Centred Riding : Lession 1

I saw an ad for a lady who teaches Centred Riding, riding with balance and softness and using images rather than lengthy and complicated instructions to achieve the desired results. This lady also has similar physical problems to me, so truly understands my pain and limitations.

So, I booked my first lesson … the Big Day arrived, tack had been thoroughly cleaned, pony groomed to perfection and I had overdosed on Rescue Remedy. We spent time discussing my condition, and what I was actually hoping to achieve. We also talked about the pony I would be riding, Lucky, my daughter’s previous pony, who I had only just started riding a few weeks ago. Then we went in the school and I lunged Lucky, so my trainer could see how he moved without a rider on – that went well, Lucky behaved beautifully and I didn’t wrap my arms or legs up in the lunge line – a good start.

Then the dreaded moment came …. I actually had to get on and ride in front of someone, with them scrutinising my every move – oh the shame! I just about achieved forward motion in walk, trotting was horrendous as it is so painful and I was very glad to be able to grind to a halt to discuss my astonishing riding!

I was shown, for the first time EVER how to actually sit correctly on a horse. This involves sitting on your seat bones, and that was my first revelation …. My seat bones were not where I thought they were, and as I was sitting on my hands, desperately rummaging through my well covered posterior trying to find these missing bones, I was desperately hoping no neighbours were watching, it must have looked VERY peculiar! So, with some help from my trainer, I actually sat on my seat bones, legs placed in the correct position, which involved dropping my stirrups down two holes to bring my leg further back underneath me, and just sitting tall but without tension anywhere – already I could feel that the ankle I had previously broken was aching less. Pictures were taken to show me the difference – I started off looking like a slouching cowboy and ended up looking like a fat scruffy dressage rider – what a result!

I then attempted to hold my new found correct position while actually moving …. Not quite so easy, but with some serious concentration on my part I managed it, and for the first time ever I was able to tune in and feel my seat bones sliding forward and backwards with Lucky’s movement.

I have had many years of riding badly, partly because I have not had a riding lesson in about 30 years, and my condition makes me sit badly to alleviate pain in certain places, so it is going to take a lot of work to teach myself how to adopt this new position, but I can already feel a difference and know that it will make me a much more balanced and secure rider which will make Lucky much happier too.

So, this is the start of my journey to actually become a rider, rather than a passenger.

I cant believe I am saying this, but I am REALLY looking forward to my next lesson.