RIDING SUCCESS WITHOUT STRESS
By Joni Bentley
A Smarter Approach To Straightness
AFTER: Improved posture using the Bentley Technique clearly shows how this horse's core structure is now compared to the before photo below - his weaker right hind is now firmly engaged, his back and forehand are lifted, and the expression on the horse's face is confident and happier.
BEFORE: For demonstration purposes, Andy gives the reins and recreates the horse's structural weakness usually disquised by the, “pulling um in kick um on” school of thought. The horse looks worried, his back is dropped leaving his spine vulnerable to wear and tear.
The rider, event trainer Andy Ford says. “I believe Joni's training methods are vital to all horses, but especially ones in extreme sports like eventing.”
One-sidedness, built up by left or right hind dominance, twists the horse's spine and pelvis, stressing the muscular skeletal system. Over time, this leads to scoliosis, which affects the nerve and blood supply to the horse's organs, leading to crookedness, back pain and behavioral problems.
Many riders are propelled to the rights by horse's that are left hind drivers like this one. Photo 3 Andy straightens the horse laterally by adopting what the Bentley Technique terms 'left position'. Photo 4 by doing so Andy asks of himself what he wants from his horse i.e. to strengthen his weak diagonal - right hip to left shoulder automatically improving the horses's postural weakness, here's why:
BODY MAGIC
Joni's work draws from many sources, including French Classical dressage, Feldenkrais, the Alexander technique, NPL and Reiki. She is also researching the magic of movement with Massih Yaghmaie who is an osteopath, cranio-sacral osteopath, acupuncturist and a naturopathic physician. “When we become aware of the meridian lines within our bodies we begin to see the importance of straightness in the rider.” Says Joni
Does your horse lack impulsion?
Figure 1 Kidney fire and water
The area of the back where the rider's left kidney lies represents water - kidney yin. The area of the right kidney represents fire - kidney yang. When the back is straight and balanced, the 'water' and 'fire' elements combine together to create steam, which flows up the spine and creates Chi, or impulsion.”
When the rider (or horse) is crooked, the kidney yin and yang energy flow is affected. Horses that are left hind drivers (like this one) propel the rider and themselves to the right. Photo 3 hollowing their left side. See illustration. This compresses the kidney yin area restricting the yin energy flow. Lack of yin energy affects the production of steam which weakens the energy flow throughout the kidney meridian and back. By using force to make the horse go forward, you increase tension and aggravate the crookedness even more. By using your outside aids, in this case right leg, seat bone and rein you increase the hollow and deplete the kidney yin energy further.
Being in flow
Photo 5 You can see how the horse's spine “plumps up,” as the kidney meridian energy start so work more efficiently through his spine.
Using the Bentley Technique, Andy works on straightening himself by sitting in left position while working on his weak diagonal- right hip to left shoulder. (Photo 5.) This straightens his spine and gives space for the left kidney to function more efficiently. The horse follows suite: his back lengthens and widens as his core structure strengthens, and is quarters straighten photo 4. As the horse starts to seek the bit in this way, the rider's hands must be careful not to block them. “Before Joni's training this horse would run away if I offered him the rein,” Says Andy.
Joni Bentley is a qualified riding instructor, Alexander Technique teacher, and NLP life coach and Reiki master. She is also author of Riding Success without Stress, published By JA Allen. Joni's teacher training course, which our model Andy Ford is undertaking, invites trainers and riders of all levels to develop their own sympathetic riding and teaching skills. Tel: (01494) 791 776, or visit: www.jonibentley.co.uk
