Favorite Finds Week Eight
Creating Half-Steps
I have talked with many of my students about the importance of half-steps and how it can help many horses, even if they are not working towards the FEI classes. Teaching leg lifts and eventually half-steps helps the horse learn to sit, to carry and to create suspension. For example, one of my personal horses, Frank, is a big bodied horse and he will go long and forward fairly easily but to sit and carry is much more difficult for him. Introducing leg lifts and half-steps has given him the idea of how to sit and carry more; now under saddle I can ask him to go there with his body and it is not such a foreign place for him.
My warning to anyone who is going to play with the leg lifts and half-steps:
It is not solely about getting your horse to accomplish the exercise, if your horse gets nervous or tense, be sure to take pressure off, walk forward or go back a step in the training. You do not want to create these movements from negative tension. Watch your horse’s eye, use your voice to encourage and sugars/treats can be a helpful reward too.
The Journey
In this video, Cindy Ishoy discusses her journey with the great Willi Schultheis and her perspective on work ethic and what it takes to become excellent. I love her perspective and though it can seem harsh, I believe like Cindy, that honesty is what pushes people forward. The approach does not have to be mean but being direct and truly telling people what needs to happen is in my mind the most fair to them, and most importantly to the horse. She also discusses work ethic in regard to working students or young professionals and I think it is so true that these days, many young riders don’t understand the sacrifices and work required to become a top rider. Anyone who knows my personal journey knows that I have made drastic moves in my life to get to where I am today and it has not been easy but I would never change any of it because it has made me who I am today.
Fascinating Experiment and How To Apply The Findings
This experiment tested high vs low power poses before giving a presentation and the effects on presentation quality. I don’t expect you to read the article in its entirety but feel free if you’re curious. If you just want the nitty gritty of it, high power posing is a big yes! High power posing before presentations led to more enthusiastic, confident and captivating presentations which resulted in a higher likelihood of hiring.
I find this fascinating because it can be directly applied to horse show prep. Before getting on your horse, try finding a quiet space like a trailer dressing room or tack stall and assume a power pose, whatever that may look like for you, ie. hands on hips with a wide stance. In this pose, close your eyes and envision yourself going down centerline and riding the best test you’ve ever done. Really ride the test in your head, half halt to half halt with your head held high and chest open. And remember in the warm up to assume your power pose as well, don’t forget about it once you’re on your horse. It may look a little different once you’re in the saddle but that energy helps you and your horse stay confident before you enter the ring!
The Benefit of Power Posing Before a High-Stakes Social Evaluation