Step 9 Graduating from pushing on the neck, to where you don't need to do this anymore and can maintain perfect balance, is actually not that hard. Simply start pushing on the base of the neck to a lesser and lesser degree, until you are riding more upright (don't try to sit straight though, this is not balanced riding!) on a Casual Rein with your hand or fist just touching the base of your horse's neck.
By maintaining this touch you'll keep perfectly in tune with your horse because any backward movement of your mind or body when riding forward will upset the flow of energy in your horse, thus disturbing him and causing him to either break gait and go faster, or stop going forward. Which one he does has more to do with his impulsive or underimpulsive nature. This is actually how you will start riding transitions in the future, because when you relax to a walk or stop your horse will feel this and want to do the same. So too with going faster, you'll bring your energy up and he'll bring his up. This is when the Passenger Lesson is over and you are now asking things from your horse instead of trying to be part of him. But remember, any time you lose your balance or feel a bit apprehensive, push on your horse's neck, it will center you immediately. Conclusion I hope you really take these Passenger Lessons to heart, it will transform you and your horse like you can't believe. You'll get so accustomed to being in balance with your horse that you will automatically seek that state as you ride, in every situation... even jumping! And people will notice the difference because you'll look like the most phenomenal rider, totally, totally part of your horse. To this day, I still do it... even if it's just for a few minutes to center myself and my horse. Pushing Passenger Lesson "PPL" Guinea Pig, by Yvonne Wilcox Linda had raved to me about the success she was having with the Pushing Passenger Lessons, but I had not yet experienced it for myself. One day while in Florida I had the opportunity to ride with Linda, and this provided the perfect circumstance to put this PPL to the test! I was to ride Chinook, a grey QH mare, who is extremely sensitive and not very tolerant of anyone who isn't as good a rider as Pat! I played the Seven Games with her and felt quite confident I had established a connection with her on the ground. Then I mounted. Immediately I could feel she was as stiff as a board - add to this my nervousness about being on a strange horse and you could tell things weren't going to improve. Linda, in her unique way, just glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, didn't say anything, knowing full well she was going to use me as an unsuspecting PPL guinea-pig! So we rode down to the playground, and I felt like I was riding an ironing board. Not being on this horse before, I thought maybe this was just the way she is! I rode in a bareback pad, which helped me feel more confident in my seat, but I felt that at any moment Chinook was going to spin on her haunches, flick me to the ground, and head back to her pasture buddies. When we got to the playground, Linda suggested riding in one of the small 50-foot round pens. "How about trying the pushing on the neck thing," she suggested casually. So I put my hands just above Chinook's withers, and began. At first Chinook would just do this nervous little pattern of spinning around and backing up. It was as if she was trying to do what she thought she was supposed to do? It didn't feel comfortable, and it made me feel more nervous. So Linda instructed me to just go with her, especially to keep pushing on the neck and to do everything in my body that Chinook's body was doing. After a few minutes of persisting with this, there was a change. Chinook began to slowly follow the rail of the round pen without stopping, spinning, or backing up. So I sat up, relaxed, and let her stop to have some think time. Then I asked her into a walk again. She walked on with her ears forward, her head down and relaxed, and her body was actually starting to flex! Linda said to try it at the trot, and it was lovely. This horse with the impulsive reputation was actually managing her emotions and her gait, it was a great feeling. Just three minutes of "PPL" had totally transformed Chinook's attitude - and mine. Linda and I then went for a trail ride and this transformation lasted for the whole 40 minute ride... BUT WAIT! A few weeks later I had the chance to ride with Linda and Chinook again. But for some reason when we got to the round pen, this time it did not improve. In fact it got worse! This was frustrating for me (but fascinating for Linda...). Linda had noticed I was tending to put my hands further up Chinook's neck. She kept telling me to bring my hands back to the withers, but for some reason I wasn't quite getting it. When I finally did get my hands in the correct position, the change between Chinook and I was instant. I found that by having my hands in the "correct" position, it put my body into a comfortable balance, plus I was able to feel Chinook's shoulders move. As I focused more and more on this, I noticed I could also feel her neck and head movements, and even her hindquarters! It was like knowing what move she was going to make before she made it. And this gave me so much confidence because I felt like I was a part of the horse, not a foreign object just perched on top of it. I had never thought of myself as an "unconfident" rider before. I could stay on, but I now realize it was just through sheer strength and grip, rather than through balance and fluidity with the horse. I'm glad Linda raved to me about "PPL," and I'm going to use it every chance I get! ______________________________ Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
