How I Transformed my Riding
I was an equestrian like most of the recreational riders out there.
I love my horses and would do anything to improve my horse’s wellbeing. I rode dressage, did show jumping, rode western and spent many days on horse back in the forests around my parents house when growing up.
My biggest wish has always been to be in harmony with my horses. My young girls dream was (and still is) to canter bareback and bridle-less through fields of flowers. Each thought directly transferred into my horse. Being one with the magnificent creature underneath me. In these young girl dreams, my horses would love me and galop towards me as soon as they would see me approach the field.
But what I learned as a child while taking riding lessons and what I still see many people do to their horses today is opposite to this dream. We force, we fight, we tense, we get frustrated. In this blog post, I will share my personal story of transformation with you.
Read the full story..
I love my horses and would do anything to improve my horse’s wellbeing. I rode dressage, did show jumping, rode western and spent many days on horse back in the forests around my parents house when growing up.
My biggest wish has always been to be in harmony with my horses. My young girls dream was (and still is) to canter bareback and bridle-less through fields of flowers. Each thought directly transferred into my horse. Being one with the magnificent creature underneath me. In these young girl dreams, my horses would love me and galop towards me as soon as they would see me approach the field.
But what I learned as a child while taking riding lessons and what I still see many people do to their horses today is opposite to this dream. We force, we fight, we tense, we get frustrated. In this blog post, I will share my personal story of transformation with you.
Read the full story..
How you can Transform your Riding
The difference between a horse person and a person with horses is not how much time, money or energy you spent on your horses, but on how you perceive the horse, his place in your life, your interactions and your goals. It has to do with the amount of self-reflecting you do on your behavior and attitude towards this beautiful creature.
A true horse person:
Do you realize how much of the sh*t you carry in your own body is affecting your horse? Not only while riding, but especially outside riding in the day to day handling and caring for your horse, you transmit a great deal to these sensitive creatures. We all invest time and money on improving our horses health by studying feet, feed, training and manual treatment for our horses. Don't get me wrong: this is GREAT! But how many of us spend at least as much time and money on ourselves and our physical and mental wellbeing? And yet, this plays a huge part in our horses wellbeing! The more connected you and your horse are, the more you will influence each other. Positively or negatively.
Investing in yourself, to improve your mindset, body use, general suppleness and posture will definitely affect your horse in a positive way!
A true horse person:
- Sees the horse as a companion and a friend, rather than as an object to gain something for him/herself, such as a tool to win prices, a way to spend a nice afternoon with friends in the forest or a way to get compliments from others.
- Puts the horse over his/her own ego
- Considers having a horse a life-long responsibility. With that responsibility comes learning about the best possible way to care and interact with him.
- Reflects on herself and her actions before blaming the horse or others.
- Is willing to develop him/herself in order to help his/her horse.
- Is creative, open-minded and willing to think out of the box.
- Is interested in finding his/her own path in being together with the horse and considers it a journey of discovery and self-development.
Do you realize how much of the sh*t you carry in your own body is affecting your horse? Not only while riding, but especially outside riding in the day to day handling and caring for your horse, you transmit a great deal to these sensitive creatures. We all invest time and money on improving our horses health by studying feet, feed, training and manual treatment for our horses. Don't get me wrong: this is GREAT! But how many of us spend at least as much time and money on ourselves and our physical and mental wellbeing? And yet, this plays a huge part in our horses wellbeing! The more connected you and your horse are, the more you will influence each other. Positively or negatively.
Investing in yourself, to improve your mindset, body use, general suppleness and posture will definitely affect your horse in a positive way!
5 Steps to Improve your Riding
Self-reflection and awareness are the key words to any development. No transformation can take place if you are not aware of your own habits and patterns. These habits and patterns are expressed in your behavior, your actions and your use of self on a day to day, moment to moment basis. In the Rider Transformation Program, you learn in a simple 5-step program how to transform yourself into a more sensitive, reflecting, knowledgeable horse person with good body use and healthy movement patterns. In 5 steps you can develop yourself into the rider you always dreamed of being. The one that connects with her horse from a base of pure love and harmony. You will get the tools to develop your horse’s physical abilities and improve the communication between you and your horse.
I will not pretend that it is easy. It requires training, self reflection and the letting go of a lot of baggage. You can NOT do this by simply reading books or watching video’s. You need lots of practice time with feedback! This is why I only offer this Rider Transformation Program to those willing to invest time to practice. If you are too far away to come to a training weekend, you can join by sending in video’s of yourself and your horse. In the first 4 steps, you become more aware of what you do and get tools to make positive changes so that you can improve your riding on the level you are on. In the 5th step, you can develop yourself to ride on a higher level then you ever thought possible. No matter what level you are on when you start, you can always improve and I guarantee that both novice riders and experienced riders from various backgrounds and disciplines will find these steps equally useful to apply to their own level and discipline.
You will experience growth. Guaranteed.
I will not pretend that it is easy. It requires training, self reflection and the letting go of a lot of baggage. You can NOT do this by simply reading books or watching video’s. You need lots of practice time with feedback! This is why I only offer this Rider Transformation Program to those willing to invest time to practice. If you are too far away to come to a training weekend, you can join by sending in video’s of yourself and your horse. In the first 4 steps, you become more aware of what you do and get tools to make positive changes so that you can improve your riding on the level you are on. In the 5th step, you can develop yourself to ride on a higher level then you ever thought possible. No matter what level you are on when you start, you can always improve and I guarantee that both novice riders and experienced riders from various backgrounds and disciplines will find these steps equally useful to apply to their own level and discipline.
You will experience growth. Guaranteed.
Follow the Rider Transformation Program one step at the time!
Each step will offer you the possibility to spend as much time as you need on this developmental phase. There is no pressure to move on to the next step if you don't feel you are ready. You can discontinue, pause, repeat and continue this program at your own discretion.
Step 1 Discover your true nature
Which negative beliefs, physical aberrations and habits have you adopted? Realize that these do NOT define you and your riding. In the first step you work on defining them and letting them go to create room for new, positive beliefs and movement patterns. Using cognitive behavioral therapy and bodywork techniques you will explore both your body and your mind, and discover the wonderful way these are connected, the same, and shape each other.
In this step you will get coaching and exercises from a licensed and experienced therapist, get meditation and mindfulness exercises and physical exercises to explore your body and movement patters. Getting to know yourself is the key here.
You can join the program 'live' in the Netherlands or follow the program online.
The full package of step 1 contains: acces to minimal 2 webinars or 1 live seminar, a Rider Alignment bodywork treatment or an individual online consultation to explore your postural and body use habits and personalized exercises to improve your alignment, balance and movement patterns needed for riding. Unlimited access to explanatory video's and documents. Unlimited possibilities to ask questions related to these topics. 1 video analysis of your riding with identification of your main riding and postural
Step 2 Discover the true nature of your horse
Which behaviors, physical aberrations and habits has your horse adopted? These do NOT define your horse. Discover what a healthy biomechanics is for your horse and get tools to help your horse change how he moves.
Step 3 Develop yourself
Through exercises you will work on an improved posture, movement, breathing, awareness, grounding, centering and clearer intent.
Step 4 Connect with your horse
By integrating the concepts from step 3 in your groundwork and riding, you will experience your horse’s movement and learn how to allow the horse to move without disturbing him. You will be able to connect with your horse on a physical level, which opens up the mental connection too.
Step 5 Perform like you never did before
Use your new ‘use of self’ to show your horse a better use of self! Take your riding to the next level with a complete new understanding of half-halts, transitioning, lateral work and collection.
