possibly upsetting his balance. Most horses will proceed to do their best to support you even to their own physical detriment.

It is therefore important to know that there is "no neutrality" in classical horsemanship. One is either contributing to the horse's well-being by rehabilitation, restoration or gymnastic development, or one is breaking him down. There is never anything "in neutral" or on "hold" or ready to "just wait a minute."

Horsemanship is always working with full commitment towards benefit or harm. *

This is where brain must meet brawn. At the intersection of movement and time, you find yourself in a constant state of disequilibrium and re-balancing. And the question begs to be asked: what can you do to not only avoid being the source of damage to the horse, but instead develop enough skill to become the active agent that develops, "rehabilitates"**, and even improves the horse from its natural state?

Learning how to ride so that you are not a burden to the horse takes time, knowledge, perseverance, self-discipline, at least a minimal amount of athleticism and yes, even sweat and tears. Making the commitment to stick through the learning curves (so many plateaus and even some steps backward before going forward again) seems to at times test you to the depths of your character - to the point that you think, "Was this my idea of fun?!"

But don't despair - this is not a tale of doom and gloom. It is a hopeful tale, one that inspires rather than frustrates. For there are so many glorious experiences just waiting around the corner, if only you just stick to your daily work, and put in the (sometimes huge) effort into improving your skills. You will know when those moments occur, because those are the moments that keep you working so hard for more.

Regardless of where you are in your development as a rider, in the back of your mind you must always be seeking for the better way. This is the way that promotes confidence in both the yourself as the rider and the horse, the way that improves you to the point that you and your horse are of one mind and body, and most importantly, the way that allows your horse to develop positively mentally and physically, making him a happier, better adjusted, more settled, sounder horse for many years of partnership ahead.

And when that happens, relish the moment, and keep searching for more of the same!

* Excerpt from The Ethics and Passions of Dressage (1993), by Charles deKunffy, p. 81

** Charles deKunffy discusses the concept of "rehabilitation" of the horse at length in all of his books. He contends that horses must undergo therapeutic development before they can begin to perform at the athletic level. Read any of his books for incredibly insightful and technical essays.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Available as an eBook or paperback.

For more articles like this:

The Dynamic Dependency of Horseback Riding: Why is it that riding can become so difficult at times? In riding, nothing can be done in isolation.

When Do You Start Riding Your Horse? This question was being posed to me by a very respected and horse-wise mentor one day long ago, early in my riding development.

Riding is Simple, But Not Easy! Let’s face it – all we want is for the horse to do what we want, when we want, where we want, with suppleness and strength!

Ride Backwards, But Ride Effectively! Although the rider had developed the correct “look”, the horse was telling a different story.

From a Whisper to a Scream: How Loud Should Our Aids Really Be? Should we be “loud” in our aids, or should we be working as softly as we can in hopes that our horse can respond to lighter and more refined aids?

The Truth About Balance

"The classical seat with a vertical alignment of ears, shoulders, hips, and heels, is the 'neutral' position to which the rider returns immediately after all deviations that the horse may have made necessary. It is the position in which the rider is the least burdensome, even to a young horse - because he is sitting in balance with the horse. Leaving this position is either an aid, which helps the horse improve or regain his own balance and straightness, or it is an interference, which destroys the horse's balance and straightness."

- Thomas Ritter, ArtisticDressage.com

One of the "golden rules" in riding is the seeking of the perfect balance. We all strive for balance - in our position, our seat, our movement with the horse. Another fundamental area of emphasis is in the horse's balance: too low, and the horse is on the forehand; too high, and we risk taking unplanned airs above the ground!

But there is so much more to balance.

The secret is identifying when you find the "perfect in-between" - and being able to replicate that just-right-balance regularly enough to reap the rewards.

When considering horses, finding balance occurs in avenues other than just during the rides themselves. Too much of something can be just as harmful as too little, and the horse person must learn to 'listen' carefully to the horses to know how much of something is just enough.

You must find balance in:

- hay: too much is almost as bad as too little

- supplements: too much can be wasteful or damaging, and too little can be similarly wasteful and useless

-riding: too often, and the horse can get "sour"; too infrequent, and your horse becomes less fit, able, and mentally ready

-turnout: too long and your horse gets dirty/cold/tired/ "wild"; too short and your horse gets bored/sour/unhappy

-bathing: not often enough, and the coat gets grimy and bacteria can cause skin problems; too often, and the oil gets stripped from the hair and the coat loses its luster and shine

Well, you get the idea.

There must be balance in pretty much everything, and all you need to find it is awareness and willingness to make the necessary changes to even out the scales. And whether you are sitting in balance on the horse, or achieving balanced nutritional requirements, you can be satisfied in knowing that the perfect-in-between is a great place to be!

What other areas do you find balance in your horse riding and keeping endeavors?

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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Read more!

What You Ought to Know About Instant Gratification in Horse Riding: There is NO SUCH THING! Why not???

Blueprinting: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Why is it essential that you learn how to ride correctly in the first place?

Quit to Persevere: We're always told that we should keep going until the point gets across. Read why it is sometimes BETTER to quit!

In the Beginning (riding): What can you expect when you start riding? Read this article to know about the beginning of "the path".

Blueprinting – the good, the bad and the ugly

Since the horse's reactions are many times faster than man's, it is only through conditioning with consistent work, and through our ability to prepare both ourselves and the horse with timely aiding, that an element of predictability - the nucleus of a smooth performance - is established.

- Erik Herbermann, Dressage Formula (1980), p.7

__________________________________

Riding is a whole-body endeavour that involves every part of the rider. From controlling the tips of the fingers to the ends of the toes to everything in between, the body must be engaged in large and small movements over space in time. Aids must be precise, gentle and timed in relation to the horse's movement. At any given moment, the rider must be engaged in some expression of movement in order to follow and guide the horse's next steps.

Blueprinting, in the riding sense, refers to the muscle memory that is developed in both the horse are rider. The whole concept of riding could seem to be a very daunting task if it weren't for the fact that muscles develop a movement 'blueprint' - once the neural pathways are engaged and connected, similar movements in similar circumstances become easier and easier until that particular movement occurs with little conscious thought. In effect, with sufficient practice, the rider can stop having to think about what the body is doing - you can essentially send the body on auto-pilot and think very little other than to get down to the business of 'feeling'.

The Good

Long ago, my instructor explained it to me this way: blueprinting is an advantage in the sense that once you achieve 'autopilot' you can rely on your central nervous system (CNS) to do most of the 'thinking' in response to the many tiny movements required to respond to the horse's movements.

The time it takes to send messages to brain and then instructions back to the body is too long to be able to keep up fluidly with the horse's movements. Letting the CNS take over allows you to release your muscles and joints so they can easily flow with the horse. When you reach this state of non-thinking, you can begin to ride more in the right brain, and start riding with "feel".

Then the magic happens - you no longer feel earthbound - your horse floats along with ease and the rules of gravity seem to no longer apply. Similarly, your horse resonates with bliss - with snorts, soft floppy ears, and effortless flow of the back. For all intents and purposes, it appears as if you and your horse are moving 'as one', thinking the same thought, dancing the dance.

The Bad

The bad news about blueprinting is that the same learning process occurs with all body movements - even the ones you'd rather NOT duplicate! We usually consider these movements to be bad habits, things we know we are doing but we shouldn't be doing!

The trouble with blueprinting in the negative sense is that the undesired movement becomes the 'autopilot' movement and so a vicious cycle begins to reproduce itself. And the biggest obstacle comes when you try to undo the physical movement and try to replace it with something more suitable. Now, you have to THINK about each aspect of the new movement - and tell each part of your body to make that movement one step at a time... which in general, ends up being too slow to correspond to the horse's movement. The reeducation process takes much time and effort - in fact, much more effort to undo than if it was correctly learned in the first place.

The Ugly

Worse still, is when you are so permanently blueprinted that you don't even recognize that you are producing a movement. It becomes unconscious, and your body effectively begins to lie to you - you think you're doing one thing when in fact, you're doing something else. In this case, it becomes difficult to even identify what is causing the situation, never mind try to find a solution.

What to do?

It seems that the situation is pretty daunting. What is a rider to do, especially because everything we do in the saddle influences the horse, either positively or negatively? The obvious answer is to get the right blueprinting in the first place. Your first riding experiences can set the stage either way - for the good or the bad.

The key, as always, is to find a good riding instructor. Also, find a good "school master" - a horse that is well trained, good minded and reliable, so he can teach you. Progress on to younger/less educated/more sensitive horses only after you have developed sufficient skills and then, keep getting guidance from a good instructor.

For those of us who are already not-perfectly-blueprinted: be ready to buckle up the seat belt and stay for the long haul. It will take time, patience and perseverance. Be forgiving of both yourself and your horse. Ride with a kind sense of humour.

Be satisfied with small steps in the right direction. Know when to quit, and when to try again. Stay determined, but stay gentle and calm. Enjoy the path, and don't be too quickly discouraged. And above all else, listen to your horse, for if you can hear, you will get all the answers you need to succeed.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Read more here:

The Pinnacle of Horseback Riding: Riding toward the ultimate release – this is the stuff riders dream of.

Finding Your Comfortable Un-Comfort in Riding: Being uncomfortable is often a good place to be in riding.

23 Ways to Solve the Riding Problem: Of course, we rarely speak of the one “true” way…

Rarely Considered, Often Neglected: Lunging to Develop the Riding Seat: The secret to developing an effective seat.

Interpreting the Half-Halt: This topic is a tricky one but here is a shot at it.

Horses. Riding. Life.

Category: deconstructing riding

How To Be An Active Horseback Rider (a.k.a. Riding With Intention)

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

When “Good Enough” Just Isn’t Good Enough in Horseback Riding

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Too Good To Be True? Finding Your Horse’s “Happy Place”

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

What You Ought to Know About Instant Gratification in Horse Riding

There is no such thing.

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Stepping “Forward” in Horse Riding

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

A Cautionary Horse Tale

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

The Truth About Balance

But there is so much more to balance.

You must find balance in:

Well, you get the idea.

What other areas do you find balance in your horse riding and keeping endeavors?

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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Blueprinting – the good, the bad and the ugly

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding