Softenss vs Tension

The Inner Rider Softenss vs Tension Softenss vs Tension

"Imagine that you're a tree"

AMANDA BARTON

Softness is a concept that I first heard about from Mark Rashid. On the face of it its a lot to do with muscular relaxation but when you explore the subject more deeply you are lead on an exploration as to why the horse may feel the need to be tight and bracey.

Practical Application
To put these concepts to work for you:

Try it with a friend. Let him be the human and hold the reins while you pull on them, simulating the horse. Let him react in the standard way and pull back. You will notice no release whatsoever whether you let go or not, leaving you quite frustrated. Then find a tree, wrap the reins around and pull again. This time, as soon as you let go, you will notice an immediate, clear and very rewarding release in your fingers and wrists.

Experiment further and take turns in playing the horse, tree and the human respectively. This will help you greatly in refining your tree skills and thereby getting rid of any residue of pulling instinct.

For the next couple of weeks keep in mind and repeat the slogan “I am a tree” whenever you are on the horse. This way you will stay alert for any inkling of pulling and be able to avoid it from the outset. If you follow this routine for a few months, you will automatically react correctly, namely not.

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Learning Path

Lesson 1 - Know Your Audience

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