What is enlighted equitation ??

[taffy]

Im just wondering what it is.

[Wally]

Heather may indeed have her own full explaination of her choice of title.

The way I explain it to folk is that Enlightenend Equitation is a riding method which looks at the horse and rider as a whole, one graceful harmonious entity. You cannot have a gracefull performance if only one of the partnership is in balance. But this is not new, lots of Classical trainers beleive this.
But what heather does, which is most important and different, is she explains exactly how your body should be interacting and influencing the horse and vice versa.

Simple explainations are used, not "sit deep" not "go with the movement" these mean nothing. What EE does is show you EXACTY what each part of the rider's body does and how every part of you has a direct effect on the horse and indeed, other parts of the rider. It also explains in simple terms what is required from a riding horse so he can carry his rider in the most efficient way he can with no damage to his body or mind.

The rider is not called upon to make wild images in his or her head, every rider works with what they have - thier own bodies, muscles and joints which we can all relate to. Stick what you have on a horse and then feel how you both act together.

[Kerry's Partner]

And to add to Wally's brilliant explanation - it feels absolutely brilliant too. AND this happens right at the beginning and at every stage of progress (so I really look forward to every time I ride in a very different way these days). I think my horse would say exactly the same thing too if she could post on the board.

[Sue Carnell]

I expected Heather to reply to this, but as she hasn't and Wally has raised the question as to why 'Enlightened Equitation'. So far as I remember 'Enlightened Equitation' was the name given to her series in Your Horse magazine and she took the name from that, as it was already familiar to people who read the series and for the reasons YH came up with it to describe her teaching. I expect Heather will elaborate when she gets time and correct me if I'm wrong.

Sue Carnell
sue@eclipse.co.uk

[ros]

And I think it's also about putting the horses' comfort and welfare absolutely top of the list of priorities as well, and examining all aspects of how we ride, what tack we use, how we keep them..

It's about picking out all the things that really do work, and not being afraid to dismiss the things that don't; packing up all the best bits together and making sure they don't get forgotten...

It's NOT, as some people seem to think, some new-fangled, gimmicky, miracle cure-all :)

[Heather]

Thanks girls, for those excellent replies- couldn't have put it better myself! I was out last night and only just managed to switch on the computer a few minutes ago as working student Simon has gone home for Christmas, so I am having to do his share of the mucking out!

Actually Sue, it was my series years ago in Riding magazine that I chose the name 'Enlightened Equitation'. Bill Nicholls, the deputy editor had asked me what I wanted to call the series, and without a moments thought or hesitation, out came 'Enlightened Equitation'. I don't knwo what made me think of it- I hadn't even got round to thinking about a name for the series!- but Bill thought it perfect and somehow, over the years, and also because I named the book the same, it has become synonymous with me, just as Ride With Your Mind has with Mary Wanless.

Heather

[Monty]

My pennyworth, for what it's worth. As a disabled rider....it seems to be the ONLY method that encompasses....what I CAN do, and not what I can't. If neddy has a little difficulty with,say, leg yielding, because I sit oddly, or can't turn this way or that enough, then we just look at what muscles the horse needs to use,and shape he needs get into in order to achieve what I want, and then look at exactly what it is I'm doing that's making it difficult for him, then if I can't correct that (and sometimes disabled riders physically can't do it), we ask what CAN I do that would make it easier for him, and if necessary, what can I reasonably ask my horse do to help ME?? It is definitely a two way thing, and if you listen to your horse, most horses who are not being dominated by pain, ill-fitting tack or needing dental treatment, will listen back to you. It takes a while for us to a) learn to listen, and b) to recognise what our horse's are telling us, but once you learn to do those two things, and there's no better to show you how than Heather, then you're truly on the way to Enlightened Equitation. It doesn't come overnight, as many of us have been truly brainwashed by some organisations to treat our horses as slaves, and dole out punishment to horses who don't 'tow the line'. That just doesn't work, and does nothing to enhance your relationship with your horse who would much rather work with you than against you, just as you would with him.Does that make any sense at all??

[taffy]

thanks for ** help !!!