Testing the Connection in Carriage Driving, Part Two

Yesterday is was hugs. Today it is talking. How do you talk to your horse while you are driving? My mentor, Bob Riley always told me to use a soft, quiet voice, "You see how big his ears are. He can hear you." Voice commands are a recognized aid in driving, but keep the volume down. Voice commands are a whole other blog. Today the talking we are discussing is body language.

Since we consider hugging our horses by using the reins and bit as an extension of our arms, we need to recognize the quality of the hug. How are we using our own body to communicate through the circuit of energy. How loud is our body's voice on the line? What are we actually saying? Are we dropping the call? Is there a disconnect somewhere along the line?

Begin by testing your own equipment. Support your hands and arms with your shoulders. Drop your center of gravity below your belly button. The strength that driving requires can be called upon from your core and transmitted to the horse through the reins like a voice on the telephone. If the communication of strength is coming from your hands, arms shoulders or back, it is like a voice in your horse's ear from a megaphone.

What is your body telling the horse? If you are tense, don't think for a minute that your horse doesn't hear it. Take several deep breaths, breathing like you really mean it. [Breathing deeply is your hug to your own body.] Tension in the line interrupts the flow of positive energy. Then test the individual components to eradicate the tension completely. Make your hands light, by supporting them with your shoulders. Help your shoulders do their job by sitting up straight with your spine and using your seat bones as the foundation of your body's communication circuit.

Circuit Breakers

You think you are giving your horse a good hug, you think your body is speaking softly, but the conversation still isn't going quite right. Check the circuit breakers. Check the whole line. Learn to look for breaks on the line.

Your horse won't settle in to his work, he is fractious. Are you fractious? Are you holding on to the reins for dear life? Are your hands light, held up with your arms which are in turn, supported by your shoulders? Is your center of gravity in your lap or your throat?

Your horse is behind the bit. Ask yourself, "Why?" Where are your hands? Are they in your lap? Where are your shoulders? Are they in your lap? Sit up. Open the line.

Your horse drops his shoulder through a turn. Are you dropping your shoulder? Are you pulling down on the turning rein, and/or throwing the supporting [outside] rein away? All of these instances point to a break in the connection of the flow of energy.

To keep the circuit of communication flowing, check all the junctions. How you hold the reins, how you hold and use your body will determine whether the cycle of communication travels effectively to the horse. Constantly check and maintain all your connections with your horse, your spouse, your children...ah, you get the idea.

Kind Regards,

Michelle Blacker

Serendipity

www.hossbiz.com

Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.