Centered Riding

[bannerlover]

I am the luckiest 13 year old girl in the world... i have found some1 who will let me ride her horses for free if i can get them back in shape. They were trained using the centered riding system (sally swift) and i have never used this system before. Unfortunately, the appy pony that i am gonna ride bucks when he is confused at what he is supposed to do. I have been reading the book, but im still not sure on some questions. I am not really sure what centering is, but i think it is just like balancing. Am i right? please help!

[kelsey]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that Centered Riding entails any different training from traditional riding as far as the horse is concerned. It is a way to improve the rider's seat, aids, etc.

[LindaAd]

Centered riding is really a way of training the rider, not the horse; it's about relaxation and balance, and losing your tenseness - centering means (roughly) being aware of the centre of your body as your centre of balance. I think Sally Swift was one of the first of the "ride with your mind" people, if not the first; one of the most useful things I learnt from her was that you should never stare at scarey objects because it makes the horse spook! Some people don't like her because she uses lots of imagery, but I think she's well worth reading.

[Rabo]

Centered riding is indeed about training the rider. I have seen so much improvement when I have trained riders using this method - even my BHS students. I have been especially amazed when teaching riding school lessons using Centered Riding techniques and how well the horses have responed to such subtle methods. You'll love it. www.balanceinmotion.co.uk

[jenb]

Echo above, I teach using CR too, CR is more about training the rider than the horse, although using the techniques generally has a positive effect on the horse too as the rider is softer and more balanced.

Centering is becoming aware of the centre of balance and gravity, I find when I think about my centre I feel more balanced and almost deeper in the saddle.

[Kate F.]

Hi Bannerlover!

I agree with the others - CR is about training the rider. I use it in conjunction with a type of NH for training the horse, and the two go together very well indeed.

If the horses you are riding have been trained by a CR rider, you may find it very helpful to have a few lessons with a CR instructor to get things going. It's not radically different from good riding in any other shape or form - but the horses will be used to much lighter and finer signals than you may be used to using and may object to more "traditional" riding.

You may then want to change your signature line - these are things you are unlikely to hear in CR! ;):D