Case study Nikki & Rosie
“The best part of my job is watching a rider transform their horse’s posture as I teach them firstly what they need to change and secondly how to change it!”
The best part of my job is watching a rider transform their horse’s posture as I teach them firstly what they need to change and secondly how to change it! When you know what you want and can apply how to do it, these changes can happen quickly. Once the rider understands what's required then it’s simply a question of consistency and time for the correct muscles to develop in their horse and for that new posture to become an easy one to find and maintain.
In this case study I’m helping Nikki with her 6-year-old ID Rosie.
Rosie finds stretching correctly very difficult, as due to her breed/conformation she easily loses her balance, causing her neck root to drop and the weight to come too much to her shoulders, as seen in the BEFORE picture. The stretch she will naturally offer is partial and flat, creating a heavy moving, contracted stride which you can hear when she travels past you "thud-thud-thud". There is also a loss of connection between the hand-bit-mouth. However, knowledge is power!
Before
Over a period of time, I taught Nikki how to achieve a better, rounder, more connected neck extension, as can be seen in the AFTER picture. As a result of lessons with me and Nikkis dedication to practicing, Rosie is now able to achieve a stretch with: a more lifted root of neck; a correctly tensioned back; correctly tensioned reins and a longer, lighter stride. No more thud-thud-thud, instead she has her ballet shoes on! This neck extension is just the beginning of a better more educated stretch, as her training progresses this will also improve further and her neck will appear to gain in length, without a loss in balance. Dressage is for every horse, irrespective of breed. Well done Nikki and Rosie!
After Kat’s help
If you would like to learn how to teach your horse to move with ease, even the heavy breeds! contact Kat - thinkingequitation@gmail.com