a.i.s.

New Hoofbeats

Are horses made for impeccably manicured lawns? For completely level grounds? For surfaces made of sand and finely sliced fabrics? What does the horse's perfect treading consist of?  

Its been a while. But now - with our new plans for LaBoulaye/2 - it is evident: LaB/1 will remain an outdoors affair. Exclusively. My first ride with Pinochio in the new space just behind the yard, on the new surface, was pleasure pure. He took to the soft decline, the branches, roots and rocks here and there, shining in his best shoulder-in, even left hand. We were in the forests, far from civilisation. Out there, all alone. Mind not the occasional car rushing by. Ears were ringing in delight with a mirage of birds and other sounds of nature. The wind rustling in the tree tops.

How could I ever even ponder the idea of cutting down these trees and putting up a building, an indoor school with perfectly manicured grounds?  

Day-to-Day in the Yard

Don't let horses eat while they are working. Do not let the horse suggest the action. Ride forward, no matter what. Always be in control. 

Well, - its not like this in our yard.

When we decided to let horses have hay during rides all were hungry. It was during the successful attack on too much good green grass in Normandy and bellies that showed it. At that time all horses were in start-up. And soon we found out that encounters with the hay cart not only shed light on horses' appetites. They in fact reveal much about individual horse/rider relationships... . To make a long story short, today feeding while training is done respectfully and now is part of the daily program. 

It goes like this: Passing the cart a horse will express interest in feeding. The rider takes note and without noticeable action will keep on going. An exercise soon will bring horse and rider back to the cart. In due distance they halt. For a moment they stand still, ready for re-departure. Then they relax. The rider gives the reins and the horse walks up to the cart.

Some horses are calm and instantly feed. Others may take a few blades of dry grass and signal the wish to move on. Some, in other words, in due time will learn to stand still, others will learn to stay tuned. Horses no longer take the riders' reins, rush towards the cart and/or push into it. They no longer forget about surrender and cooperation. They don't act up or try to assume leadership. No, expressing their interest politely and enjoying the riders' response has become an important part of etiquette and the expression of some special friendships. 

When time arrives to leave a few more signals are due. Taking up the reins indicates departure. It may be a turn around the haunches or a back-up. It may be a few side steps. All are done according to clearly agreed upon signals. All add flexibility and ease. The rider feels the horse's back mount, and - off they go, in good spirits, well-prepared for more work. 

The hay, for the most part, is forgotten when new learning sets in.   

Jumping

Hhm, - how do I teach my horse this? 

The Breath of Life Directs the Horse

Google half-halt and you get a host of entries. This one I liked the best and I do like this one. One refers to breathing, the other doesn't. Google halbe Parade and you get all kinds of entries, on all kinds of approaches. Not one refers to breathing!? 

And here is study-horsemanship's  for the present contribution. 

Posture and Equitation

A summary of my a.i.s. study-horsemanship research 2007-8 is coming along nicely. 

Head and neck position and its effect on the haunches. For all who have not seen the report, here it is. 

 

A storm is passing Normandy. No electricity, water everywhere, fallen trees on the road. Fortunately my favorite café is open, providing room for reflection and outlook.

The study-horsemanship program continues to be busily occupied with the training and observation of some twenty horses. They progress and simultaneously adjust to life without shoes. It will take a year I am told... I enjoy trimming their bare feet whenever needed. Adjustments in hoof balance quite obviously assists their all-over balance. Horses seem unaware of their guinea pig position. They enjoy the added attention and regular problem solving sessions. While getting in shape observations and record keeping continues. Together horse and rider progress along the lines of What do these lessons do? Balance, precision, immediacy, lightness and fun is what we are after. Many hints point towards new directions.

The avid Internet 2.0 supporter I am, the documentation of a new modern equitation has begun. Background and theoretical information will be available right here on the a.i.s. site. It will be the back bone of another a.i.s. in-print publication. Meanwhile the series What do these lessons do? continues to provide practical answers. There is a golden rule in teaching equitation. Don't answer unasked questions. Texts thus are brief and in most cases limited to bare essentials. Please do not hesitate to get in touch regarding more detail and missing information.

C.S.

Winter Break 2010

 Hercules of Morgado Lusitano

Fourteen lessons, three horses, two teachers, uncounted lateral movements, flying changes, passages and piaffes. Incessant corrections, many questions, just as many answers. Unending repetitions... . Thank you, Charlotte and Rodrigo, for this swift and thorough introduction to dressage in Portugal today.

 

Ancient noble blood-lines in India and a beautiful performance from Brasil   

Perfect Balance

German translation

A train of thoughts about static and dynamic balance. 

The very essence of balance is ease.  

The Empire State Building exists because it is in balance. If it was not in balance it would not exist. Put together with equal tensions and made of materials, which withstand the pull of gravity, it stands tall.

The same is true of moving bodies. What's more though, they function at rest and in movement. Tensions balance and materials support both, movement and the pull of gravity. 

The only question is, how well? 

When flexibility is restricted balance is compromised. Performance slows down. On the other hand, when balance is improved the body gains flexibility and does well. Yes, it sounds like a paradox.

Perfect balance comes with complete ease. By the same token effort speaks of compromised balance.

So, what makes for balance? Things the Empire State Building couldn't care less about. The body, however, any body depends on. 

Call it love, care, commitment, trust, well-being, certainty, absence of fear... . They are the base of dynamic balance.

That is why in equitation we go for leadership first. Then for balance and then for flexibility. Performance follows.