BREATHE LIFE INTO TRAINING

BREATHE LIFE INTO TRAINING, By Jenny Rolfe

Several years ago if someone had told me that they could gain response from a horse from just becoming aware of breathing, I may have been skeptical. Without much thought, I was placing limitations on the mind and sensitivity of the horse. I have learnt that when the rider has self awareness of breathing, it can instigate an immediate response from the horse and bring about greater balance in movement and harmony of mind.

If we can gain an understanding of lateral breathing, it can help us to achieve more poise, posture and core stability within our riding. There will be insufficient control over the important muscles of the abdominal area if we only breathe into the rib cage and chest muscles. If we inhale and exhale, using lateral breathing, thus using correct abdominal muscles, then a core of stability can be created. This will help us to locate our correct centre of gravity and balance.

BREATHING EXERCISES – FROM THE GROUND

You may be interested to try an easy exercise which can help you to understand how our breathing can affect our own balance. Whilst standing still, practise some lateral breathing, by placing your hand, on your stomach. On your inward breath, it will feel like a balloon being blown up. Feel the air filling your abdominal area whilst your back will lengthen. Keep your sternum released so that the breath is taken into your back and spine, rather than lifting through your rib cage and tightening your sternum.

This inward breath should make you feel stronger, taller and more centred. Then , take a long outward breath. Feel the air releasing and rippling through your spine and into your abdomen. Scoop up the muscles of your pelvic floor (these are the same muscles used when you cough). Your stomach now will feel like a deflated balloon.

Just continue to practice steady lateral breathing whilst standing still. Feel your energy in your core and how your abdomen can support your upper body. It is helpful whilst practicing this breathing to listen to music and feel relaxed and focused, just on your breathing.

The next part of this exercise will give you the feeling of balance within ‘breathing’. Begin to walk in a circle moving forward on the outward breath. Feel the ripple of energy through your spine which causes a release which encourages fluidity for movement. Walk several steps then take a deeper inward breath and feel how your body more naturally strengthens, lengthens and re-balances. Just halt and stand breathing normally. Then as you take a deeper exhalation, feel the fluidity through your spine and walk forwards again, feeling the release from your lower back.

This is the way we can use our breathing for our own balance and also to help the horse to work in his natural balance. If we ride, with self awareness of our own poise and self carriage we can assist our horse to move with more grace and fluidity.

BALANCE AND HARMONY - the spirit of the Half-halt

All paces and movements require that both horse and rider learn to move together with a natural ‘flow’ and balance. When we sit on the back of the horse we immediately disturb their natural equilibrium. The art of balanced riding is to become aware of our own poise which will enable us to feel ‘at one’ with the movement and spirit of the horse

The importance of breathing also applies to our horses in training. If they are relaxed and breathing deeply and rhythmically, they can support themselves and carry a rider with less strain. The body of the horse can operate with fluidity and mobility and not be disturbed by incorrect breathing and tension. The spine can relax and lengthen to support the movement.

The half-halt is an aid taught to help re-balance the rider and horse. This form of lateral breathing, if practiced correctly, will have the effect of re-balancing with minimal effort and maximum harmony. These breathing techniques can only help to refine our communications with our horse.

Self-control in breathing helps to control the movement and balance of a horse. When a deep inward breath is taken, the forward energy flow is interrupted. The rider is rebalanced and poised, which in turn gives the signal to the horse to rebalance, i.e. to steady himself and engage his hindquarters. He will then take more of his body-weight back, thus lightening and elevating the forehand. This is the essence or ‘spirit’ of the half-halt; to rebalance the rider and to ask the horse to rebalance physically and focus and steady his mind.

The upper torso of the rider will lengthen and widen, allowing a holding or containing of energy. The pelvis is tipped very slightly forward and the seat bones move back. The lower back will arch, giving the indication to the horse to steady his forward movement.

The deep inhalation will influence the rider in the following ways.

  • As air fills the lungs, it should be breathed into the back and spine. The hands placed on either side of the ribcage will feel the chest expand and widen, and the abdominal area will expand.
  • The body is recharged with vital energy.
  • The spine will strengthen and lengthen
  • The seat will lighten.

Imagine how your hands, with closed fingers on the reins, can help to connect with the energy of the horse, contained through your lower back and strong centre. This is pivotal to the half halt; the energy is momentarily rebalanced and contained. The power of the horse is taken back into the hind quarters and from the deeper outward breath of the rider, the energy is empowered and released into lightness and elevated movement. The release of the lower back of the rider together with an opening of the fingers on the reins, will be the basis of riding in lightness.

This feeling of 'collection' will be the key to lightening the shoulders – rider and horse can experience oneness and harmony and learn a feel of dance where 'less becomes more'.

This is a short introduction as I have explored the power of breathing within transitions, to both re-balance and re-energize the horse. Also it is the key to balance within lateral work and lightness in passage, but as yet, I am still learning on my own journey, as my horse continues to be my teacher.