DRESSAGE FANATICS!!!

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Comment by Catherine on August 6, 2009 at 7:54pm

I always video tape my rides at clinics and shows to go back over them and critic as much as possible. It's also fun to go over videos from a couple years back and see what you've improved.

Comment by Ann Hatfield on August 6, 2009 at 4:55pm

What technological 'assists' are people aware of for teaching people about their seats when they ride? Are computerized pressure pads used under saddles or on stirrups to see how riders weight themselves? (I know these sorts of pads are sometimes used for saddle fitting.) Are any electronic 'hook-ups' on the riders' bodies used to indicate position? Do people go over videos with coaches or use digital cameras for the same purpose regularly? What have people in this group done or used or seen used? What was most helpful?

Comment by Mary McGuire Smith on July 30, 2009 at 11:04am

LOL--Andre, and my horse wishes to be white...if you go to my page and click on the photos, you can see his face is well-started!
Sit-the-trot---a discussion sounds wonderful! :-)

Comment by Sit_the_Trot on July 30, 2009 at 11:00am

To clarify to Mary, yes, I apply the Feldenkrais method to riders and that is my main client base. My private lessons involve work on my table (Functional Integration) followed by work with the person on the horse. Clinics typically involve Awareness Through Movement lessons and on-horse work. Of course I also have clients that just come for FI. Mary I'd love to chat more about this, we should move it to a discussion forum.
Ann, I've love to see your mules. Audrey Goldberg? lives just down the road with her dressage & Mtn trail mules. They are magnificent.
Andre: he sounds like he's expressing his Yin/Yang nature!

Comment by Andre Steenkamp on July 30, 2009 at 10:25am

I think Shaka (my white horse) has a secrete desire to be a brown horse - he found the largest and deepest mud puddle in the paddock and rolled in it. He is now white from one side and completely brown from the other.

Comment by Mary McGuire Smith on July 30, 2009 at 8:48am

Oh, I see! I thought you applied the Feldenkrais method (as in chiropractic body-work?) in your teaching (dressage)--and as I read it now you actually practice the Feldenkrais method as your primary business with people who both ride and don't ride? Sorry for the confusion--it was late last night when I was reading the post. And if I got it wrong this morning, I have no excuse! LOL

Comment by Sit_the_Trot on July 30, 2009 at 2:27am

I guess I wouldn't say I teach people dressage because that relates to horses. But helping people to become more balanced, symmetrical, overall stronger and more flexible and fluid in their movement AND ALSO become more aware of themselves and how they move is much like what we do in dressage with horses. And I do it in the same way classical riders teach dressage--by entering in a mutual learning environment and helping the student to learn more their full range of movement potential. Isn't this what we do with horse's? For example I have a horse that never did a flying change in pasture, he'd change in front and not in back. I taught him to be more balanced and straight in the canter and eventually taught him flying changes. Now he is much more aware of himself and has greater potential--and he does flying changes in pasture without a bobble. The work I do with people opens up their potential and brings them to a heightened awareness of possibility for their own balance, movement and flexibility and then they move with more ease and comfort and athleticism..

Comment by Mary McGuire Smith on July 29, 2009 at 9:49pm

Hi, Sit-the-trot! That is great that you help people with their position in motion! Welcome to the group. Since you said you "sort of" teach people dressage (I know what you mean! LOL), you might find my latest blog interesting. It is at http://iridedressage.blogspot.com I think you will find it interesting in light of your take on what you do (and I think that we all, as instructors, do--or should do--what you do ). :-) Please also let me know your thoughts! Feel free to comment there and/or here. I would love to start a discussion about this subject!

Comment by Sit_the_Trot on July 29, 2009 at 8:11pm

Fanatics? YES! I love dressage--there's so much to learn, always more to figure out with each horse--great to meet you all. I also teach dressage to equestrians--well sort of, I teach movement to riders so they can better move in harmony and in balance with their horses -- when you are in balance and fluid in your movement it makes riding the horse so much easier it's amazing. I studied Feldenkrais, learned to let go of tension and sit the trot! and started teaching riders. I have SitTheTrot.com and post blogs with movement lessons and info on improving balance and symmetry. I also teach endurance horses dressage and their owners how to keep their horse's using themselves better--makes for a more comfy ride--and you know, us Feldenkrais practitioners are all about comfort and fluency in movement. In the pic you see Bugsie my 5 yr old Clydes/QH, me, and my table.

Comment by Andre Steenkamp on July 29, 2009 at 1:16pm

I'll share the good and the bad

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