It’s amazing how so many songs come up, in my warped little mind, when I’m thinking of things I want to write about. Commercials also. After all that’s what marketing directors strive for isn’t it?
My new posts are usually a continuation of a previous post. Although I don’t post them in the order I write them.
Breathing is something we do without thinking about it, but on the other side of that coin, holding our breath is something we don’t think about either, and it really can have an effect on your riding.
Hold your breath. Feel all your muscles tense up? Bet your horse does. I bet he’s thinking, she’s tense and afraid, what does she know that I don’t? Guess I should start worrying about what’s going to eat us now. Jig jig jig, I’m worried, yup, I’m worried. Now exhale, feel all the tension leave your body and muscles? Horse thinks ‘Okay, life is good.’ When we relax, our horse will also relax.
The explanation I use with my students when they are learning how to sit a trot is: Your body is like a child’s rubber ball, when the ball is tight and holds the air in it bounces. Now puncture the ball and when you go to bounce it, the air comes out and it won’t bounce. Now your body is like that ball. Hold your breath and you’ll bounce, breath normal, letting the air go in and out, muscles relaxed, and you will sit and move with your horse instead of against him. It’s just that simple. If you and your horse are both relaxed, just slow him down, breath, relax more and move with your partner, just like you’re dancing. Trust me, the horse doesn’t want you bouncing on his back either. This breathing/relaxing works at any gate to get your horse to relax and trust you.
Of course there are horses that are harder to sit to than others. They have a lot of push to their trot.. but if you totally relax it will work. Some times it’s just easier on the horse and you to post.
If you do find yourself holding your breath you need to find out what is causing your anxiety. Go back and work on that and then try to relax and breath. A good way to learn how to breath while you are riding is to sing. You can’t hold your breath and sing at the same time. Pick a fun song with the beat of the speed you are going. The beat will also set the pace for the horse and help him maintain that pace. If you are walking, get a nice, calm, slow song. Trotting, get one with a bouncy beat. Cantering, get one with a flowing beat. That’s how we used to get our horses to maintain their speed in a Hunter Class.
It really doesn’t matter if you have a voice that would land you a spot on “American Idol”, your horse knows what you sound like and loves you anyway. They love to hear you speak, it reassures them, and as a bonus, it keeps you breathing.
Let it be a breath of fresh air for you and your horse.