BREATHE LIFE INTO TRAINING

HARMONY IN COMMUNICATION By Jenny Rolfe

OBSERVING THE HORSE

Harmony is borne from many hours spent observing, listening and responding thus providing an environment, where both confidence and trust may flourish. You sometimes hear riders complaining about their horse, who has become difficult and unco-operative. This may be manifested in objectionable, resistant and sometimes potentially dangerous behaviour.

The horse may respond in a disruptive way, as a result of being placed in a stressful situation, where he feels anxious and insecure. Humans and animals respond to stress in many different ways. When our horse is subject to our modern day expectations, this can causes anxiety for him. If he is exposed to much pressure, which is unnatural for him, then he may react in a negative manner. It is our responsibility to ensure that when the horse is reprimanded, we have not abused his trust or generosity. If we mis read the signals he is trying to give us, whilst looking for security and leadership, this will make him even more wary and distrustful. The horse looks to a herd environment for his security and we need to be aware of his natural fear and flight instinct which will be instigated if he has only fear and anxiety within his surroundings.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOOSE WORK IN TRAINING

It can be helpful for the trainer to observe the horse working at liberty. It is an opportunity to assess his ability, energy and individual nature and also the way in which he naturally uses himself. We may observe him lacking energy in his gaits with insufficient propulsion from the hind limbs. Insufficient activity will cause the head and neck carriage to become elevated, but when we ask for more energy within the gait, the horse with produce true self-carriage, elevation and fluidity within his movement. This will result in a natural (not artifical) lowering of the head and neck carriage. This 'frame' should not be forced in ridden work, but encouraged, by instigating forward, fluid energy, from a calm and trusting horse.

This is also an opportunity for the trainer to establish his leadership, thus taking this relationship through to the ridden work. Harmony can be encouraged if we offer the horse an opportunity to warm up either through loose work, lungeing and working in hand. The first few minutes of our ridden work should allow time for the horse to stretch his muscles, loosen up and also tune into a positive attitude for work.

One of my clients, a keen competitive rider, came to me with her five year old 17hh Warmblood gelding. He appeared to lack any motivation or confidence in forward movement. I felt he had been rather restricted within his neck, by the rider’s hands and by nature had rather large strides were giving the rider the feel of ‘hovering’ movement but he was not using himself with sufficient energy. Over several days we worked him loose in the school, encouraging him to move with more energy and impulsion.. He began to release and flow through his spine and his forward movement gained in confidence and fluidity. His neck began to stretch and lower from the withers and he lengthened the muscles through his top line.

When he became confident and more athletic in his loose work, we began lungeing, using loose side reins, sometimes using trotting poles to continue to encourage his downward stretch through his neck. We then brought the rider and horse together on the lunge, with the rider more focused on her lateral breathing to maintain her core stability and balance. Initially, she rode with longer reins and slowly, through transitions built up the engagement of the hind limbs. Her horse began to offer more lightness through a relaxed and lengthened neck which came up and out from the withers into a truly released poll. He was learning to become an athlete and responsive, confident pupil.

LOOKING AT THE RIDER

When we sit on the back of a horse we immediately disturb their natural balance. When moving correctly, the horse will propel himself forwards with energy from the hind limbs. This will encourage his spine to elevate, thus creating fluidity with more lightness. Steady, relaxed breathing encourages more rhythm and stability through the rib cage and spine. We need to be aware of our own lightness and balance to help the horse to maintain this harmonious way of going.

The horse will move away from pressure, thus if we ride with too much tension or ‘weight bearing down’ he will instinctively protect his spine by withdrawing away from the weight. This will lead to compression of the spine and will not facilitate the fluidity of natural movement we seek during training. If we become more aware of our core stability and breathing when we are riding, we will enhance our natural poise and self carriage. This is fundamental to the rider as the key to absorbing the forward, upward and sideways movement of the horse. A balanced rider can then give more security to his horse.

An awareness of our breathing and using techniques of lateral breathing can also help us to feel more calm thus enhancing the harmony between horse and rider. He will be looking to us, for calm leadership! Fluidity of movement will enhance harmony. If we 'fix' with our hands, or any of our joints we will restrict forward movement. Tension restricts motion therefore our energy cannot flow.

You can gain some idea of this concept by standing on the ground holding a tray in your hands with a bowl full of water. Initially just take a few steps forward, with fixed wrists and watch the liquid spill over the bowl.

Then, whilst standing still, take a deep inward breath (as with lateral breathing) and feel your upper torso strengthen and lengthen and your shoulders lighten. Then allow a deeper exhalation and begin to walk forwards, maintaining a relaxed elbow and lightness in your forearm and wrist. Use your breathing, within your walking, to control a steady flow of movement and balance. In this way movement is better absorbed and the fluid in the bowl will be calm and still.

The shoulder and upper arm is supported by our breathing so that our balance and centre of energy remain in our core. Now walk forwards with your arms outstretched, carrying the tray further away from you. Feel the loss of balance and energy now directed towards your hands. This loss of balance can be similar for the rider. The contact between the hand of the rider and the mouth of the horse, is also a connection with his mind. A relaxed mind will allow a relaxed contact. If the horse feels tense and unyielding in his mind, the contact between the rider’s hands and the mouth of the horse, will lack true submission and harmony.

All forward and lateral movement should be first instigated from the 'core' of the rider. For instance, if we move the horse laterally by bearing down with excess weight in one stirrup, the natural balance of the horse will be dislodged. He may move sideways to compensate for the lack of balance on his back but he will not be moving in balance, but rather ‘toppling’ to catch the weight so he can regain his own stability. Our legs should hang in a relaxed manner, not with a fixing of the heel, but in the words of Nuno Oliveria, ‘have the feel of placing your foot into a carpet slipper’ This means a relaxed heel and foot and not a forced unnatural position. When we tighten through our calf muscles we displace our core stability and our body will be compensating for tightened muscles rather than seeking a more fluid and natural balance.

If we allow our legs to hang naturally down the side of the horse we will not restrict the sideways movement of the rib cage. It is interesting just to watch the horse walking away from you and his movement which is forward, sideways and of course up and down. As riders it is impossible for us to absorb this movement with fluidity if we are restricted in our body.

When we use excess pressure with our legs against the horse’s rib cage we are asking the horse to move away. This can only create tension. We need to encourage forward movement but we do not want to teach the horse to tighten through his own rib cage which will result in more stilted strides. Within our training we are trying to build a positive desire from the horse to move forward with both energy and pride. The purpose of our aids is not to give the horse the feeling that he has to move to escape excess pressure from the rider. Stronger aids are sometimes necessary to re-enforce our requests but 'less will be more' if we look for more sensitive skills of communication. If we use the power of our breathing, then if the horse ignores this communication, the legs can be used once. If we need to reinforce our instructions then tap with the whip. When this order of communication is used consistently the horse will learn to move from the breath, as they prefer the lighter more sensitive aid. Lateral breathing will support a more fluid spine which can help to absorb the energy of the movement, as a wave in the sea.

THE RELATIONSHIP

Loose work through every level of training will keep us mindful of the true nature of the horse. There are some problems in training which may be assisted by taking a step back and observing the horse from the ground. It is an opportunity to use our powers of observation and resourcefulness to instigate a pattern of change. For instance loose work and lungeing can offer the trainer a valuable opportunity to teach the horse to move more energetically.

If the horse learns this correct way of going in the work from the ground, there will be less confrontation when the horse is under saddle. The horse will be looking for our leadership which offers him a place of calmness, together with discipline, within an environment built upon mutual trust. I can illustrate this point by mentioning a client who was trying to work with my rather perceptive stallion Delfin, whilst he was at liberty.

He chose to totally ignore her requestsand continued to walk around the arena as far away from her as possible. I put Delfin back into his stable and continued talking with my client, who, I felt was rather tense and holding something back. After several minutes of talking about breathing and posture, I mentioned to her that I sensed she was withdrawn and not ‘letting go’. Immediately the flood gates opened and she was apologizing for her tears.

She was experiencing a traumatic situation in her personal life and she continued to express her anxiety, sadness and fear. We talked for a while, then I suggested that we bring Delfin back into the school, but she was rather apprehensive about how he would respond. This became another learning curve for me, as I watched Delfin, who was now responsive and willing to interact with her breathing and body language.

He calmly and obediently worked around her on the circle in walk, trot and canter. In this way Delfin was able to demonstrate that, initially, he could find no place for communication.

The horse is extremely perceptive and we may deceive humans by a cheerful expression but the horse will pick up on the reality of our feelings. When we are calm, ‘tuned in’ and in balance, mentally, physically and spiritually the horse can find a place for harmony. If we are focused, ‘as one’ with our horse, aware of our balance and breathing, our thoughts will be transmitted and he will become the mirror of our mind.