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Beings as
this photo was taken as Nichole and her horse were moving away from the camera the angle
is not the same as the straight line at the bottom of the photo. The
white line shows what the angle of the horse is in order to grasp the way of
travel.
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The first
thing to be worked on is the upper leg. Specifically the rotating of the hip
joint inward. This will in turn adjust the thigh, knee, lower leg and foot.
When we look a the photo it is noticed that the leg is lying
"flat" and the knee is away from the saddle. When the leg lies in
such a position Nichole is not sitting in balance. The energy is flowing out and
back instead of forward. The green line denotes the leg wrapping
inward. Total explanation to the correction of the leg is found
in the Leg
Position page of Equine Riding Improvement section.
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The red
line shows where the calf is resting on the horse. This is also influenced
from the thigh. If the calf was positioned in balance it would have
equal touching on the horse front and back thus denoting the green line from
center of side knee to the ankle bone.
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The most noticeable
body part of the out of balance leg is the foot. The foot is pointed
to the outside. The energy also moves Nichole outward instead of
forward. The green line would denote a foot that is pointed straight
ahead or parallel to the horses side.
Which will be accomplished when the
hip and thigh is rotated inward. Thus the leg will be shaped to the
horses barrel. Even when we use spurs and rotate the
foot to have the neck touch the horse our body shifts weight and balance,
which the horse has to also adjust for the humans shifting. A great
spur that makes adjustments to this is the "Le Spur". The
teeth are positioned to the inside of the spur so no rotating of the foot
and calf are needed. This also makes the rider aware to have the lower leg
(below the knee) released and free from the horses side until the aid is to
be given.
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The position
of the riders arms and hands influence the energy and communication with the
horses bit and mouth. The red line shows that Nichole's elbow to hand
is pointed toward the horses leg to the ground. The green line is clear communication from the
elbow to the bit. And the forearm and hand is to not go below this
line. Complete explanation
on the Wrist
position page of Equine
Riding Improvement section. But the forearm can also be more positioned as if you were
holding a platter full of food on the forearm and you can't tip it down. Especially
for curb and double bridle use.
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The eyes
and head are looking into the ground through the horses ears. If the eyes
do this the rider gets fixed on one line. When that happens the body
in turns stiffens. The head allows the upper body to draw in or
collapse to itself, which the balance is lost. Nichole needs to
"loosen" up the eyes by looking parallel with the ground and then
looking around in a relaxed manor. Being aware of all the
surroundings.
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I choose
the upper body last in this photo because all the above ties in to why the
upper body is hunched inwards. Nichole is not straight and tall. To
correct the slouching a rider can not just place the shoulders back.
This would only be a cosmetic fix and would stiffen the body. To help
sit tall Nichole needs to release the muscle contractions in the body or
relax with inner awareness. A rider can mistake sitting tall with
trying to over extend or stretch the body to much. When a rider over
stretches the pelvis will tip forward and the back will hollow to
much. To check for a good sitting tall posture the rider may place the
back of the hand on the small of the back. When the curve of the back
fits the flat back of the hand that is sitting tall. When the rider is collapsed
the small of the back will curve out wards like a balloon. When
the back is stretched to much upwards the small of the back try's to not
have contact with the back of the hand. The rider will also feel the pelvis
tip forward and the buttocks push backward. To help release muscle
tension and become aware from the inside out check out the page Detaching
the body from the use of muscle constriction .