"Starting from the far ends of the skeleton the horse's head is counter-balanced by its tail. As it stands, head and tail have no part in perfect human/equine correlations. Rather, in the horse's upper neck one system of communication meets another. One is ruled by the rider's posture and his dermatomes, the other by the actions of his hands and the horse's autonomous nervous system."
Today finally a new insight, which is based on the two previous entries. As far as energy is concerned, human hands directly connect with the core. Thus to demand the shoulder-in the inner shoulder moves back. The automatic result is an inner direct rein. To change from shoulder-in to haunches-in the outside shoulder moves back, while the inner rein in half-tension maintains the setting of the neck and if so desired bends the horse. The automatic result is an outer direct rein. What I am saying is exactly what Beudant in his 1929 summary outlined and I repeat here.
In elements of equitation I make mention of a reflex from C8, which in the human automatically moves the elbows. In Haltung, the German research workshop for posture, not only in equitation I happened upon another detail, which also plays into it. It will take me a while to fully figure this out. I sense here will be the solution to C8 and its role in equitation. It has riddled me ever since that gray morning many years ago, when I realized that, at the base of the neck, in the center of the horse's forehand, there is a nerve section without corresponding bone, which in the human relates to the ring finger. Feldenkrais associates this nerve section with making music. The funny attendant circumstance: Without the help of my rolfer, the June 2008 rolf-movement workshop I attended in Altrei/Italy and the resultant release of my blocked shoulders I would never have found out. And there is another resource.
The quality of the demand. The lighter the touch, the stronger the reaction. But -, what is the touch calling on? Which secret channels of the brain, which chemical, neuronal or mechanical aspects of physiology are involved? Will we ever know? Do we have to know? It may suffice to recognize that the rider, like a hands-on-therapist, addresses the body. The more complete his knowledge the lighter his touch will be and to that effect the livelier the horse's reaction and the more authentic its movements. This lesson the rider learns anew each time he mounts. The Holy Spirit is all powerful and all gentle.
Given the fact the horse's movements are fully developed at birth, the horse needs no instructions. It is in command. Taking the horse's submission aides must be kept to a minimum. The horse must remain responsible. How does the rider impact the horse? The horse automatically executes the demand, which knowingly or not proceeds from the rider's body. Be it to stand still, move laterally, go forward, mobilize, jump or rise on the hind legs. Nerve impulses flow freely if the rider is in command of his body, he and his mount are in touch, the rider is the leader, the mount the follower and the horse is straight and free of fear. Much in modern equitation must be done just to reconstitute these foundations required for safety, enjoyment and delight.
