Can You Teach “FEEL?”

Can you teach FEEL?

You may hear your instructor, or other equestrians talking about the riding concept that is ‘feel.’ So what is it? And can it be taught? Is it a legitimate super power?

Coaches are generally in agreement that it can be difficult to teach, but it is in no way impossible to learn this skill. Firstly, having an understanding of what feel actually is before you try to get your head around it on/with the horse is paramount. So..

What is ‘FEEL?’

There are a few definitions floating around, but the one I like best is:

‘Having an acute awareness of your horse’s movement, emotions, needs and cues, and being able to apply the aid or cue they require.’

So this really sums up why people believe great riders have ‘feel’. They are ultimately ‘in tune’ or ‘communicating’ with the horse. It also explains why it’s so mysterious; because it’s INVISIBLE.

I believe there are 4 pillars that allow you to develop this illusive skill as a rider:

1. Presence

To truly be in tune with your horse, you have to actually be present. This means both physically (not multitasking/off your phone/ talking to someone else) and mentally (thinking solely about the horse, not what’s for dinner). 

2.Timing

Anyone who has been in my lessons this term will know how much I value this skill. Timing isn’t just knowing when to apply an aid, but knowing when to stop applying that aid. The more accurate and developed you are in your timing, the more obvious everything is to your horse, therefore building that line of communication. 

3.Emotional Regulation

We can’t bring our emotions (more importantly the behaviours in our bodies that are a result of those emotions) to our horsemanship. Having the ability to be the leader our horse needs, the encouraging, patient teacher, is a true skill all of us can take accountability to work on.

4.Body Control/ Independent Seat

Being able to isolate each part of our bodies to influence the horse through our aids requires physical and mental fitness, as well as plenty of practice! You need to be able to have control over your leg, hand and seat doing different things at different times. This provides a comforting clarity for your horse. Clarity and ‘no surprises’ = safe.

More than anything, giving yourself regular time in the saddle is sure to improve this skill. 

Have any questions? I look forward to hearing them in lessons next week…

Jen xx

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How To Get The Most Out Of Your Weekly Riding Lessons

When you’re riding only once or twice a week, and don’t have your own horse, you can often get stuck in the mindset that you won’t improve as quickly as you’d like.

In all aspects of education, success is only 50% dependent on the passion, knowledge and performance of your teacher or coach. The other 50% needs to come from a student’s ability to ‘be taught’ and their hunger for learning.

I’ve put together this article noting 7 ways in which you can get the most out of your riding lessons; build these habits into your weekly lessons, and remember, 1% better each week is over 50% better in a year!

1. Be early.

If you’re getting on your horse in a rush, and your heart rate is up, and your mindset all flustered, this can really effect the outcome of your lesson. Not only does it effect your own cognitive ability to learn when you’re stressed out, but it also effects the way your horse will show up for you based on your body language and small physical behaviours you may not even notice. Tension, heart rate and lack of body control through your aids can confuse your horse and influence that ‘disconnect’.

Leave early, make time to park, get your gear on and take a few moments to breathe and leave the day behind. This simple act can transform your riding.

2. Leave your ego at the gate.

Ask yourself why you ride every. single. week.

If you have come to your lesson today to jump 1.20m and get the perfect submission for the latest Tik Tok trend, sadly, horse riding is not for you. What’s so unique about this sport is that it’s a partnership i.e, there are two brains on your team - you and your horse! Horses, like people, have good days and bad days. They also have different abilities and approaches to learning. There’s stuff they enjoy, and stuff they enjoy less, but they always want to try. Find enjoyment in building the partnership and line of communication; be a rider that all horses want to carry! Being emotionally charged or frustrated by the actions of your horse and how he’s digested what you’ve asked of him will also get you nowhere. At Belmont, we believe in this ethos to the core.

Horses didn’t choose this life, so let’s make it worth it, and ride them to learn more about them, and be a better rider, not to impress our friends and fulfill our own ego.

3. Watch your peers complete each exercise.

If you’re in a group lesson, watch your peers have their turn at an exercise. Watching a coach give a correction, and then seeing a visible difference in the horse and rider can teach you a lot. Seeing how a simple adjustment to an aid can influence the horses way of going, or a slightly different placement of the leg or hand can transform a rider’s position can not only educate you, but inspire you too. This also shows encouragement and respect within your lesson community, offering praise as your mates finish the exercise, building a culture of support which everyone can benefit from. I must say, our Belmont students are pretty fab at this!

4. Remember how the right thing feels.

When your coach gives you a correction, take a second to note how your position feels, how your horse feels, and reach for that again and again. Most corrections feel kind of odd when you try them for the first time, and that’s because you’re not used to being in that position, so you need to further develop your muscle memory to consider it ‘the norm.’ The way to build upon this is with self-discipline and repetition - keep reminding yourself of this correction, don’t wait for your instructor to pick you up on it! A great way to go the extra mile is to habit stack. This means, find something you do in your lesson all the time, for example, pass the letter C or change the rein, or ride a walk to trot transition, and attach your correction to this thing, so it becomes habit. Lets say your correction is eyes up. Every time you ask for a little inside bend you also make a conscious effort to check your eyeline. Make sense?

5. Embrace the basics.

Whether you’re just learning the rising trot or jumping big tracks, always continue to honour your basics. Often, we see students focusing on the poles, or the canter transition, or the jump. Basically, the middle of the exercise. Take responsibility to also ride a beautiful upward transition to trot, or a nice corner. The exercise is the whole thing, not just the middle. The downward transition (i.e, the end of the exercise) is also often ignored/forgotten. Make it your own responsibility to keep on top of these basics, and instead of thinking ‘now I am cantering and jumping’ think ‘now I am walking, doing sitting trot, rising on the correct diagonal, developing a good rhythm for what’s ahead, do I have adequate impulsion????, canter transition, riding the canter, counting the strides, jumping (and every moment of that jump), the getaway, the downwards transitions, the halt” etc etc etc. Don’t forget them or degrade them. Sound, foundational basics make great riders!

6. Think about ways to learn out of the saddle.

I always recommend my students head out and watch some riding. The web and social media are great to learn a lot, but watching different riders riding, unfiltered, unedited, one after the next, is second to none. There are plenty of local events at various levels, pretty much every weekend.

I am a HUGE fan of audio books, especially as I am driving, or as I go to sleep. In The Middle Are The Horsemen by Tik Maynard or The Principles of Training by Warwick Schiller (coming to Equifest this year!!!) are both available on Spotify. Podcasts such as Dear Horse World or Horse Person podcast are my ‘go to’ also.

If you’re an adult rider, keeping fit can also really benefit your strength and stamina in the saddle. Exercise that centres around body control and breathing are ideal, so Pilates, yoga, and the like.

7. Make your spectators think it’s magic.

A way to always be improving is to simplify and minimise your aids. When your mum, dad, partner, sister, brother, whoever is watching says ‘you’re not doing anything’ when you’re riding, this is a huge compliment! This means that you and your horse are so in tune that you only need to ask him with whisper to walk, trot, halt - how good…. It also means you’re not puffing or exerting yourself (don’t worry, most of us adults are haha) so your fitness has increased in asking for these things from your horse. Go you.