Is It Me Or is It My Horse?
Time and time again you hear, "my horse won't bend to the right", "my horse will only strike off on the left lead" etc. Do you ever wonder if it's you that is stiff to the right/left?
I have been involved with horses nearly all my life and teaching riders for many years. I am also a Sports Massage Therapist and certified Rolfer ® working with many athletes. Whilst it is generally OK for say, a tennis player to be stronger/tighter to the right-hand side and more one-sided generally, riding is a sport where symmetry is paramount for the good of your horse as well as your personal well being.
More than once I have come across a rider who has been through several horses because their mount had a bad back. They invested time, money and heartache, to have the horses back treated to no lasting effect so they get another horse, and lo and behold the same thing happens - the rider feels they've been unlucky or "more horses have back problems nowadays".
When I get called to see them, it is often the case that the rider is causing the problem. For example, the rider may be stiff in the right hip, thereby lifting that seat bone off the horses back and putting more weight on the left - the horse happily circles left but struggles to the right so the rider pulls (she doesn't mean to, but she does) with the inside rein, the horses neck shortens and tightens to the right - and a vicious cycle begins.
So - how can you tell if you are contributing to the problem? Firstly, by becoming aware of your patterns of movement. Simple things like do you always lose your right stirrup but hardly ever your left ? When you've fallen off in the past, do you usually fall off to one side? Riding without stirrups, can a friend confirm if your legs hang evenly and with the same amount of rotation from the hip? Is one shoulder higher than the other? In a safe environment, can you close your eyes and feel if your seat bones have equal weight and depth in the saddle? It's really useful to have an observer to help you, as often we are so used to our way of going that 'lop-sided' feels normal and level feels 'weird'!
Away from your horse, can you sit cross-legged and it doesn't matter which leg is on top? This can be a real eye opener! Also try crossing your arms both ways. Catch yourself in the mirror and notice if you carry your head to one side - or ask your friend to notice - this is so common - I can easily think of one famous dressage rider/author who is seemingly oblivious to this - but when you think about how much a head weighs - and at the same time we are wanting our horses to respond to weight aids...
WHAT IS ROLFING?
Rolfing structural integration is a deep manual therapy in which the client's body structure becomes integrated through a series of well-defined, yet individually applied treatments. New patterns of structure and function become a way of life, through and beyond the Rolfing sessions.
Through the Rolfer's decisive, yet sensitive and melting touch, elasticity can be restored to the body to give it back its fluidity and lightness of movement. Freeing it from pain, stiffness and chronic stress. Rolfing is not massage. Although Rolfers work with deep tissue and sometimes use massage techniques. It is the quality of the Rolf training and the special understanding that Rolfers have of the human body which makes Rolfing unique.
Benefits include : Alleviation of muscular aches and pain, increased energy and vitality, better athletic performance, aids recovery from injury, surgery or illness, gives you more freedom of movement and flexibility, Helps migraine sufferers, Reduces tension and stress-induced illnesses, builds self-esteem and relieves depression.
While Osteopaths for example, also seek to enhance function by changing structure, Rolfers see that the bones are held in place by soft tissue - muscles, tendons, ligaments etc. If a muscle is chronically short (through injury or poor alignment for whatever reason) it will pull the attached bone out of balance. Repositioning the bone is not enough, the individual muscle and neighbouring tissue must be lengthened if the change is to be permanent. Also, when one part of the body is in trouble, the whole body gets out of balance.
About Jacqueline Beasley
A riding instructor and qualified Sports Massage Therapist, Jacqueline has also been professionally educated and certified as a Rolfing Practitioner from the European Rolfing Association in Munich, Germany. Jacqueline is very busy being one of only a handful of qualified Rolfing Practitioners in the UK as well as working as an instructor helping many riders and their horses work together in balance and symmetry.
Rolfing is suitable for people of all ages and states of health, including babies and children. Jacqueline's client's range from an 18 month old baby who could only stand on tip-toe to an 81 year old with a stiff back. However, you also don't need to have a 'problem' with your body to benefit from the work.
Jacqueline is based in Devon and offers free consultations. Please email us if you would like to contact Jacqueline.
For further information on Rolfing please visit? www.rolfinguk.co.uk
The word Rolfing® is a service mark of the Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration.
Added on: 15/11/07.
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