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There are times when it is difficult
to avoid getting tense and/or nervous while riding a horse. He
either does something unexpected or something we don't like. It
may be something big, like a buck, a spook or rear, but even a sudden
stop or startle can be unnerving. We just don't know what might
come next - and what comes next might be worse!
Reflexively, we tense
up. Everything tightens, from the top of our head, right down to our
toes. We also lean forward, seeking the foetal position of safety
and clutch at anything available; in this case, usually the reins.
As fast as this happens, we pass it on to the
horse, so he gets tense and nervous too. Now the rot sets in.
A tense/nervous rider and a tense/nervous horse is not a good
combination.
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A
loose and relaxed
sitting position helps to keep the horse calm and relaxed as well. |
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Additionally, with a tense/nervous rider, the
horse cannot relax. According to the Horse-book of Rules, when the
rider is tense, so is the horse. When the rider is relaxed, so is
the horse. That's the way it works.
So, to get the horse to relax, it is the rider who
must start the ball rolling, using one, other or both of the following
relaxation techniques.
The first is to focus on your
breathing. In times of tension or anxiety, our breathing becomes shallow and sometimes stops altogether
for a moment or two.
Breathing deeply automatically helps us to relax.
So when the horse starts playing up, switch your
attention to your breathing and make a conscious effort to take long, deep
breaths. This technique is particularly useful for problems which
can be anticipated, such as jogging and spooking.
The second technique is to do a body check.
This requires a major effort at first, but it is well worth persevering,
as each time you do it, it gets easier.
Start with your legs and feet. Focus your
attention there and ask yourself 'What are they doing?' Are they
clamped to the horse's sides? If so, unclamp them. Tell
yourself to let them go and return your legs to a normal relaxed position.
Next, check your back. Are you sitting
straight? If leaning forward, straighten up. Bent over
the neck, having lost your balance, you are much more likely to fall
off. Sitting up straight is about the best way there is of keeping
your seat in the saddle.
Then check your hands. Are they pulling or
gripping the reins for dear life? How about your arms? Are they
clenched to your sides as if glued there? In which case, loosen your
grip and relax your arms. If you need to hold on, grab a handful of
mane. The horse won't mind and it's a lot safer than relying on the
reins.
While it seems like a lot to do, with practice
these techniques can be applied within a second, which is plenty long
enough for the horse to understand and be reassured that there is no need
to worry. With nothing to worry about, the horse soon relaxes too.
What he also learns is that in times of tension or
anxiety, you can be relied upon to see him through it ... always good for
building confidence. As ever with horses and riding, it's a two-way
thing, but the rider must always go first!
These techniques can be practised in the course of
ordinary riding when all is well and going smoothly. Quickly check
your breathing, then take a few deeper breaths. Then do a body
check. Your toes are a good place to start. Then check your
legs. They have a habit of closing in without being asked ... and so
on, all the way up your body, not forgetting to make sure that your back
is straight and you are planted firmly in the saddle.
You may well find that nothing needs
changing. In which case, good. But what you have done is
started the habit of doing a body check ... and the more you do it, the
better you'll get. When the going gets tough is when you'll really
need it. The best thing you can do for a tense, nervous horse is
stay calm, loose and relaxed yourself!
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When the horse does something
unexpected, like stop in his tracks and stare, staying loose, calm and
relaxed gives the horse a breathing space and helps him to relax as well. |
