Sometimes we focus so much on the horse that we forget about ourselves in the training process. We want to see what the horse is doing and how they are moving. We want to help the horse move and feel better. We want to study the horse and know the horse. But if all of our awareness is on the horse, we cannot support them. Part of that awareness needs to be on ourselves. Our own sensations in the body. The thoughts in our heads. The breath in our lungs, diaphragm, and pelvic floor. Our balance and alignment. Our posture and muscular engagement. These are the things which we use to connect with and influence the horse, so we are ineffective guides to them when we exclude ourselves from our focus.

Many students feel overwhelmed by too many things to focus on and control when it comes to their aids. Seat, hands, legs, and then I’m telling them to also bring their breath and back and jaw and tongue and knees and thighs and ankles and toes into their awareness… this list could go on. How can we integrate all of these pieces without our brains exploding and still manage to enjoy the ride? This blog post begins to answer that question and offer a framework to develop feel so it’s not just your brain knowing… it’s your body.