Jim Hicks Q & A “Bending”
Continued Q & A With Jim Hicks
Q-When does bending become counterproductive and overused?
A- Most people’s idea about bend is that it is all about the head and the neck. The problem is that when only the head and neck are bent,, it causes the outside shoulder to bulge with the majority of weight negatively loading the outside foot. This puts the horse in a position of imbalance. When this happens, the horse then looses the engagement of the hind legs.
With that said, I like to think of putting a quarter weight on each of the horse’s feet. This allows the horse to balance or rebalance based on the athletic demand presented.
Engagement from the hind legs can only happen when the horse is bending inside its alignment. The horse needs to have the right amount of lateral and longitudinal flexion such that one compliments the other allowing the energy to cycle from the hind legs through the back, the neck, the poll, and down to the jaw. When all of these things happen this allows for collection and self carriage.
The Pony Sage
New page on facebook celebrating the children’s equstrian program at Sage Creek Equestrian.
“The Pony Sage”
The Pony Sage features
- Roster Low Boy Cogburn Q & A
- Children’s Articles
- Discussions relating to children’s needs
- Photos
- Events
- Pony Play Days
- Private Lessons
- Pony Camps
- Ridding Principles School
The children’s program is taught by John Maznicki and Tamara Silver
Kids to Center Line
It’s been a fun season continuing my education and being able share that with the kids I teach. I was able to experience riding a school master, River Shadow a Friesian Quarter Cross FEI horse. Taking him down the center line was thrilling. I am grateful to have earned two of my Bronze Medal Scores, one was a 68.9% and the other was 68.5%, both at my very first rated show.
I realize that I am blazing the road for my students to follow my example, as they learn to also one day go down the center line. Whether that is through Pony Play Days, Summer Horse Camp or private lessons.
Tamara
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