Thoughts and ideas about riding and training horses 2008-09-02T07:47:00-06:00 http://www.balancedrider.com/blog/ Copyright (C) 2007-2008 Irina Yastrebova Irina Yastrebova

Comment on "The Shaping" by Irina Yastrebova

<DIV>You are so right, Shannon. I found so many similarities between training horses and raising children. I can say with certainty - my son is helping me to train horses and horses are helping me to raise my son.</DIV> 2008-09-02T07:47:00-06:00 http://www.balancedrider.com/blog/2008/09/08090101.htm#comment2 Shannon Ardell

Comment on "The Shaping" by Shannon Ardell

<DIV>I couldn't agree more. Much like raising our kids isn't it. The critical years are when they are young. They are constantly challenging us, not to be rude or ignorant, but to find out why and to test our values as parents. Perhaps I make the analogy because my kids are 3 and 6 right now. Trust me, if you have a loophole as a parent, your kids will find that too. Correction never works with them when I am upset - I need to clearly explain my expectations and not only tell them where they went wrong. but more importantly tell, and show them the correct behaviour. </DIV> 2008-09-01T21:42:00-06:00 http://www.balancedrider.com/blog/2008/09/08090101.htm#comment1 Dultfitte

Comment on "Figure eight for simple change of lead I" by Dultfitte

<DIV>I agreed with you</DIV> 2008-08-02T22:25:00-06:00 http://www.balancedrider.com/blog/2008/07/08070801.htm#comment1 Lynn

Comment on "Coaching Camp and Exams" by Lynn

<DIV>Good Luck Irina! I know you will pass with flying colors!</DIV> 2008-07-22T13:01:00-06:00 http://www.balancedrider.com/blog/2008/07/08072001.htm#comment1 Irina Yastrebova

Comment on "Sitting Trot II" by Irina Yastrebova

<DIV>Hi Shannon,</DIV> <DIV>First of all, gripping is a very strong survival reflex. It is hard to kill it completely because it goes off before our brain can stop it.</DIV> <DIV>Second, until your core is stable you will grip occasionally here and there. Do not get discouraged and work systematically on your core strength and your thighs position. The correct breathing and core strength is vital for your arthritic spine.</DIV> <DIV>Make sure your stirrups are appropriate length. The length depends on your legs, type of your saddle and size of your horse's barrel.</DIV> <DIV>Read articles about rider's posture on my website.</DIV> <DIV>At home, use the exercise ball to sit on it sideways to a mirror. Sit on it in such a way that the ball is between your thighs, knees pointing forward and down and almost touching the floor (you need large enough ball to keep them off the floor). Lower legs are pointing backwards laying on the floor parallel to each other. Pelvis in in neutral. </DIV> <DIV>Look at yourself in the mirror and notice how your thighs are flat on the ball and knees are pointing forward not outward. That is what you want to achieve in the saddle. If it feels uncomfortable in the groin area or hip joints you need to work on <A class=text HREF="http://www.balancedrider.com/exhip.htm">stretching exercises </A>. Just sitting like that on the ball is already a good start. </DIV> <DIV>If you feel comfortable create an <A class=text HREF="http://www.balancedrider.com/abdomen.htm">abdominal push </A> and start bouncing on the ball up and down. Watch yourself in the mirror, your core should not wiggle and your thighs should lay flat on the sides of the ball. Focus on the moment when you sink down and see your thighs spread. Now, consciously grip with your thighs when you go up, relax to go down and grip when you go up. Notice how much more you are bouncing now. same process happens in the saddle. </DIV> <DIV>Next, do not grip but consciously keep your thighs spread apart slightly (without changing their position) even when you go up in your bounce. Feel how much more you are connected to the ball and there is only as much bounce as you have created yourself.</DIV> <DIV>If you find it difficult to keep your balance on the ball and feel yourself falling off sideways work on abdominal push, even weight distribution under your seatbones and stabilizing the thigh opposite from the direction you are falling in. Stabilizing doesn't mean gripping but giving it enough tonus not to be displaced much by the movement of the ball (or horse for that matter).</DIV> <DIV>Remember, you do not bounce on the horse. You let horse bounce under you.</DIV> <DIV>I'm looking forward to working on your video. </DIV> 2008-07-02T21:27:00-06:00 http://www.balancedrider.com/blog/2008/06/08061601.htm#comment2 Shannon Ardell

Comment on "Sitting Trot II" by Shannon Ardell

<DIV>Hi, I am struggling with the sitting trot. I live in Chetwynd, BC which is an hour from Dawson Creek. We have no instructors here so I am on my own to try to figure out how to improve. To complicate matters some, I have arthritis in my spine, but I am determined to ride and find that a neutral spine is the only way I can ride without pain. Any slight deviation and I tense up because I am slamming my vertebrae together and my back wont take it. To make a long story short, I am wondering if you can further explain the use of the thighs without gripping them. I have worked for a long time to have draping legs - I used to and still sometimes pinch my knee when I lose balance. I definately feel better draping my legs as when I pinch with my knee, my hip flexor automatically goes tight right along with it. I plan on sending you a video of me riding. I have taken some time off and want to get into a bit better shape! Thanks for any help. Shannon</DIV> 2008-07-01T23:22:00-06:00 http://www.balancedrider.com/blog/2008/06/08061601.htm#comment1