Show season for most of us is over. We’ll take a break; reflect on our accomplishments and not-so-great moments. No matter the time of year, we ask ourselves why we struggle with certain movements, why one leg won’t stay where we ask of it, or our pelvis tilt isn’t optimum to improve our riding ability.

Some of us try yoga, Pilates or other exercises to “fix” these problems. Yes, they help over time, but until we can release the muscle memory of the “old” or “incorrect” pattern, it is almost impossible for the muscles to learn a new, correct way to be beneficial to our riding and our horses

Enter a balancing bodywork session for both horse and rider done with the The Equine Touch and “VHT”, the human aspect of this healing discipline. No matter the level of rider and horse, I have detected blockages in the rider affecting the horse and vice versa. The gentle, non-invasive moves of Equine Touch and VHT release the tension and blocks creating a fresh start for the muscle to learn correct position and movement. The horse can now reduce or eliminate his compensation for the rider’s imbalances. Equine Touch moves where needed on the horse releases these compensation patterns, again allowing the muscle to move freely and learn the desired movement.

Examples:

1. A woman who had worked diligently riding bareback as well as in the saddle on her horse had a unique way of posting – diagonally – literally! Her horse had an old injury on the left hind, causing a short stride on that side. When riding, she was throwing her weight from right to left in the rise phase of the posting trot. So, which came first? Did the horses movement cause the rider to move this way, or did she always do this and was actually inhibiting her horse? Most likely, a combination of both situations created this imbalance. After some work on the rider, the horse was able to bring the left hind a little more forward. Then work on the horse freed up the hind even more. This pair could now trot a straight line, which wasn’t happening in the beginning.

2. Another rider held multiple compensation patterns 1 ½ years after a torn ACL had healed. One balancing session with her and her horse created evenness, balance and reduced tension noticed by her instructor in the following week’s lesson.

Any horse and rider benefits from this gentle, dynamic bodywork. Your instructor says “put your leg here”, “do it this way”, but we all struggle in the attempts. Even arms and wrists can have tension or blocks that prevent the fluid and easy movement desired in you and your horse. This body work is a dynamic, enjoyable way to better balance for both of you not to mention the release of tension in horse and rider.

Paula Ray of Horse In Hand is a certified Equine Touch practitioner, the first on the Front Range in 2003.