No
matter what the sport, 'on the forehand' will kill your performance
What it does to the horse
On the forehand is
when the two front feet are heavier than the two back feet. The two
front footprints in the arena would be deeper than the two back ones.
The opposite to on the
forehand is 'engaged' when the horse carries themselves like a
frog...crouching down in the back, & bending their back legs, with their
front feet light...ready to jump & spring.
It affects everything
'On the forehand'
affects paces because the horse is no longer free, especially in
half pass. It affects submission because the horse has a
harder time carrying the rider, and is not really on the bit. It
affects impulsion because the horse is clearly slower, and it
affects jumping because the horse bend it's back legs like a frog
and 'spring'.
Just one cause
Q. What happens when you...
-
Look Down...
Try it for yourself. Look down at the horse and you'll
feel the two FRONT FEET GET HEAVIER!
-
It can also be
'sideways' Often we don't just look down, but we also kink the
head off to one side at the same time.
-
Check out your
posture. Every time we look down, we have a massive change
throughout our posture. Look down, and see what it does to your
belly button. See what it does to your pubic bone. Look
down & up again and feel what it does to the muscles in your thighs.
You might even feel how your foot position changes.
And if a horse can feel a fly on his back...he can feel these massive
changes in rider position.
-
It's an oldie but a goodie...can you carry a book on your head?
Copyright © 2005
[Colleen Kelly. Improve Your Riding ABN 76799531257]
|
"On
the forehand"
one of the major causes of low marks in dressage and lack of spring in
jumping... and your position might be making it worse.
|
