RIDING SUCCESS WITHOUT STRESS
By Joni Bentley
Posture and position-preventing pain
Do you suffer from riding back pain? When mounted are you relaxed into the movement with your horse, or are you tense and fighting the movement itself?
It's obvious; your position, balance, and weight-distribution will greatly influence your horse's way of going, his behaviour and his potential. The factual consequences of a rider's position are rarely questioned, neither are the underlying flaws ironed out.
The, “ideal” position
The rider should sit as upright as possible, so that each part of his body rests on that which is immediately below it, producing a vertical pressure through the seat bones. - But how many of us can attain and maintain that posture even on a chair, never mind on the back of a horse?
Attempting to cure positional problems without addressing the root cause, all too often results in riders being forced into an upright “ideal" position by teachers who have little, “hands on” experience or knowledge of biomechanics.
Trying to address crookedness by “fixing” the rider is no more effective than trying to cure subsidence in a house by repairing the roof. It is the underpinning levels where the problems lie, and that is where it must be addressed.
It is common sense that a horse will not perform happily, or achieve great results in competition, if he is encumbered with a handicapping rider. Yet so many riders are encouraged to spend money on having their horses trained, whispered at. Shouted at! Clunked and clicked, to no avail because it is the rider who is unbalanced, rigid and interfering with the horse's movement. What's even worse is when the horse gets the blame for poor results, resulting in even more training, or much worse, undue punishment as the vicious circle continues.
When Irene Ridler from Essex changed her lopsided position for a more central and balanced one, the problems in her horse's right hind alleviated.
“Charley is now off Bute and sound without stiffness. He is moving more freely than ever before: Whereas in the past he had developed stiffness after standing still even for a short while.”
As well as the financial benefits of not having to spend hard-earned money on unnecessary medicines, Irene also has the knowledge that her riding is not inflicting damage on her horse and, delighting her even more, she has improved her dressage grades to levels previously unachievable.
She still feels resentful that her horse's condition was being passed off as “just one of those things,” and interestingly enough the two horse's she had before, also had bone spavin on the same hind leg!
The Bentley technique
“Adopting the Alexander Technique successfully while riding is an inspiring journey tailored to unifying the two disciplines. When the rider experiences the feeling of being on horseback and truly in control of their own bodily fine-tuning, there is no looking back and they don't have to spend years and years trying to be “perfect.”In no time, both rider and horse are able to tackle more sophisticated movements with a well honed, balanced seat - rather than the tense and misplaced alternative, with a posture that only leads to pain.” Says Joni
Joni Bentley is an Alexander teacher as well as a horse trainer. When presented with that metaphorical subsiding building, her answer is to reinforce the foundation rather than clean the windows and re-slate the roof. During her workshops Joni re-aligns the rider's core structure at the same time as heightening their body awareness and sense of feel. The ensuing deep, classical seat makes the rider independent enough of the horse's movement to apply their aids with clarity, sensitivity and accuracy. Only then can we ensure that the rider is sufficiently skilled to show the horse the way.
If you would like to find out more about the Bentley Technique here is what to do next:
1. Contact Joni or a member of her team by telephone on 01494 791776, or email her at jonibentley@btinterent.com to find out if a rider friendly workshop would be perfect for you.
2. Watch, listen and get a taste of the Bentley Technique by visiting; http://www.jonibentley.co.uk and view the four cutting edge website presentations, online and absolutely free!! If you don't have internet access find a friend who does, and take along a bottle of win!!
3. Further workshops are to be announced soon, so keep you're eyes on the website.
If you can't make the workshop date or location, then contact us to express your interest as it may be possible for you to join one of the many private workshop/clinics Joni gives, or even arrange a private workshop/clinic at your yard.
Riding Success Without Stress makes a great
Christmas present for yourself or your horsy friends. You can buy the book, DVD or Dynamic Alexander Riding lessons on CD to build your confidence and straighten your seat. To find out now visit www.jonibentley.co.uk or phone us 01494 791776
