Body Blog
Exploring mindfulness and healing through the body for both horses and humans.
Present-Moment Riding
February 5, 2021
I had an epiphany while riding today. I’m sure it’s nothing new, but epiphanies have a way of feeling new, whether it’s new to me or not.
This epiphany is related to my bodywork practice. When I first started practicing The Masterson Method®, I found it difficult to ALSO ride a horse; the two were like opposite sides of the spectrum for me. Either I go to the barn and do my typical catching-grooming-tacking-riding routine with a horse (mostly a Left brain or logical activity), or I slow down and ask the horse questions through bodywork (a Right brain or creative activity). It was hard for me to conceive of combining riding with bodywork in the same visit.
The present moment. Hard to talk about and BE IN IT at the same time.
While riding this morning, I was negotiating uneven footing in an indoor arena on a green horse while managing my self-conscious energy being watched by people I want to impress. It’s the “wanting to impress” tendency that gets me every time - gets me OUT OF the present moment.
With this mare, I asked myself to stay in the present moment. She’s a bit skittish and we’re still working on a steady tempo at the trot, and simple balance in turns and circles. When I urged myself to literally stay present with her, with each footfall, the quality of our work together was softer, steadier, and more solid. I wasn’t off thinking or wondering what we looked like to anyone else in the arena; the goal was to stay WITH this mare and support her with each stride.
It occurred to me that I really honed these skills through my Masterson Method practice. Not only being present, but being sensitive to the horse’s timing—when to ask for more in a technique, when to step back, and when to resume the work. This trickled into my ride this morning.
As a for instance, I decided (it felt quite natural) that if this mare looks at objects outside the arena, it is not a bad thing that should frustrate me (especially if I’m focused on making impressions), it’s a good thing. Noticing things for this mare, who’s often in flight-mode, means that she’s comfortable enough to be curious - she’s not shut-down. It was a new mindset for me. So I allow the look (with ears, eyes), and remain steady and steadfast in my mental and physical focus (whatever we’re doing - trotting a circle, finding a steady tempo), and see what happens.
It worked! She relaxed with this approach, and I relaxed too. And we made good progress too! We went from an unsteady trot with zig zag lines and leaning in on circles, to relaxed and rhythmic trotting, independent seat/legs/reins, and soft contact from inside leg to outside rein and a gentle softening inside rein.
My mom, Leona Dushin of the Garrison Pony Club and Manitou Farm, taught me to do what I’ll call the Reward Dismount. It’s when you come to a halt and dismount as soon as you feel the horse got what you were asking, and the ride was over. She got the Reward Dismount circling with a steady rhythm, with contact, and bending to the inside. Perhaps I’m lazy or laissez faire, but after relaxing, being present, and achieving what I was asking, it was Time!
A delightful present-moment ride.
Thank you Jim Masterson for teaching us your wisdom. It trickles into so many aspects of my life!