When Horse and Rider Feel Like One Body
As your riding improves, you begin to feel as though your horse's body is part of your own. And vice versa. Here are some tips to achieving that magical feel.
According to the New World Encyclopedia, the ancient myth of centaurs came from people's first reaction to nomads who were mounted on horses.
These riders appeared as half-man, half-animal to those who had never seen a mounted rider before.
As your riding improves, you will notice that your seat becomes more stable, your legs quieter, and your hands more "feeling". Your horse will also become more attuned to subtle changes in your aids. Where you may have had to give strong outside leg aid to signal a canter, a mere "bump" of your outside hip will be sufficient. Turning your head to look in a new direction will cause your horse to direct her attention that way, and the slightest pressure of your inside leg will cause her to gently bend around your leg and hence change direction.
These riders appeared as half-man, half-animal to those who had never seen a mounted rider before.
As your riding improves, you will notice that your seat becomes more stable, your legs quieter, and your hands more "feeling". Your horse will also become more attuned to subtle changes in your aids. Where you may have had to give strong outside leg aid to signal a canter, a mere "bump" of your outside hip will be sufficient. Turning your head to look in a new direction will cause your horse to direct her attention that way, and the slightest pressure of your inside leg will cause her to gently bend around your leg and hence change direction.
The thirty second video clip shown above shows one brief example of this. The rider has his hands on his hips, no rein contact at all. Yet his horse changes direction fluidly, even making a nice circle. How? He applies slight pressure with his inside leg while sliding his outside leg behind the girth, and weights his inside seat bone slightly. He also looks in the direction he wants to go—without moving his upper body or shoulders. His horse (a twenty-five year old thoroughbred mare who is just staring second level collective movements) fluidly molds her body around these aids, melting into them and allowing him to softly shape and direct her movement.
Experiment with this technique, starting first with a very light rein contact. If your horse ignores your leg and seat aids, gently use your reins to correct her. As she becomes more responsive and attuned to your seat and leg aids, lighten your contact even more. Eventually, you will be able to drop your reins entirely.
You will notice a huge difference once you take up your reins to ride her through serpentines and circles while on the bit. She and you will be almost like one body fluidly gliding through space.
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD August 1, 2016; Updated June 3, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
Experiment with this technique, starting first with a very light rein contact. If your horse ignores your leg and seat aids, gently use your reins to correct her. As she becomes more responsive and attuned to your seat and leg aids, lighten your contact even more. Eventually, you will be able to drop your reins entirely.
You will notice a huge difference once you take up your reins to ride her through serpentines and circles while on the bit. She and you will be almost like one body fluidly gliding through space.
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD August 1, 2016; Updated June 3, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
Tips for how to ride a perfect stretchy circle can be found here.
Tips for riding perfect circles can be found here.
Your inside rein is preventing you from progressing. You can find out why here.
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