I referenced my training principle pyramid down below but realized I never made a post on here about it- but it is on my instagram under the "Training" highlight reel. Here is a quick overview but nothing here is set in stone- I suspect it will evolve over the years just as I plan on doing!

1. FREEDOM

The first thing we have to have is a horse and rider that are present. The natural state of a horse is freedom- they prefer to move than stagnate so we want to ensure our riding allows that natural state to continue unimpeded. Depending on the horse, rider and the day, the method to getting to a state of freedom will look different but here is a quick overview. 

HORSE: Warming the horse up at the walk with little to no contact- letting them or encouraging them to stretch down.
RIDER: Standing up in the stirrups while the horse walks to let their back have room to lift up and to practice balance.

This can be the entire focus of a ride for the traumatized horse or rider.

Chiropractic adjustments, Massage, TTouch, Yoga, Meditation are all helpful therapies to assist in maintaining freedom in horse and rider. 

Essential oils can also be a great addition! The nervous horse and or rider may benefit from lavender. I put a couple drops in my hand, rub it together to warm it up and then let my horse sniff it and if they respond positively, I'll wipe around the ears *sparingly*. 

2. FLOW

Once freedom is established, then it is time to add more energy and direction. Flow will require a gas pedal that is functional (we can't flow without forward momentum). So, this stage means training your horse to reliably respond to your leg. The goal is that we can tell our horses to walk/trot/ canter and they stay in that gait without constant nagging or gripping. This stage is a continuation of the first one, so still maintaining constant stirrup pressure and balance is key. This is when we start to ask the horse to lift and engage their back. We want our horses on the contact and "through" so that they are using their bodies in an efficient way and so as to recycle their own energy through their bodies. This happens when the horse is able to stretch their hind legs under the body, push forward with the use of the hind legs, round their back up and engage the core, and relax their necks down into the contact. This creates an energy feedback cycle that keeps the horse flowing. Rhythm is also highlighted at this stage because rhythm denotes harmony and relaxation which will be necessary for the next stages. 

Rider: mind is open and clear, forward focused with soft gaze. Energy is directed yet not narrowed or gripping physically or energetically.

Horse: large, energetic strides with consistency and fluidity. Rhythm is consistent because of the lack of resistance. Working over the back and into the contact. Neck is long no matter length of rein.

3. ALIGNMENT

This is where a lot of horses and riders get stuck. The goal of this stage is to master balance and organization without losing the relaxation of the previous steps. This is where suppling exercises are very helpful such as: circles (8,10, 20 m), leg yielding (on/off wall, down the wall) and lateral movements (shoulder in, shoulder fore, travers, ranvers, half-pass) that are appropriate for rider skill and horse fitness level. I find it necessary to deeply understand rider and horse imbalances and how they interact with each other. For best results I like to including circles and leg yielding in every ride, if theres not a lot of time just focus on working the more restricted side of the horse once in the saddle and of the rider before getting in the saddle.

Rider: Balanced with ears over hips and hips over heels. Open hips, still gentle hands, connected seat, and rooted in the stirrups.

Horse: All aids are respected even when used simultaneously or in quick succession. Responsive but not reactive. Balanced on all axis'. Right and left side of body are equally supple and strong and work in tandem to create a comfortable ride and attractive frame. 

4. BOUNDARIES

This is where the boundaries get tighter and the focus becomes on shifting the weight onto the hind legs. This means that the front end will become lighter and begins to reverse the natural weight distribution of 60% of the horses body weight being on the front end and 40% on the hind. Exercises like downward transitions, halting, backing up are all helpful at training this.

​The quality of the conversation remains the same but everything is sharper and tighter. Precision is the focus of horse and rider. Obedience is necessary. Harmony is the undercurrent but ambition and intense effort is at the forefront of the conversation. 

Horse: Sitting on hocks, hind legs reach further under the belly and front legs become light and expressive. 

Rider: Riders position becomes more grounded, tail bone tucking at times and upper body staying back over the hips, and at times behind the hips. 
​
5. BOUNCE

When the energy is flowing so reliably and yet so easily controlled that you can move it reliably in any direction including UP! Impulsion in the gaits now makes the trot animated and highly expressive- think passage and Piaffe. The extensions become more airborne that not and a new sense of freedom is discovered, within the boundaries. Playfulness comes back into the equation. Beauty, grace and MASTERY at the forefront. The foundation must be solid or the bounce and collection will be false, hollow, tense and fleeting. 

 While teaching this week I had a conversation with a dear student of mine about resistance.

She was atop my most masterful equine educator on the topic- Rocky. He is a magnificent creature- I joke that he looks like he is made up of circles, something out of an animated kids movie! He is one of my trusty lesson ponies, 15.1 hh and built like a Mac Truck- he was previously a trail horse before I re-educated him on jumping and dressage basics (which he now performs admirably!). However, being a half draft he has his stubborn and heavy streak that can be challenging to learn how to ride gracefully. He is the classic heavy/ dead mouthed draft that leans on the riders hands if given the chance. This can lead to a cycle of the rider getting heavier and more attached to the reins which causes Rocky to get heavier... and we all know who is going to win that fight. Most full sized horses have heads that weigh around 100 lbs on their own, let alone the neck size (Rocky's is huge!) and then add momentum and a penchant for holding on...This is why I called Rocky masterful- he is the perfect horse to teach non-resistance (while still maintaining boundaries). You can't resist his holding on, but if you can prevent it from occurring (by nipping in the bud within yourself first) you can have a whole ride resistance free. 

What I said to my student was- something along the lines of let your ride be easy, let it be light. Don't get stuck into him and think you're going to teach him a lesson. Think of Rocky as a partner that has strengths and weaknesses just like we all do, and you've got to ride him in a way that acknowledges and mitigates those weaknesses while capitalizing on his strengths *this theory will definitely apply to all relationships*. Since we know Rocky CAN be heavy and dull to bit pressure, we have bit that is strong (full cheek snaffle-nothing crazy), we do the noseband tight (keeps his mouth closed on the bit to minimize evasion by opening the mouth), we make sure the rider is rooted into her stirrups (lower centre of gravity- more balanced- harder to move-stronger pressure CAN be applied), we have the reins short (but not pulling constantly- pressure is removed OFTEN), we have a plan before tackling his weak spots (downward transitions- sitting him back) and we have gentle cues that we use to support the strong ones (breathe in, hands forward, then squeeze/kick for upward transitions, and breathe out, lean back, and pull for downward transitions). 

So how do we take all of those things into consideration and let the ride be easy? First, we master the foundations of good riding- see my post about my version of the Dressage Training Pyramid. We show up understanding these principles, and ready to apply them in the most honest, integrous and compassionate ways possible, and then we LET IT GO. We let go when we make a mistake, we let go when we get confused, we let go when the horse gets irritated, we let go of our day before we got to the barn, we let go of trying to be perfect, we let go of whatever is getting in the way of being here, now. Now, this is difficult (and also the easiest thing in the world-the truth always lies within paradox), especially when we are still learning. But, the good thing about doing this in a lesson situation is, hopefully I as the coach, can keep it simple enough that overwhelm and resistance isn't part of the experience- for horse or rider! 

So, I invite you to take this theory forward into your next interaction with self, other, or horse. Let it be easy, try to feel what it would be like if you were a horse expert, a relationship expert, imagine what it would feel like to be at ease in difficult situations. Let my videos on YouTube under Horse Diaries- be a guide if you are interested. Get clear on your own principles and find what alignment with your goals means to you. Let your dreams of where you want to be, who you want to be, what you want to do, guide your present actions. Let your dreams lead you to reality that is more aligned with what your heart has always longed for. Let your unique perspective, strengths, and weaknesses make you a master at ______. Let Rocky serve as an example that even your weaknesses can be your asset. Let it be easy. Let yourself be the gift that you open in every now moment.