More insights on bending – Or how to turn effortlessly

If you have read my last blog you should have a better idea on transversal rotation of your horse’s spine.
Look again at Mr. Denoix's picture in the last blog.

What if there was an easy way to ensure correct rotation and bending?
What if you did not need to use an outside rein or outside leg to “fix” falling out of the circle ever again?

Let me show you
First of all you need to become aware of your seat bones. To do this start with

1. Breathe in – breathe out (see my earlier blog). If your body is  not relaxed those seat bones are hard to find
2. Imagine your seat bones as two pieces of fruit. That sounds silly but it does engage your right brain and voila – you found them.
3. Let’s say you ride around on two very pretty peaches. Focus on your inside peach only. As your horse pushes off with his/her inside hind leg you should feel your inside peach getting lifted. Take your time to feel this.
4. Following the lift of your inside peach, you will next feel a drop. That is the moment your horse’s inside hind leg is in the air and reaching forward under his/her body. Again take your time to feel this. You might need to engage a friend’s help from the ground to make sure you feel it correctly.
5. Once you can feel the drop consistently – tell yourself the word “drop”, “drop”, “drop”.
6. Now let’s try to ride a left 10 meter circle – simply turn your sternum to the left, to the inside of your circle in rhythm with the “drop”, “drop”, “drop”
7. Enjoy a perfectly ridden circle – with no drifting, no need for rein aids, outside leg aids etc.

 
Did it work? Great.

​Try again. You should be able to turn from a straight line onto a circle simply by rotating your upper body and perfect timing on your dropping seat bone.
 
It did not work? Ok – trouble shoot

1. Are you certain you have the timing right and your seat bone is dropping – again ask a friend to watch your horse and tell you when the inside hind leg leaves the ground. When the inside hind leg is in the air – that is the moment you should feel the drop
2. Are you rotating your upper body and pointing your sternum to the inside of the circle without leaning? Your spine should stay perpendicular to the ground
3. Does your body rotate one way but not so much the other? (just like your horse – hmmmm)
4. Are you blocked somewhere in your body – are you still following the breathing pattern with breathing out the extra step?
5. Is your horse falling in? Try to not let your inside seat bone drop quite as much and check your rotation in your upper body.

Does this work at all gaits? Of course

• It is easiest to discover it in the walk.
• In the trot – if you sit the trot you once again should be able to feel your seat bones and the drop.
• If you post the trot – rotate your body into the circle the moment you sit in the saddle.
• In the canter – your seat bone drops when both hind legs come under the horse.

 
Now go out there and ride your horse. Let me know how you like your circles.