Someone asked about this footage, is it okay to ride with the hands so high? That idea -- is it okay-- is sourced in a constant exposure to no other concept in riding but exhibition work. Its totally normal and predictable for this question to show up. Since 1912 the criteria for what is okay is very much determined by what people are used to seeing, and people are chastised if they show anything other than images and videos of things that judges will award accolades to in competition. But in fact competition is not the only reason to ride, some people are interested in creating a wonderful, trustworthy riding horse. If connection and flow are of interest... take a moment to look at this from a different perspective. This vignette is about the French concept of mise en main-- the setting in the hand, setting like connecting in a global way, as in setting the stage for something, setting expectations, setting like establishing. If we watch the footage, and then ask ourselves about the movement, we can learn some things, maybe without people having to teach us. How does the horse move throughout the footage? When does he appear constricted, and when does he appear to be free? When is his balance or aplomb interrupted by his considerations about what the rider is asking? and in what way is he interrupted-- is it a blocking caused by the rider, or a blocking resulting from change in position? What happens when the rider moves the hands up? How does he do it? Both at once? Separately? Is he bumping the horse? Does his touch challenge or collide with the horse? Or is it more that hes feeling for the horse? Or engaging with the horse? What is he requesting? When you put your hands in your imagination into this video, does that feel interesting? Why do you think he moves the hands so high, especially in the beginning there? Instead of a global knowing: The Hands Must Be Low... permit your mind to be curious. What do we lose when we touch with high hands? What do we gain? Why does he lower the hands when he does? What changed that called for a higher hand, and what changed that made lowering them right? In the end of the footage, are the hands high, or low? What about the connection with this horse is now calling for the hand position? When you watch, rather than thinking whats wrong about this or whats right-- look at it all of a piece, identifying flow and counter flow. Can you see these things? When you watch real training, do not be distracted with the momentary glamor of exhibition work. Good training is an exploration in posture and flow, in following and listening, in how to create a conversation between two beings that makes ongoing sense, day to day and moment to moment. ~Mary Anne Campbell classical-equitation
Posted on: Sat, 10 May 2014 20:23:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015