One of us flaps our legs while standing still, banging our boots in the stirrups, twisting around in the saddle, then leaning down to throw our arms around his neck. We mean to be funny and child-like and show a certain sort of lazy bravado. We mean to act like there’s no special skill involved in riding. Then to get a dramatic response, we jerk the reins hard sideways and pop the gelding with both feet. Oh, and spurs.
His thought balloon: (lost balance. shift. find balance. is that a cue? never mind. not on my neck. sore. rebalance. like a huge boneless chicken. can’t balance. ouch! bang! gouge! sour. not stupid. stiffen jaw. brace ribs. ick.)
One of us is holding mane tight, teetering a bit on the mounting block. Then carefully inserting one foot in the stirrup, holding a shallow breath, and slow and soft as a coyote, bringing the other leg over the saddle, careful to not land too hard. Trying to be invisible, thighs are so tight that we’re hovering more than sitting. Lurking lightly with our seat, hands, cues, voice. Whoa, not so fast. And constantly apologizing.
His thought balloon: (can feel you. stalk me. vapor for brains. afraid of my back. teeth in her knees. what? please breathe. worry. say again? anxiety. done something wrong. what moved? always wrong. hear that? spook.)
One of us wants to get it just right; reading books, watching videos hour after hour- dressage, reining, eventing. Nuno, Buck, Beezie, Tom- all on a first name basis. There’s a plan for each stride, a watch on the wrist, quickly mounting, shortening the reins, going to work. Trying to do our best, each effort judged with blinding perfection, over-cooked passion, and an obsessive desire to ride better each ride.
His thought balloon: (sharpened sit bones. try to breathe. what? don’t have to yell. confused. can’t go forward. squashed ribs. neck stuck. what? sorry. this? sorry. gripped. pushed. tight. can’t. wrong. wrong again.)
It isn’t that we’re one of these riders; at one time or another, we’ve been all three. There is such a fine line between bravado and fear, both a lack of confidence. A fine line between caring too little and caring too much, both focus on control. A fine line between being too harsh and being too kind, both are uncomfortable for horses.
Then, there’s this one other thing: No one is intentionally communicating with their horse.
Doesn’t that seem like a glaring omission? We sit in the saddle, pontificating about this or that in our own minds. It’s like we’re talking to ourselves about our horse, behind our horse’s back, while we’re in the saddle. We might as well be folding towels.
Consider building a bubble. It’s a safe place for you and your horse where breathing happens with a life-affirming regularity. It’s a place where leadership means safety and peace, where we abide in the present moment.
Recipe for a Bubble. Step two: Just converse.
Close the gate to the arena or pen. Please, use a mounting block; your horse’s withers don’t like lateral pressure. Stand for a moment, take a deep breath, and look at his eye. Is it tense? Dead? Worried? Listen to his calming signals. When he’s ready, swing your leg over in one even movement. Breathe, settle, and soften. Pause to feel your sit bones in the saddle, let your horse feel a softness in your legs, shoulders. Keep equal weight in each foot, level shoulders aligned with pelvic bones, ribs easy and inflated and your lower back relaxed. Let him hear you exhale. Feel his ribs move as he inhales. The conversation has begun.
Define conversation as communication a in mutual language. Horses have no words, so sing or chatter if you must, but breath is something you and your horse can share, it’ll create connection. Horses listen to your body and answer with theirs. Be aware of what you’re asking with your volume, intention, and position. Stay present, focused more on your body awareness than thinking with your brain. Hush.
Breathe and ask him to walk on. Leave his head alone, long rein. Let him pick the path. The gate’s closed, remember? Experience the movement of your horse as his energy moves through your body. Follow his rhythm. Feel your own movement, sit bones release one at a time, legs follow the sway of his ribs. Take the walk your horse offers and say, Good Boy. No corrections, no hands in his mouth. Find your balance in your seat, the weight of your feet in the stirrups. How does it feel? No words, just feel. That strange thing is your awareness. It could use some exercise. We’ll need it to build our bubble.
If you’re nervous or bored or over-thinking (and of course you are), count your breath. Match your horse’s rhythm and inhale 1-2-3, pause, and exhale, 1-2-3 pause. Repeat. Breath is the antidote to your mind running like a rat on a wheel. Better than that, it’s the language of horses. Have you stopped breathing? See how easily you’re distracted? Smile and start counting again. Count your breath for five minutes. Finally, a good use for that wristwatch. It’ll feel like forever. Impatient? You’re not breathing.
This is silence. Your horse loves it.
Allow him to walk in arcs. Turn your waist until your shoulders are at the angle you want your horse’s shoulders. Feel him bend between your legs in response. Acknowledge his try. Acknowledge him and say thank you.
Now, using just your sit bones, ask for a longer stride. Not faster, longer. Feel that? Now back to your working walk, big breath. Stride on. Then ask for smaller steps, using only your sit bones. Good boy, thank you.
That’s your horse connected with you in a bubble. It isn’t mystical. It’s communication.
Think situational awareness. No escalating, just feel and stay present. Do you fidget? Are your shoulders still up by your ears? Could you hold an egg under your knee? Do you fiddle with the reins? Still counting? Okay, start again.
Peace in the bubble: Just you and him, moving in unison, sharing breath, and covering ground. Just so you know, you’re also working on your canter depart, tempi changes, reining spins, negotiating an oxer.
This is you riding the inside of your horse. You’re riding him with the inside of your body. Allow yourself to be lifted and carried. Say thank you in every exhale. Feels great, doesn’t it?
Enjoyed this so much. Thank you.
Thanks for reading, JoHanna.
Enjoyed this so much. Thank you.
Thanks for reading, JoHanna.
I so enjoy the way you write.
Thank you from me ‘n’ my horses.
Thanks, give the horses a scratch, too, Susan.
Anna, this is so awesome and you are amazing.
Thanks, Micki. I might spend too much time in the barn.
No such thing…… 😉
Anna, this is so awesome and you are amazing.
Thanks, Micki. I might spend too much time in the barn.
Breathing with Life-affirming regularity……….my new mantra. Thank YOU!!
Thanks, Jo.
Rudd had us do something very like this bareback with a couple pieces of rope tied to a halter for reins, no bit, no bridle, no saddle, just your butt on the horse’s back so you could feel with nothing to interfere. He told us to inhale and exhale with the horse, melt onto his back and become part of him, slight slouch with your butt tucked slightly under. It’s been a very long time ago now, but I can still feel that oneness.
It’s unforgettable… thanks, Aquila.
This was just what needed to hear at the minute. Struggling with nerves after my precious boy was almost ruined by a trusted trainer. Now trying too hard to do the right thing. My boy needs my confidence to regain his. Tomorrow I will forget techniques and methods to try and put things right. I will simply be and breath whilst on his back. Thank you Anna I love your blogs and often they are just what I need to hear like this. X
Just a bump in the road, June. Best wishes to you and your boy, for a slow simple ride back to where you want to be.
This was just what needed to hear at the minute. Struggling with nerves after my precious boy was almost ruined by a trusted trainer. Now trying too hard to do the right thing. My boy needs my confidence to regain his. Tomorrow I will forget techniques and methods to try and put things right. I will simply be and breath whilst on his back. Thank you Anna I love your blogs and often they are just what I need to hear like this. X
I love this one, Anna. Even on the ground my mind can get too busy, so I remind myself of the many things I am learning from you. Thank you for being here when I need another refresher.
You’re welcome, Celeste. Having a busy brain isn’t altitude related? 🙂
I love this one, Anna. Even on the ground my mind can get too busy, so I remind myself of the many things I am learning from you. Thank you for being here when I need another refresher.
You’re welcome, Celeste. Having a busy brain isn’t altitude related? 🙂
Thank you so much ! You said it in a nutshell! You are so amazing and I just love your work!
Thanks, Karen.
I had to reread this at 12:45 AM because I am riding in a clinic tomorrow and Sunday. My ride time is 8 AM and I still can sleep because of the crummy warm-up I had today. New place, young Arab mare who hasn’t been out much. I was so unfair to her today, so I’m hoping to carry a little “Anna zen” with me tomorrow and make it a better ride. This dressage stuff is really hard for us OCD overachievers. Humbling too. Hopefully I can carry some of this with me, relax and enjoy that little mare. Thanks Anna for “being there” for us,
I learned this on a young Arab… wishing you a slow and breathing ride. Good luck, in case you don’t know, she’s an overachiever, too. This is what it looks like at this age. 🙂
THANK YOU!
You’re welcome!
THANK YOU!
You’re welcome!
Thank you so much for showing me a new path. My new mare has been telling me to go read some more Anna Blake please–you still don’t have it right yet. I trust she knows what she’s talking about.
Heehee. That’s some referral! Thank your mare for me, Nancy. 🙂
You took the words right of my mouth, Anna. Couldn’t have say it better by my own. 🙂
Thanks, Donald! Especially coming from you.
You’re welcome, Anna ! 🙂
Anna, thank you for your truly wonderful blog. You are an amazingly brilliant horsewoman (and writer, I have all four of your wonderful books). I thank you for your fantastic advice. I try very hard to be a soft rider so as not to disturb my sensitive OTTB DiMaggio.
I find that I am usually so terrified in the saddle that I do not breathe most of the time. This year I have not ridden at all (yet?) and have decided that I will no longer ride. I will just spend the quality time with my horses just “being” with them and grooming and taking care of them. Thank you for sharing your amazing knowledge with us, you are incredible.
First, thank you but all I do is take dictation… and I hope you don’t think I recommend not riding. It’s your choice, only yours. When your breathing on the ground is good, perhaps you’ll find a good trainer and ask for lessons… Whatever the future holds, thanks, Michelle, best wishes with DiMaggio.
Thank you so very much. I surely understand that you do not recommend not riding. Not riding just seems to be where I am in my training right now. The ironic thing is that I have a fantastic trainer and instructor (same woman). She studied the natural horsemanship methods of Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance. She is amazing but she knows that she cannot “make” me get on my horse. Thank you again for your kind words and fantastic advice. Please have a wonderful weekend.
Excellent. Then all is exactly as it should be.