Annie Dillon Horsemanship

25/10/2024

It has been extremely rewarding to witness Skirnir discovering healthier posture following some big changes to their training routine since becoming members of Fundamentals of Balance last summer. 💖

🩵 "Skirnir used to step on himself all the time with his front legs. I just watched him choose to do a perfect turn on the haunches to get from where I was back over to his water bucket. Very deliberately and carefully with a total weight shift behind. It was lovely! He does it a lot on trails now too when navigating around tight corners. So cool to see him use it himself!" -Nicole Jory 🩵

Fundamentals of Balance is where powerful balance and postural changes are taught in a simple way that self-empowers the horse to realize the benefits on his own time, choosing healthier movement mechanics in the day to day that creates powerful positive change over time. 💖

**eye-training lines and transitional video courtesy of Equimetric

💥 Learn how here! 💥 https://stan.store/AnnieDillonHorsemanship/p/balance-revolution-fundamentals

27/09/2024

💖✨ Transformation Time! ✨💖

"I have been a long term admirer of Annie's work with her Icelandic gelding Gerpir. The release of Annie's course couldn't have been better timed, the course was released right around the time I first got Leiftri. I have been able to seamlessly incorporate Annie's ideas, techniques and exercises into my existing training and philosophy." -Laura Koskenmäki

This handsome Icelandic named Leiftri suffered a severe neck injury, and his recovery was deemed a long shot.

Laura enrolled in the Balance Revolution: Fundamentals course 2 months ago, and decided he would be her project for the course exercises which she was able to harmoniously combine into her existing program and training experience.

This is his 2 month transformation. Just look at how he went from croup high to elevated in the front with a clear lift in the withers with a better vertical support base of the forelimb. Hope has been reignited that he may someday be able to be ridden again! He truly has a new lease on life and it is so inspiring to see success stories such as this one! 💖

Check the comments for the link to learn more! 💞

26/07/2024

Friendly Announcement: Streamlining My Online Presence

I've decided to simplify my online life by consolidating my content sharing back to my main account, Annie Dillon. This will allow me to focus on what matters most - creating meaningful content and connecting with like-minded individuals who share my passion for horses.

I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts, experiences, and knowledge with you all in my own personal and authentic way, which most of you have already enjoyed for years. Thank you for being part of my journey! 💕

And don't worry, I'll still be sharing updates on my course creations and horse-related adventures over on my main account, Annie Dillon Horsemanship will become inactive going forward. So be sure to follow my main account so you don't miss out on future posts and updates!

Thank you all for your continued support towards real lasting change in the horse industry, "Ape alone... weak. Apes together... strong!" ❤️‍🩹

22/07/2024

Uncovering the truth: crediting sources and the complexity of originality.

It's important to acknowledge the originators of ideas, but sometimes the picture is more nuanced than we think. Our perceptions can be deceiving, and the true story behind a concept or method may be nuanced or multifaceted. It's not always straightforward.

In my own course, I meticulously cite multiple sources throughout its entirety, yet I recently received two contrasting messages from students, ironically on the same morning.

One student misinterpreted the exercises as a rehashing of an unrelated method, which left me perplexed. Meanwhile, another student expressed gratitude, recognizing that the exercises address the very issues caused by that same method.

The latter student was correct, as my exercises are rooted in my experience at a biomechanics rehabilitation facility, where I learned techniques to resolve those exact issues, backed by information gleaned in Classical texts as well as modern movement science.

It's intriguing how perception can vary so greatly, and how people become fixated on issues of credit. Even when sources are clearly cited, some individuals still claim theft or plagiarism. I wonder if this isn't a ploy to garner sympathy and followers by feigning vulnerability. In my opinion, true understanding (consilience) isn't about tearing others down.

The more I delve into Classical texts, the more I realize that nothing in horse training is truly novel. Humans have worked with horses for millennia; it's arrogant to assume we've invented something entirely new.

The irony of human nature is that we often neglect to learn from the past, despite being surrounded by the wisdom of previous generations readily available to us. Rather than rediscover concepts in dusty old texts, many are intent to try and reinvent the wheel. And when similarities arise, we can be quick to cry foul, without considering the nuances that set them apart. It's a curious paradox - our ability to innovate and progress, paired with a tendency to repeat the mistakes of history.

Horses have taught me that true humility comes from embracing the complexity of knowledge, acknowledging the contributions of others, and recognizing that wisdom is a continuous thread that weaves through time, connecting us all. 💕

18/07/2024

Say it again for the people in the back 👏 🙌 💯

"The question arises at once as to why we want to alter the natural balance. There are people who will say that one should leave nature alone, but this argument is of course untenable in view of the fact that the human race has improved on nature in every direction: and that this process is developing every day...
The horse in a state of nature lives under conditions selected by himself to which he has by natural processes of acclimatization and elimination become fitted in every respect: but as the servant of his human master his whole existence is changed-his food, his work and exercise, the "going" and his accommodation. In addition he works not of his own volition, but on instantaneous orders received from his rider.

For these reasons his natural distribution of weight is unsuitable. If we work our horses on the roads with the preponderance of their weight on the forehand, their legs will not last if we suddenly demand a movement requiring great agility combined with smoothness we shall be disappointed and nearly je**ed out of our saddles; and speaking generally we shall experience very little comfort and pleasure in our riding. We must, therefore, alter the natural balance."
- T.S. Paterson

📸 "Sympathetic Training of Horse and Man"

16/07/2024

Yes!!

The difference of lifting the back via stress on the supraspinatus that roaches the lumbar up, like a cat arching the back, but the thorax is still dropped with an inverted wither.

Compared to the after image where the lumbar spine is neutral, a neutral spine is a healthy spine for all species, and the thorax elevates out of verticality, and yes, ramener is the result of that balance coming into collection.

Lovely example! 😍

This is probably one of the best visuals for me to go along with me learning to feel the difference between a ‘resistance of force,’ and a ‘resistance of weight,’ as described by Baucher.

In the top, we see that the horse has come into ramener, face on the vertical, no ‘push,’ no resistance of force, but the weight is still displaced forward, as we can see by the slanting front legs.

In the bottom, there’s no resistance of weight, the limbs are verticalized, and as we go into piaffe, the ramener happens as a consequence, not a prerequisite.

14/07/2024

Really fascinating video markups of the transition of bone position between two different postural stances created by Equimetric of Kerry O'Brien's mare. 4 month time span between images.

Verticality matters, the head and neck are heavy, it is simply physics. But that does not mean we want to forcibly elevate the head, but we don't want to fall into the "get the head down" trap either. Verticality is a dynamic balance that arises when the horse is supported into vertical alignment over all four limbs.

Too often we fixate on the head, neck and back, but something I learned from a mentor years ago is that we really need to look at the position of the limbs in relation to the ground, a horse is an upright quadruped after all. The limbs act as struts or pillars/columns of support being the legs of the horse are primarily bone, ligaments and tendons, with very little muscle tissue.

When we train towards the goal of soundness and longevity, we must determine the best way to help the horse to create a strong and stable support base under the mass. This means vertical alignment of the joints under the body. Vertical alignment of the limbs is extremely important to prevent osteoarthritic changes and soft tissue injury. This mare has discovered vertical alignment over her forelegs and her hind legs are almost there, but not quite yet, though much improved shoulder and hip angles arise due to obtaining improved posture in this moment. This tells me there is more room for potential.

I am not here to glamorize it, and I certainly won't lie and make it seem like there is a magical quick-fix. It doesn't exist, but there are efficient ways to help horses into better postural alignment that do exist.

Kerry has helped this mare with a variety of approaches, and she discovered this fleeting moment of equilibrium during her very early first attempts at the Cornerstone exercises I teach in my course. All culminating together to help her mare realize a healthier postural alignment. Granted, Rome was not built in a day, and the Fundamentals are all about allowing the horse time and grace to build a strong foundation upon which anything else can be built. Taking the time it takes to establish a solid foundation.

Micromanaging is not the answer as we know how easily that creates tension, but we can set up the training in such a way that the horse realizes their own postural changes as a side effect of the exercises.

This employs the power of Reciprocal Inhibition, a well accepted approach to Physical Therapy and today's leading movement/rehabilitative research; when we activate the correct muscle chain, in time, this allows the compensatory chain to relax and let go, but only when the correct muscle chain is developed enough to actually support the release. Compensations and adhesions exist for a reason, they are often a last ditch effort of the body to stabilize itself when the postural stabilizers have failed. Whether that is a result of asymmetry that was never corrected or an injury that created a web of compensations. The root of the problem resides in a loss of postural stability.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a miracle transformation, but a moment of possibility, and we want to encourage more of these moments until those moments become the new base line, the new normal. Fascinatingly, when postural stability becomes the new normal, the need for bodywork decreases significantly. The training itself becomes bodywork by the very nature of Reciprocal Inhibition.

Remember, posture is dynamic, it is too easy to see transformation images and view it from a static lens, but what we want is to measure what IS possible, note the potential, then support the horse towards that potential, and to empower the horse into self-realized vertical alignment. Where they begin adopting self-carriage on their own time while moving freely in the paddock or the field.

The beginning of the training process can feel a bit messy in the beginning, with only fleeting moments at first, but it's a start, and we all have to start somewhere. It is perfectly normal to be imperfect along this journey and that should never be shamed or ridiculed. After all, perfection doesn't exist, but training for the goal of empowering the horse into optimal posture within their unique range of ability, that is most definitely a possibility! 💖

I discuss this topic at length in my new Amatuer-friendly course Balance Revolution: Fundamentals here:
https://stan.store/anniedillonhorsemanship/p/balance-revolution-fundamentals

10/07/2024

The black sheep usually doesn't follow the crowd because every once in a while, the crowd is literally going the wrong way in mass. It takes a black sheep to stand out and say, 'Hey, I think we're headed off a cliff here!' They may be labeled as outcasts or rebels, but in reality, they're the ones who are brave enough to challenge the status quo and forge their own path.

Let's celebrate the black sheep in our lives - the ones who inspire us to think differently, to question the norms, and to embrace our individuality.

09/07/2024

Food for thought...

Have you noticed a peculiar phenomenon? A majority of us passionately advocate for the horse's well-being, yet when a video doesn't align with our views, we jump on the criticism bandwagon. Isn't this the very behavior we condemn when others do it to us?

Let's break this cycle! Instead of ridiculing what we don't agree with, can we strive to be the change we wish to see? Embracing diverse approaches and recognizing the common goal of putting horses first - even if it differs from our own approach.

Let's cultivate kindness, understanding, and consilience in our community. 🤗💞

09/07/2024

Ah-ha moment!

I'm thrilled to share a discovery that has left me feeling validated and excited! After reviewing old footage and images of Classical masters, I noticed a common trend - the horses in the best balance all seemed to keep their muzzle level with their hip. It was a pattern I recognized through my own observation and research.

Years later, I come across this exact image in a Classical text by Alois Podhasky this morning that emphasizes the importance of natural movement and physics to inform the training. It's a beautiful confirmation that the principles of French Classical equitation are rooted in the natural balance and movement of the horse!

07/07/2024

CONTINUED (POST 2 OF 2) on excerpts from "The Complete Training of Horse and Rider In the Principles of Classical Horsemanship." By Alois Podhasky.

Another fascinating insight summarized here,

Max Ritter von Weyrother strictly practiced Guériniére in it's purist form and was riding at the SRS beginning in 1813, becoming headmaster of the SRS in 1825 until his death in 1833.

Weyrother was a large influencer and helped develop training plans for the Austo-Hungarian Cavalry School. Isn't that interesting?

By 1830, the German Baron Biel published in his book The Noble Horse, states that the noble art of riding was no longer to be found in Germany inasmuch as the horse's were overbent in an exaggerated and unnatural way. On visiting the SRS during the time of Weyrother, he found the training to be much more harmonious and natural for the horse.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

You have likely heard me mention several times over that hyperflexion methods existed in centuries past, but under different names. The above is a prime example.

Horse training appears to be rather cyclical in nature, always rebounding from on extreme to another, the same arguments being repeated throughout the ages with different faces and different names, and yet it is the horse subjected to all the whims of human created fads and trends.

Verticality was very much a clear aspect of Podhasky's work which informs me it was important for Guériniére as well, and is the basis of French Classical horsemanship. I do understand much more clearly now why Baucher's early work was so deeply controversial because his 1st manner was similar to hyperflexion methods, but it was in his later years where he realized the error of that approach and his 2nd manner was born where he reduced lateral and horizontal bend in the neck considerably, prioritizing verticality and straightness, reducing the bend in the neck to a maxium of 1/8th of a degree of bend.

07/07/2024

I came across a fascinating excerpt from "The Complete Training of Horse and Rider In the Principles of Classical Horsemanship" by Alois Podhasky this morning. (POST 1 of 2 continued...)

BRIEF SUMMARY HERE:

**In the 18th century, French riding master de la Guérinière wrote a revolutionary book on riding that was clear and easy to understand. His teachings focused on simplicity and facts, and were later preserved and applied at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The French Revolution and Napoleon's wars led to the decline of riding academies in Europe, but the Spanish Riding School continued to uphold de la Guérinière's methods. His influence spread to Germany through Max Ritter von Weyrother and his disciples, who resisted the teachings of Baucher and Fillis, which emphasized overbending and unnatural movements.**

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

The statement above indicates Podhasky is referencing Baucher's 1st manner as his 2nd manner particularly reduced the bend to an 1/8th of a flexion (personally I am not a fan of his 1st manner as it seems quite brutal in nature, but I do admire certain aspects from his 2nd manner myself).

This is fascinating because it shows that the Classical Schools have gotten muddled and mixed over the centuries and nothing is truly pure. Even the Spanish Riding School has become muddled in recent decades as was the big controversy brought to light in recent years. It would do well to remember nothing is truly pure, and things rarely stay the same, one only needs to review footage of the Spanish Riding School during the time of Pdhasky and compare to footage today to see the stark contrast...

Influence will happen as time goes on, it's simply human nature. We can use words to create arguments of French vs German Classical etc, but not so very long ago it seems German was more French than the French and yet the roles seem to have reversed several times over despite pockets of individuals the world over declaring only they have it right and all others are wrong. There is a bit of irony in that, don't you think?

ORIGINAL TEXT BELOW:

"In the beginning of the eighteenth century the art of riding was almost exclusively influenced by France. And it was the great riding master de la Guériniére who produced the most revolutionary book on riding of all times. Unlike the writings of his predecessors, his book is clear and easy to understand. He based it on simplicity and facts in order to be completely understood by his readers. There is no need to discuss Guériniére's teachings in detail in this work, not because they are not sufficiently interesting, but because they are applied unalteted at the Spanish Riding School and may be seen there in daily use.

With the French Revolution the doctrines of Guériniére were lost to Frence. Moreover, the Napoleon's wars brought to an end the riding academies of the various courts of Europe. Only the Spanish Riding Achool in Vienna faithfully preserved up to the present day the methods of Guériniére. This was due chiefly to the influence of Max Ritter von Weyrother, an outstanding horseman who was head rider at the School during the early part of the nineteenth century. His influence, which spread far beyond the confines of his country, was particularly felt in Germany, where Siedler, and even more so, Seeger and Oeynhausen were his disciples. They were powerful enough to withstand the teachings of Baucher and to establish their methods so firmly that, later, Plinzner and Fillis could not influence the riding in this country. Steinbrecht's book, published in 1885, was also based on their teaching.

Plinzner, who worked in the Royal Stables in Berlin from 1874 onwards, overbent his horses, as Baucher did, and destroyed any forward urge. His followers made excuses for his methods because he trained horse's for Emperor William II of Germany, who had a withered arm and had to ride with one hand.

James Fillis was introduced to Baucher's methods in France. He then spent twelve years as a riding master at the Military Academy in Petrograd and made his first appearance in Germany in a circus in 1892. He captivated the spectators at the circus and found many followers among riders who would have liked to see his methods employed in the training of military chargers. Without doubt Fillis was a great artist, but interested more in the field of circus riding than in the art of classical equitation, in which all movements are based on the laws of nature. The proof of this is shown by the many unnatural movements which he practiced, such as the canter on three legs, and the canter backward. In 1913 Fillis died in Paris, as forgotten as his teacher, Baucher, while the methods of the Spanish Riding School still flourish.

Up to the beginning of the First World War the German Cavalry School at Hannover was under the influence of the Spanish Riding School through its former head rider Gebhart.

This historical development of riding reveals that the art is not confined to any special country. It flourishes wherever human beings dedicate themselves to horsemanship and know how to cultivate and develop its practice, wherever there are experts, and wherever such skill brings pleasure to those who love beauty. The art of riding is indeed international; it belongs to the civilized world, and it is the duty of every nation to preserve and foster it in the interest of culture."