Are You Balanced?

This is an article regarding riding. I know a break from my usual drivel. But I heard some discussion today at the office where I work. This particular person was claiming to be an 'expert' rider. Okay, I AM not an expert rider. I am a decent rider, but can always learn so much more. I was amazed when I asked him if he couldn't balance on the ground, how in the heck did he expect to balance on a horse? His answer...*Easy, you just sit on a horse.* So that gave me the idea for the following article.

Are You Balanced?

Think about balance for a moment and what it means as a rider. We all know the basics: heels down, toes up, one leg on each side of the critter. But what about your personal balance on the ground. Sure, you can walk, you can probably run, you may be able to hop, or skip…but think about it. If you are a more balanced person on the ground, you will be a more balanced person in the saddle.

If you are a more balanced person in the saddle; your mule will be much happier with you.

Can you stand on one foot with one leg pulled up? Easy. Now try it with your eyes closed. Not easy.

Can you squat with your feet planted approximately the width of your mule, and then raise yourself again (do this keeping your back straight and head level)? Sounds easy, but it isn’t. Yet those are the very same muscles we use when we ride to keep ourselves balanced on the bottom half.

What about your upper body? Do you slouch or stand up straight? Do you slouch in the saddle or sit up straight? Do your shoulders ache after a very long ride? If so, your shoulders need strengthening. If not, you will ‘fall’ out of balance to compensate for a weak upper body.

Then take a moment to think about how you ride in the saddle. Do you turn to look at something and wonder why your mule/horse turns also? You’ve probably turned your whole body to look. The equine is just obliging and turning with your body. I’ve found that if I want to turn my mule and not use any reins, I can just shift my shoulders in the direction I want to go and stiffen slightly through my hips. The mule follows my direction.

Are you soft in the seat? We hear clinicians talk about ‘soft’ hands and supple necks. A light touch can communicate so much. Think a moment about your seat. Do you flop like a sack of dead weight, or move along with your equine? Are your eyes looking at the ground, or between the ears?

These are things to consider if you are having problems with your mule too. Is it really the mule? Or is it the rider’s balance and positioning causing some problems. I wish I could say I was an expert. But these are some common sense things that I’ve noticed over the years. People who don’t balance well on the ground and have poor posture often have poor results when riding.

Yes, I do practice balancing techniques on the ground. I do strengthening exercises for my legs and shoulders along with my stomach and back muscles. I find that my animal is much happier if I am riding balanced and to the best of my ability.

Stormy day, again...

Big storms again this morning! Thundery boomers, lightening flashing, rain coming in sheets...seems this is a weather pattern and I cannot wait for it to end. Of course it is good for the fungi growing in the woods.
I'm hoping tonight to capture Fred and take him for a ride. If not, Badger will do just fine.

I made it to PT early today but was late getting out. Wow Kim did a job on me, she is a tough PT gal! I'm sure she'll be reporting to Dr. L. on my progress tomorrow morning. I think I am doing better except for the shoulder does not want to move on its own independent of the scapula. Plus the 'tennis elbow' pain fired up this morning with PT.
When Kim tried one of her stretch manipulations this morning ... I literally came up off the table. I was sure she broke my arm ... she felt bad and says I sure am a difficult 'case' and I've got her thinking! I like her, she doesn't let me wimp out EVER! She is also very much for me riding. Good gal.

I'm relishing the ice packs I brought in the cooler from home. Ahhhhhh.

I actually got some orders on my cards that I made and posted on Flickr! Dang, I could make a few pennies. Does that make me a professional photographer then?

Morris, the dog.

Morris the dog, was actually named Morris the Cat after that very famous commerical icon. But I wanted to name him Charlie the Tuna after one of my Dad's best commercial campaigns. We got Morris the year before my father died and my husband wanted to give him a silly name.
Well Morris stuck and that is what he is ... a silly, funny, loving, Jack Russell Terrier who knows nothing about being a Jack Russell.

He'd rather play frisbee and ball than chase a squirrel.
He loves to eat.
He loves to hike with me.
He loves to pick his own berries [see above!]
He loves to ride in vehicles and play navigator.
He loves tractor rides...and takes every opportunity to get in hubby's bobcat.
Most of all he entertains endlessly.

He makes me smile each day.
Morris considered his own blog, but soon forgot it due to his sometimes limited attention span.

We don't have television [by choice since 1999] and Morris provides us with as much cool entertainment as we can handle.
When I come back, I want to come back as a dog like him.

He is yawning and watching me from his perch on the bed. He's pretty sure that it isn't time to get up yet, and he is comfy right where he is, thank you very much!

And so forth...

Just a quick addition to the previous post. Yeah, I felt crummy and had a bad day, but the world was set right with me this evening when I took Badger out and went to watch a brilliantly beautiful sunset with him.
It seems that I always find such beauty when I am with my animals that it touches my heart in such a way to make things right.

And right it is!

If you can't take the heat...

Get into the creek! That's exactly what Morris and I did today. Sultry humid hot...close...what other words do they used to describe heat and humidity?
It was a 'sanity' hike. Being off for surgery for a month has taken its toll on a few things. Let's just say it all came to a screeching boiling festering head this morning. I don't argue well with loved ones.
In fact generally I don't say a word. I can't get a raise out of a fella that can't make his monthly bills [meaning my boss...duh, that is why I am job searching].
That's all I'm going to say about it. Talk about a little stress.

So I couldn't take the heat, so I got out and into it. Much better. The woods are so soothing and calming.
Tomorrow is another day.

Into the night...

Released to ride. It surely didn't take me long to get back up in the saddle.
First thing we saw when we came up and out of our valley was a gorgeous bright red young buck with a nicely shaped fork horn. He stood and watched us from a short distance.
I just sat on Badger and enjoyed. After a few flicks of the tail he walked off into the woods and we went on. We sat in the sultry evening air and watched the sun set while the crickets sang to us.
I felt whole again. So much of me had been missing without my freedom to ride.

In fact one may not think it is possible, but as I rode I sat straight and let my arm swing in time to Badger's sway and step. It was like a miracle massage to those 'angry' muscles in my shoulder.

And this morning while doing my exercises...I was able to go even farther on my own.
Incredible ...

Dreams

I had a terrible night sleeping but it wasn't because of any pain. Just weird dreams.

I dreamt about werewolves.
Now where did that come from?
I dreamt I was in a tunnel or cave with Badger and Morris and had to save someone. I cut up pieces of my riding chaps and tied them on Badger's feet so he wouldn't make any noise.
We had such a long tunnel or cave to go through. I wasn't really scared, just was doing it.
Somehow I felt the urgency of getting through that tunnel or cave. I knew if we got to the other end everything would be okay.
I must have awakened many times last night, but each time I fell back to sleep I was trying to get out of that tunnel.

I'm thinking, I best get back to riding! I'm having strange dreams about it now!
Maybe I need a dream analyst too!

Well it is Friday and that means the weekend is here.