The vision of a prince with a sweeping hat on the most elegantly trained of horses in levade could be the poster of what many of us envision when we think about the most elegant of positions that one day we hope to be able to emulate.

Or it might be the picture of the rider who looks so incredibly quiet even when the horse is in movement. It is this stillness, this quietness that appeals so much to us. Creating a picture in our minds of what we want to ride like.

So is there anything wrong with us doing this? Isn't this what you should want when you ride?

It depends on HOW the stillness is achieved whether this is something that will pleasurable to the horse or intrusive. Whether it will augment the natural grace of the horse or limit the expressiveness of the horse. If it will help the horse lift through the forehand or keep him literally and figuratively depressed.

So lets look at two alternative but fun perspectives of being still.