Interesting thoughts on rider straightness & body-brain-info-overload!

I also hadn't really thought before about all the different information our poor little brains are trying to process when jumping / going xc. Just goes to show how much you need to get operating in your subconscious through practice and repetition if you possibly can so you have a fully functioning auto-pilot on the basics and can use your non-subconscious bits of your brain to their full effect...!
 
LEC that was a really interesting read thank you! Loved the bit about equestrian people not healing themselves properly after an injury before getting back on - very true. I had never considered the effect on the horse though so I may wait longer in future before getting back on.
 
Both the OP's link and Lec's notes make really interesting reading and a lot resonated with issues I have riding (eg left leg being more dominant, worse on r rein, tipping forwards but feeling upright etc.)

Lec could you please clarify the following:
Pilates is often not a good fit for riders as all about alignment though it will help you to isolate the core muscles. Riders are never in alignment
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Do you mean that riders find Pilates hard because we are rarely correctly aligned, or that to ride we shouldn't be aligned as it taught in Pilates do Pilates is not recommended?

Thanks
 
My understanding is that Pilates is all about straightness and horse riders are not aligned as sitting on the horse is not straight. Though there are straight lines (ear, shoulder, hip and heel) they are not the fit for Pilates. That was my understanding of it. I am also guessing a good rider needs movement through the pelvis which means its not naturally aligned?
 
Maia said:
Both the OP's link and Lec's notes make really interesting reading and a lot resonated with issues I have riding (eg left leg being more dominant, worse on r rein, tipping forwards but feeling upright etc.)

Lec could you please clarify the following:

Do you mean that riders find Pilates hard because we are rarely correctly aligned, or that to ride we shouldn't be aligned as it taught in Pilates do Pilates is not recommended?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I read it as Jon Pitt saying that as Pilates is about very controlled almost still alignment, it isn't going to resolve the issues of mind-body-awareness and the real need to be able to maintain true balance in the face of LOADS of opposing and disrupting forces. Which makes a lot of sense - suggesting that balance and reactiveness prob more important? Having said that, he does seem to acknowledge that the development of core and deep mucles that you'd get through pilates has to be a help in having that proper body awareness and control to be able to improve your balance and reactions, especially for those of us who don't ride several horses a day....
 
That is a much better way of saying it! Also Pilates you are always in contact with the ground which is why I think riders are so encouraged to use gym balls to simulate that movement and getting the muscles to stabilise you.
 
Interesting subject and articles. I started taking Alexander technique lessons because of problems which arose after I took up riding. Things I could get away with in the normal day to day life were major obstacles to riding correctly. I have been astonished at how what felt "right" could be so wrong and just how hard it was to re wire my brain to accept what straight really felt like. At first the new straight felt distinctly wrong. I've learnt to monitor what I'm doing and how I'm moving and recognising tensions which hinder free movement. It's been an interesting journey but well worth it.
 
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