| 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. |
A calm, loose and relaxed sitting position helps to keep the horse calm and relaxed as well. |
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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. 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! |
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. |
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If the horse is likely to spook or shy, a loose, relaxed rider may prevent him from doing it. If he does take a side-step, or make a small detour, the loose, relaxed rider stays in control. |
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When the going gets tough, a loose, relaxed rider instinctively does the right thing and no damage is done. What could have been a worse situation is averted! |
