Horse Riding and the Alexander Technique

Amongst folk who ride horses for dressage or eventing or just for fun, there is the certain notion that to be balanced while on a horse gives both rider and horse the best experience and in competition, the best results. 

Gaining a balanced horse is of course of paramount importance.  But what about the rider?  Without poise and postural balance, a rider is never well seated and the horse's is gait is subtly affected by this.

Time and again I am told by the horse rider who comes for Alexander lessons they have been aware of their own imbalance; yet unable to identify the changes needed to symmetry, beyond the vague feeling that something is wrong.

"After just a few Alexander lessons, it was the first time I felt really balanced while sitting on my horse." says Rachel of Auckland .

Many top class riders have used the Alexander Technique to boost them into a higher level of a great ride.  If anyone deserves the title of master horseman, it is New Zealand’s Mark Todd who creates a seemingly natural affinity between himself and any horse he mounts. Olympic champion Mark Todd used this technique to great effect in his riding career and won successive Olympic gold medals in 1984 and 1988 on Charisma in the Olympic three-day event.

Are you struggling to have cohesiveness with horse riding, contact Jann McMichael for details with questions, comments or to book a lesson.