The body balances from the core. From the core it develops movement.
Definition. The skilled rider's body is in balance. He neither employs muscles nor moves. The well-tuned horse with movement implements the rider's will. Rider and horse are united in a work sharing process. The rider sits still and directs the horse, while the horse offers its facilities and moves.
Balance. In equitation no need arises to analyse human dynamic balance. The horse's active dynamic balance adjusts to shifts in the rider's passive static balance. The rider's flexibility supports the horse's ease. In the forward seat the rider arranges his folded body around a plumb line, which - similar to the plum line of the upright seat - meets the point of balance in the horse's body.
Posture, Locomotion and Control. Under the rider's supervision the horse performs a great number of movements in a variety of paces. It walks, climbs, runs, rears and/or jumps. It stands, backs up, rises or turns on the spot. Each movement is interpreted by emotion. Each interpretation requires a unique balance, which - obviously - the horse knows best. It dynamically balances by placing the parts of its body; using core functions of neck, upper line and hindquarters. The rider, despite completely different structures, on account of human/equine nerve and core correlations, tunes into these functions. The tuned horse perceives the rider's control as its own. It makes no distinction of its own and the rider's controls. To the horse they are one and the same.
The Horse's Consent. The rider from a position of authority initiatives movement. Only the horse's consent and cooperation, however, produce lasting results. One needs to experience the response of a young horse, or a young rider for that matter, to a join up to appreciate what happens between horse and rider. Its true, on account of structural provisions and nerve transfers discussed in the previous chapter the horse can't help but submit to a skilled rider. A horse's training, however, will not progress without emotional commitment to the rider. The horse's will is informed by emotion and the body's status. The healthy horse will gladly consent to the rider's leadership. The stiff or suffering horse may choose to resist.
Distinctions. In the upright human body there exists an obvious and yet not fully understood amalgamation of the force of gravity, balance and core activity. The horse negotiates gravity, adopts a position and facilitates movement also from the body's core. It lives, moves and breathes, however, in a completely different relationship to gravity.
The Core. In addition bodies display a general aptitude, not only to actively contract but also to purposely protract. Core activities expand the body. These and not movements, which have the tendency to shorten the body, quality equitation draws on. Human and equine balance differ on account of their different positions within the field of gravity. The horse does and can not know the human's perfect point of poise.
Further research and observations of core functions will shed light on the core's tendency to maintain basic movements automatically, while supporting purposed movements at will. The principle of minimal effort applies. And here another field of research opens. Why in equitation do smallest impacts produce greatest results? Why does authority also work best that way?
