My Position Mantras
Sit back
Push against seat back
Lengthen the front of my body
Put my shoulders out (stops me from either hunching shoulders or arching back)
Look up
Close hands
Knees in, feel the block (toes forward)
Round lower back (don't arch it)
Legs there (resting lightly against Kachina's sides)
Knee down while posting
Stirrup back on ball of foot
Push stirrup back
Hold leg steady
Riding and Aid Mantras
Quality inside bend - with soft consistent bend in neck
Let go of outside rein
Push with hands like with a shopping cart, think forward
Carry hands, don't pull
Inside bend, then inside leg into outside rein
Soft elbows (maintain elbow-hand-bit line and control connection with elbows)
Dressage Wisdom
(Note: I will include attribution where I can remember the source, but I don't take credit for any of the quotes.)
"It's not kind to the horse to ride with an open hand. If your hand is open, the only change you can make is to close it. Ride with a closed hand." (paraphrased)
"The ribcage of the horse will swing away from your inside leg at the same time that the inside hind lifts up, use this to figure out timing of when to apply aids. During a leg yield, use inside leg as the rib cage swings away from your leg to get the horse to move over. To make a walk bigger, alternate legs and apply each leg as you feel the ribcage swing away from it" (paraphrased)
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