ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMS & IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS. Unlock Your Potential. Unleash Your Unicorn!
28/01/2025
๐งก ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐?? โฆ ๐งก
I see horses struggling every day.
Usually Iโm referring to some kind of trauma or mental struggle leading to negative behaviours, but today I mean literally, physically.
Donโt get me wrong, the two are more closely linked that you might think but I feel itโs definitely something weโve been conditioned to, horses lacking in freedom of movement, rhythm and fluidity, where we assume the remedy must simply be more effort from the horse.
Tripping, toe dragging, lazy, dull.
The common โfixโ is often more driving or forward aids.
๐ด Why do we assume that good posture and physical strength are something that comes naturally to a horse when it doesnโt come naturally to us?
๐งโโ๏ธ For example, if you lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle or even simply donโt do much exercise aside from daily tasks itโs unlikely that you are physically prepared for large amounts of strength training, such as weight lifting or cardio, such as running. It would be easy to over exert ourselves and, as a result cause injury.
๐ The parallel to this is that naturally, or even in the paddock, our horses are relatively sedentary. They spend long periods with little movement and have been designed to conserve energy. When danger is present they utilise quick bursts but are no better conditioned to extended periods of exercise than we are.
โ๏ธ We MUST take the time to condition and maintain the musculoskeletal systems of our horses in order for them to carry out any form of physical exercise.
Another important factor is, as with the human, poor posture leads to compensation and discomfort such as lower back pain, tight shoulders or hip pain.
๐ด To avoid pain or injury the exercise must also be done CORRECTLY to prevent the reinforcement of dysfunction.
โฐ We are at the mercy therefore, of the timeframes dictated by the body in order to build healthy muscle, bone and tissue alongside physical fitness and stamina and cannot simply ask for more when there is no more to give.
๐ง As mentioned, how your horse FEELS has a huge impact on how they move, freedom, flexibility and fluidity cannot be forced or developed through tension, so the first step is actually can we access the body at all?
๐ฆ Personally I have found horses incredibly genuine in how much they can give physically and if I know when to quit I usually have no problems improving forward motion, self carriage and engagement for longer periods, with the majority willingly offering more as soon as they are capable.
๐ To find out how your contact and aids affect your horseโฆjoin me at a super special event.
Find Your Feel 2-day Ground & Ridden Clinic, Nar Nar Goon, VIC
๐
ONE DATE ONLY for 2025!!
๐ Limited with horse spots (non-horse spots also available)
MESSAGE ME FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO GRAB YOUR SPOT!
