Biomechanics
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Number 10, October 2006
This weekend I attended the last (I promise) clinic of the year. It has been a time of exploration, of looking at horsemanship and riding from multiple angles (in this case literally) and I’m still processing much of what I’ve seen and heard.
This weekend’s clinic was a little different than those I’ve attended before. Daniel Stewart, U.S. Olympic coach and sports psychologist, conducted a position analysis clinic. Riders were videotaped at different gaits walk, sitting trot and rising trot, canter, and (in some cases) jumping. Then the group of riders and auditors went reviewed the tapes with Daniel’s guidance. We had the opportunity to watch each rider in regular speed, slow motion, and frame by frame. Daniel pointed out common misalignments and showed how they affected the horse’s movement and attitude. It was an apparently simple procedure that clearly demonstrated some surprising interactions between horse and rider (and the consequent movement of the saddle). For each biomechanical analysis, Daniel gave suggestions for how to correct the problem, or at least move toward a correction. Following the video analysis, riders got back on their horses and Daniel coached them through corrections aimed specifically at their personal alignment issues.
I found the whole procedure fascinating - not surprising really for someone who teaches both film studies and yoga! I know that most of us don’t have the skilled eye or experience of an Olympic coach, but the process of filming ourselves while riding and doing groundwork - can be invaluable. A friend who accompanied me to the position analysis clinic so far has over 20 pages of typed notes based on her review of tapes from a clinic she took earlier this year. Another friend has all his training sessions with his horse taped so that he can review not only his performance and progress, but also check the reactions of his horse on both physical and emotional levels.
We also had a lot of fun at this clinic. My friend and coach Ashley rode Shadow over a series of jumps more jumps than he’s ever done in his life - and the results at times were amazing. His jumps weren’t always straight, but he had fun! And my friend Ann rode her amazing Appy. over more jumps than she planned on. Ann hadn’t jumped on a horse in about eight years, but her horse was more than willing to jump that one and the next and the next… He was so proud of himself!
Anna Banks, Editor womentalkhorses.com
editor@womentalkhorses.com
Moon Hill Ranch, Idaho