Friday, 08 August 2008
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June 2007 • VOLUME 22 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine  The Gravity of Balance, by Luis Pine Good balance in riding is the consistent alignment of the rider's center of gravity - with the horse's center of gravity. This physical equilibrium between horse and rider makes possible a harmonious relationship that allows for maximum freedom of movement for both, combined with a minimum number of aids. It translates into maximum riding efficiency. If horseback riding is a mutual symbiotic relationship between horse and rider, then the main common requirement is good balance. The independence of movement and lightness of carriage that it gives the horse immediately translates into comfort and ease of travel for the rider. And vice-versa as you will see. Good balance is a symbiotic phenomenon and it is at the heart of all horseback riding, and of dressage in particular. To help us understand physical equilibrium, let us first address the horse, then the Rider, and finally both together. We'll use an analogy for the structure of the horse (and later the rider) common to most people's experience, that of trying to move a heavy piece of furniture, for example, a couch. Imagine the couch to be the body of the horse and the horse's legs to be four people trying to move the couch. When the weight is well distributed among the four people, the couch is lighter to move, facilitating progress and synchronization of movements. However, if for any reason the weight is badly distributed, the opposite is true. The same with the rider's upper body.
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An Equestrian Legacy