By Kathrin Owens -- May 2001
Originally published in the Potomac Valley Dressage Association Newsletter, March 2001, Volume XXXVII, # 3
We had hit a wall.
After three years, we couldn't travel in a straight line. We couldn't keep even contact in both reins. We were either sluggish or running. The halts weren't square. The transitions were sloppy. My horse wouldn't chew or foam. The right muscles just wouldn't build. Granted, he was a racetrack reclamation project, but still.
We had had instruction from all kinds of capable individuals, the saddle fit, the teeth were floated, the feet had been done, and we even had visited the chiropractor. We just couldn't move past these very basic issues. Gradually, the conclusion became plainly obvious: my horse had become a measuring instrument for all kinds of tension, weakness and unevenness in my own body that I had no idea existed, and therefore couldn't address. Unless I got off the horse and to the bottom of those issues we would never get anywhere. So I set out to determine the best way for my tall, lanky body to become more toned, more connected, properly aligned and free of tension. The answer for me was the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning. "The Pilates method of body conditioning is a unique system of stretching and strengthening exercises developed over ninety years ago by Joseph H. Pilates. It strengthens and tones muscles, improves posture, provides flexibility and balance, unites body and mind, and creates a more streamlined shape. ...Structured around the stomach, hips, lower back, and buttocks the movements of the Pilates method are instrumental in maintaining good posture and alignment. ... While the movements require strength and concentration, there should always be a natural flow and rhythm that serve to relax the muscles without disengaging them from their task. ...Your overall goal is to break bad habits and to connect and form an alliance with your body. For most this means the enjoyment of moving correctly and reaping the benefits of what that brings: better posture, a strong center, suppleness, alacrity, and a feeling of well-being."(from "The Pilates Body" by Brooke Siler, Broadway Books, New York, NY, 2000)So, off I went for weekly 45-minute private instruction at a local Pilates studio. It is tough, no question about it. Under my trainer's watchful eye I labored on a variety of machines and on the mat. My abdominals received a thorough workout in their entirety - from just under the ribcage to way down at the very bottom of the pelvis. I had no idea there were that many! Interestingly enough, I was never, ever sore, even though my abs seemed to scream at me at times. The workout leaves you with a very relaxed, content feeling, not "pumped" or exhausted.
And after a few weeks, the lightbulbs started popping on. I learned how engaging my abs will support my spine, no matter whether I am standing up, sitting down, bending over, reaching for something, or riding my horse. I experienced how a supported spine will prevent me from arching my back and letting the seat bones slip backward instead of down. With my seat bones down and spine supported - especially way up right underneath the ribcage - the danger of collapsing into a big capital "C" has been significantly reduced - a huge problem for me for years. With my seat firmly planted and my spine supported all the way, approximating a capital "D" position, I finally had a stable upper body from which to hang my shoulders. For the first time in my riding life, which has been over 20 years, I was able to position my shoulders back and down without arching my back or getting tense as a result. Lastly, with my shoulders hanging from a stable upper body and my arms hanging quietly by my side I don't have to keep my hands still. They are still.
Of course, we still have a long way to go, and we have good days and bad. However, our lines are getting straighter. Our rein contact is getting more even. My horse has discovered a very powerful, suspended stride we had no idea he had in him. The transitions are more uphill. And a nice, white foam is forming on both sides of his mouth in every session now.
As we all know, it's always the rider's fault. However, it seems we sometimes have to travel outside the arena to find out what is holding us back.
