|
CENTRED RIDING by Sally Swift
 Centred Riding by Sally Swift is a thoroughly enjoyable book. I certainly put it in the category of must haves, as it is the sort of book that will be read over and over again. I think it should be on every rider's bookshelf. It's full of fabulous information and should act as a reference point when new manoeuvres are being attempted or things are not going as well as hoped!
I must admit, at first glance the book seemed a bit solid and I wasn't sure it was for me but the more a got into it the more I realised what a gold mine it was. I have a borrowed copy at present but will most definitely now buy one of my own!
The book is aimed at helping ALL riders to achieve perfect body balance and an inner awareness of both yourself and your horse, irrespective of your experience or favoured discipline. It emphasises the importance of the relationship between horse and rider and introduces the concept of how our internal energy can be harnessed to help us ride our horses sympathetically.
The book begins by focusing on how a rider feels to a horse, illustrating how correct rider position and sensitive aids can transform a resistant, stiff horse into a horse that moves freely, head down, ears relaxed and eyes quiet.
It moves on to deal with the 4 requirements a rider needs before he/she can control his/her own body pointing out how essential these are if harmony and relaxation between horse and rider are to be achieved. Swift describes these basics as the correct use of eyes, which must have a soft wide focus, breathing, which must be rhythmical and involve the whole body, centering, which must be to your physical centre and lastly body building blocks, which are essential for balance. Throughout this book there are lovely visual images to help the reader understand the concept of what is being explained e.g. centering is likened to a humpty dumpty type doll that is heavily weighted at the base and is consequently so stable that it cannot topple over.
There is a useful section on the effects of the mind on riding; the use of visualisation techniques to aid confidence is touched on, as is the benefit of concentration and there are some brilliant easy to do relaxation exercises. These exercises are accompanied by expressive visual images. The book also tackles the correctly balanced way of doing circles, turns, and half halts and more advances manoeuvres such as self-carriage, lengthening strides, lateral work and jumping.
The section on the correct use of the hands was an eye opener for me as there are pictures of correct and incorrect hand positions which are accompanied by the corresponding position of the forearm bones. I have always had a problem with my right rein, as all the horses I have ridden have been heavy in my right rein. There is a picture of an incorrect hand position which shows exactly what I do, I turn my right hand over and inwards, with the knuckles up; the pictures show how this causes the forearm bones to cross and lock, causing inflexibility in forearm and hand which is transmitted to the horse who naturally resists giving a feeling of heaviness and resistanceso simple and so clear. I had never understood the reason why it was so important to keep thumbs on top of reins but it seems so obvious now the trick will be putting this new found understanding into practice!!
I think this is a marvellous book that I have dipped in and out of, back and forth, and every time I do, I find something new that I have somehow missed before, but which is now relevant to the stage I am at with my horse and in my riding. I suspect that there are parts of this book that I will only fully understand as my relationship with my horse deepens and my riding ability improves.
I would like to leave you with my favourite visual image which is in the chapter on rising trot:
With every rise, let your pelvis come forward and up as if you were being gently pulled by the belt buckle; see and feel forward moving energy; keep your legs long and closed gently against your horses sides and.let your body melt like ice cream and dribble down into and out the bottom of your boots.
Seems even more appropriate during this hot spell!
|
