CenteredRiding.org

Centered Riding® Inc.

 promoting awareness of Centered Riding®
 teaching the principles of Centered Riding®
 integrating the principles of Centered Riding® into all equine-related disciplines
 developing new ideas and further applications of Centered Riding®
 providing educational services ~
 providing a full range of lessons and clinics for equestrians.
 providing a standardized progression of education for qualifying Centered  Riding® Instructors.
 maintaining and promoting Centered Riding®
 providing membership and networking services.

 an American 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

With world wide membership, this educational organization was established to qualify instructors, teach, maintain, and promote Centered Riding® Inc

CenteredRiding.org

If we are the frame and our horses form themselves under/around us, and if we are correct they will be correct, then it follows that the horse mirrors our position, at rest as well as in motion.
Think of it this way..
even when we think we are doing "nothing" we are doing " something"
If we are doing "nothing nothing" then the horse must make the best of us. we are a passenger, not a rider, and mostly unaware of our effect. Like a pannier or a flourbag.
If we are doing " something-nothing" then even though we are at rest we are exhibiting an aware "toned" relaxation which gives the horse a frame to stand balanced and relaxed beneath us..better for you, better for horse (prevents fatigue, one sided stress on joints etc,)
If we are doing "something-something" then we are actively engaging for an expected response
If we are doing "nothing something" we are moving in quiet harmony, having organized ourselves well, we are able to allow the horse to move freely and lightly and still remain the controlling factor in a very dynamic system.

carry each other

Last night I rode a client's big retired, '93 racing thoroughbred in a dressage lesson..
he's 17+ hands..big bay horse..
one of those old cavalry types...muley head, big ears..
he won a few races...
nice horse..
BIG mover..
I had been practicing canter departs, I wanted a break, but my coach called for one more..
At the next corner I asked for the depart from behind but I never let him go in front..
He fell apart,
I fell apart,
the coach made us do two more..
In the moment that I failed to let him go forward,
I became separate from my horse,
out of harmony
A moment in fear wondering if i could hold us up through another one...
Worried for an instant about my body,
in my separateness,
I threw away the union and a bit of the trust..
we got through it OK..and no one else probably knew what happened...
the coach just said
"Don't second guess yourself"
In Aikido, we always used to say, "What meets you in life will meet you on the mat, and what meets you on the mat will meet you in life.."