look up & ride somewhere
Look Up & Ride Somewhere (LU&RS)
At times, profound revelations that take ages to figure out turn out to be surprisingly simple.
Consider the power of "looking up & riding somewhere." I found myself pondering why one rider could guide a horse around the arena without the horse flinching, while another (like me!) struggled. Why did the same horse appear spooky and uneasy with one rider but be calm and confidence with another? It was more than mere rider skill, confidence or posture.
At first, I tried to discern what the riders were doing differently. But eventually, I realised it was what they were actually THINKING.
The profound effect that a single, purposeful thought—like riding to a specific point—has on a horse is astonishing. It isn't some mystical force; it's the alignment of your mind and body or your thoughts and actions, which provides clarity for the horse.
Our thoughts manifest in our bodily actions. A horse primarily responds to the feelings our body generate upon them as we make them experience various sensations with our seats, hands, legs etc. With good training they learn to discern what these sensations and feelings mean.
When you purposefully look up and ride towards your desired destination, your body communicates this intent to the horse. The clarity and consistency of a focused thought aligns your body and makes it easier for the horse to comprehend. This is in stark contrast to a scattered mind burdened with uncertainties or overzealous micromanagement. Such erratic thinking, filled with judgments and changing emotions, presents a confusing wall of physically sensations that can make a horse anxious, feeling a continuous and unpredictable pressure with no consistent cue to follow.
Here's an analogy: Who would you prefer to accompany down a suspicious, dimly-lit alley in the middle of the night? The person who strides forward confidently, eyes fixed ahead? Or the one constantly weary of shadows and criticising your every step? Who would put you more at ease?
Clearly, it's the person who marches forward confidently.
And that's the persona you need to adopt for your horse—especially since, most of the time, you're in safe riding environments, not shady alleyways.
Over the past month, I've run a challenge within my membership group, the Calm Willing Confident Horse Society. This group of people get my focused attention as I strive to lift their skills, understanding of horses and self awareness. For four weeks, I encouraged members to keep this concept in mind, whether they were working with their horses on the ground or in the saddle.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
The goal of this challenge is to instill the habit of "looking up & riding somewhere" in participants. I want this way of thinking to become second nature, a reliable fallback for tricky situations, introducing horses to unfamiliar surroundings, or performing at their best in show arenas.
A big thank you to everyone who participated. Your feedback has been invaluable. Congratulations to those who achieved your goals or just witnessed firsthand the transformative effect of LU&RS on their horses!
Image: By Bek Suhard
