Central topic of the Spring/Summer 2005-7 a.i.s. study-horsemanship research units was the rider's posture. Today, some twelve months later, I am engaged in the correction of horses who served a group of riders as diverse as an ex-jockey, the typical riding school teenager, the bit-less rider, complete beginners, others suffering from neuroses such as fear and depression patients, students, professionals, a kindergartner and, not to forget, equestrian sports riders of all sorts. Quickly the theme posture turned out to be well chosen. For, while it is easy to teach simple approaches to riding, it was not possible to eradicate faults in the rider's balance. Alas, - what became more evident than the need for a study such as this: a thorough inspection of the all important question of posture, which on the back of a horse plays the central role even though largely unnoticed.
Previous study-horsemanship topics have been the horse's postures and bio-mechanics and human/equine nerve correlation. Both answering my original question, "How does riding function?" After spending some five years exclusively on the back of man's original multiplier of strength I was full of optimism and in fact awed by what horse and rider together can be and do. In view of this group, however, I was questioned closely. How to communicate the simplicity of equitation? The comfort of sitting on a horse and riding it. Going along with and never against it. Animated, up there, high above the ground. And quickly I realized that in equitation like in art all is in the eye of the beholder. Except that, in this case, well-being more than the mind mirrored success. I hope to show that posture and balance are the key to both.
