The “I Can’t Club”

For thousands of years there has been a prolific club offering memberships throughout the world to anyone who wants to join. It is the “I Can’t Club”. Under the bylaws club members are required to make “I can’t” statements with conviction and then think up as many excuses as possible about why these statements are correct. When it comes to horses here is a very small sampling of things I hear quite often:
I can’t find time to work with my horse.
I can’t sit the trot.
I can’t get my horse to stand still for mounting.
I can’t slow my horse down.
I can’t get my horse to go (especially into the canter).
I can’t get my horse to back.
I can’t get my horse to move or turn to the right.
I can’t get my horse in the trailer.
I can’t get the correct leads.
I can’t keep my horse calm on the trail.
I can’t find the right horse, trainer, saddle, bit, etc. the list goes on and on.

Even though there may be truth to these statements for the people proclaiming them, there is no reason to believe these are unchangeable situations or problems without effective solutions. However because of the fervor with which these “I can’t” proclamations are spoken it can sure hinder a person’s progress toward living the horse dreams they desire.

Let me make an analogy with the law of gravity. Everyone is subject to the force that pulls every object to the center of the earth. In a similar way, members of the “I Can’t Club” are prisoners to the downward pull of defeat. It is easy to become ground bound and even the thought of quitting the “I Can’t Club” seems impossible.

Often my job as an instructor and mentor of those who come to me for horsemanship training is to give them faith that there are many possibilities to change their current situation and practical solutions to overcome difficulties they are having with their horse or their riding skills. In other words not only do I give horse lovers physical strategies and techniques that will work with their horse, I seek to motivate their minds and hearts as well. When a person discovers some confidence in their knowledge and skills of horsemanship the relationship with the horse will change dramatically.

When we think about the law of gravity it seems impossible that a 190 ton mass of metal could rise against gravity’s pull and stay in the air. Practically speaking our mind says, “It can’t be done!” However, we all know it can be done by using the principles of aerodynamics. I do not completely understand the principles of aerodynamics, but because I have faith in those principles I can enter an airplane with full confidence that it will fly. Because of my belief I am no longer ground bound. Similarly when we discover horsemanship principles which work from the horse’s point of view and we give ourselves over to believe and follow those principles, the “I can’t” statements no longer prevent us from moving forward. You can start to turn the “I can’t” testimonies into “I can” when united with knowledge, patience, practice, and support.

Here is a small example of what I am talking about. (Although I want to qualify before you read on that I do not think this student is a member of the “I Can’t Club”. Rather this is a testimony to the change of thinking from I don’t believe to I do.)
“The lesson yesterday was simply magic!!!! I can't tell you how excited I am. I was serious when I said that I felt like crying. I never in my wildest dreams thought my horse could drop into a LOPE like that. A comfortable, relaxed lope!!!!!!!! I am still thrilled about our progress. He was so smooth!!!!! The first time you told me to canter, I almost fainted but I told myself that if you think we can do it, then we can.
I can't wait to do it all again this weekend. I am feeling good about being able to do it again but won't be upset if it doesn't go well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

As you can tell from reading, this person not only believes that she and her horse “CAN” do it now, she is also being kind and patient with herself and the horse if they have a minor set back. I know they will continue to progress in a very positive way because of her attitude, dedication and persistent to be the best she can be for her horse.
Another one of my five year students who has taken a lot of lessons, clinics and camps from me was propositioned with training some horses from another horseman who has been watching her progress over the last couple of years. She was quite surprised and said, “What?” The man replied, “Don’t you have the confidence in yourself?” He went on to tell her she doesn’t realize how good she is....

I can’t express how proud I am of this horsewoman, she has accomplished a lot in the last few years when we look back to where she began. She has a lot of reasons to believe she “CAN” namely the results that she is getting with horses. They always tell the truth. With an “I CAN” attitude and a little more encouragement I have no doubt this young lady can achieve anything she sets her mind to with horses.

There is nothing wrong with believing in and acknowledging your abilities or lack thereof. It becomes a balancing act between being too modest or too arrogant. Being able to project the confidence of “I CAN” without becoming egotistical produces a person who is not only teachable but approachable. The greatest horsemen have superior confidence while maintaining an attitude of humility. Both horses and people will respond to this authenticity.

If you find yourself in the “I Can’t Club” from time to time, don’t beat yourself up. Instead surround yourself with people who believe “You Can”. Also seek out the kind of teachers or programs where they empower you with the principles and tools needed to accomplish that which you have been struggling with. Then believe in yourself and work hard. Listen to your words and if you hear the damaging little phrase “I can’t” pop out of your mouth replace it with “I can because I choose to……”

It is essential to be kind to yourself and your horse. As your knowledge and skills increase you will find yourself doing things you thought were not possible with your horse or at least the difficult things will become easier.

Dreams of Spring

Dreams of Spring
The hope of flowers blooming, tree leaves budding, the warm sunshine on your face, and some nice footing where it is safe to ride your horse is just around the corner. Everyone is looking forward to spring with great expectation and can hardly wait for the first signs like tulips peaking through the snow. Yes it has been a difficult winter causing conditions where we cried, “I can’t…..” ; you fill in the blank.

I am looking forward to my very busy schedule this spring, and like the rest of you I am hopeful that the snow will melt soon and not be replaced by more. I remember last April first when the young horses came for their training it snowed. I am putting in my request with mother nature that this will not occur this year. But I know that if the conditions are not favorable the people coming will tough it out like the gals did last year. I commend them for not giving up even when the wind and snow blew right through us. The “I can” attitude was strong even when it was difficult. Thankfully we had access to the Calamus Outfitters indoor arena, but it was still pretty uncomfortable.

We have five horses coming for the month of April for development and then a couple more coming for the four day clinic on April 1-4. Auditors are welcome for this clinic, we did have a few last year. This year we are also offering an Auditors Workshop on April 17th where you can come observe the training progress, ask questions, and learn foundational principles important to every horse’s performance. Erica my apprentice will be working with me again this year.

I will have a booth and do some demonstrations at the NE Horse Expo again this year at Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, NE. I will be using a horse named Hank in my demonstrations who I don’t know anything about other than the owner says he is as green as a Leprechaun’s Shorts. The title of my demo is “Starting Over with A Green Horse”. The times are Fri. 4:00-4:45; Sat. 9:00-9:45; Sun. 9:00-9:45.

Then I will also be giving a lecture on Yoga stretches and Exercises to improve your riding posture and seat on Sun. at 3:00-3:45 in the NE Room

I hope you will stop by my booth to visit, ask a question, register to win some prizes, purchase my book “Win Your Horse’s Heart” (Be A Better Horseman), or sign up for a summer camp. If you sign up by March 31st you will receive an Early Bird Discount of 10% off the instruction.

Speaking of Camps we are having a new type of camp this year for my alumni students. We are calling it “BOOT CAMP”. It will be held at Calamus Outfitters June 20-24. It is for the hard core student who really wants to work some long hard hours in order to move to the next level in their horsemanship skills. There are certain requirements of what you can already do with your horse so that we don’t have a huge gap of skill levels with the riders attending. So call Sherry to discuss those prerequisites if you are interested. If you do not meet the requirements not to worry, there is a camp for everyone.


The schedule for March - June
March 6-7 Private Lessons in Burwell (Preparing for Spring Show Season)
March 12-14 NE Horse Expo in Lincoln, NE (We will have a booth)
March 19-20 Mini Clinic and Lessons in Omaha, NE
March 21-22 Mini Clinic and Lessons in Lincoln, NE
March 28 Study Group in Broken Bow
April 1-4 Young Horse Handling Class, Burwell, NE
April 17 Young Horse Handling Workshop, Burwell, NE (Auditors only)
May 1-2 Lessons with Owners of Young Horses from (30 day training)
May 14-17 Women’s Camp Calamus Outfitters, Burwell, NE
May 21-24 Private Lessons and Mini Clinics in Omaha and Lincoln
May 29-31 Trail Ride Camp at Calamus Outfitters, Burwell, NE
June 4-6 4-H Clinic in Holyoke CO
June 11-14 Women’s Camp Calamus Outfitters, Burwell, NE
June 18-19 Private Lessons in Omaha and Lincoln
June 20-24 BOOT Camp Calamus Outfitters, Burwell, NE
June 28-30 Youth Parent Camp Calamus Outfitters, Burwell, NE

Call now to reserve your spot in one of the above events:
308-346-5663
Go to my NEW WEBSITE for a full 2010 Schedule

Comfortable & Relaxed Riding

My goal as an instructor is to enable you to be comfortable and relaxed while riding,

so your horse will be comfortable and relaxed with you.

Owners and riders tell me quite often they wonder why:

• their horse keeps throwing its head
• he won’t go forward
• he bucks or rears
• he spooks
• the horse’s trot is so hard to sit
• the horse can’t maintain the canter
• why he won't stretch to the bit
• the horse, rider or both are uncomfortable and not relaxed

Sometimes these issues may be health-related and you should have that looked into by your vet. But once any conformational or health related issues have been addressed and solved if the behaviors continue then we have to consider it could be and most likely has to do with the rider or lack of training. For the purpose of this article we are going to focus on the rider.

I view the picture of horse and rider as a whole partnership rather than looking at each issue separately. In most cases the causes of many of the issues listed above is the inability of the horse to move "completely" through his or her entire body because of a tight rider, a tight poor fitting saddle, poor postural habits or trying to fix issues with equipment and gadgets rather than connecting with the horses mind and helping him learn to control his emotions. The sole use of specialized equipment and gadgets is always based on the "people schedule" instead of the "horse schedule". In order for everything to function clear, smooth, relaxed and comfortable both bodies have to function in a full healthful way including physical, mental and emotional fitness. It is a wholistic approach where both the horse and rider must be developed in order to have a comfortable relaxed performance.

Riding is not always as easy as the experts make it look. It can be difficult to keep your balance and at the same time be effective with your aids. It can be hard for some people to stay upright and look good in the saddle.

When NOT looking good riders:

• bounce in the saddle
• their legs flap against the horses’ side
• their hands cling to the reins for balance
• they lean forward
• when giving a cue they bend their wrists, look down and again lean forward
• their heels come up
• their lower back stiffens
• The horse drops his shoulder, throws his head up and tightens his back

As I teach I have noticed that quite a few riders have difficulty keeping an upright posture through transitions and keeping their seat in the saddle at the canter. I have also observed that the trot is usually the most difficult movement to perform dignified and well.

There are many “roadblocks” which can hinder a horse’s ability to move completely through his entire body. But one of the most common "roadblocks" is a tight rider with a weak core. If you are double bouncing at the rising trot, sloppy in the sitting trot, unable to maintain an independent seat in any movement, unable to maintain a collected canter or if you are stiff and tight in your position you are more than likely weak in your abdominal and core muscles.

In order for the horse to carry a rider with a supple and working back,

the rider must:

• Become a conscious rider (Listening and observant of yourself, the horse, and the surroundings)
• Be able to control your mind and emotions (remain calm)
• Stay relaxed and flexible in mind and emotions
• Breath normally
• Be aware of your body and then the horse’s body
• Have “self-control” (physical coordination, and timing)
• Be in neutral pelvis position
• Have an aligned body (ear, shoulder, hip, heel)
• Stabilize through the abdominal core muscles
• Open your knees (clamped knees literally take you up and off the saddle making you vulnerable and unsafe)
• Think wide through the upper thighs and pelvic bowl (otherwise you are closing your hip joints and restricting motion)
• Let your legs be long draping around the horse like wet paper towels
• Release and contract as necessary for balance
• Remain flexible or supple especially in the shoulders, pelvis, and lower back
• Move in rhythmic harmony with the horse

These rider objectives will help improve your posture so you are in a position which allows the limbs to free up and work with the horse’s movement without being restrictive or limiting. The abdominal core muscles stabilize the upper body and support the back which allows the hips, lower back muscles and hamstrings to function independently without a lot of undue stress. Your core is what balances, contains and re-balances the horse and allows you to function within a dynamic and changing set of circumstances in the saddle. The core muscles also stabilize the neutral pelvis which is the foundation of your weight distribution and your balancing point.

Core stability gives a person deep abdominal strength and therefore better posture control and trunk stability. Horse riders NEED deep abdominal strength for riding. Nervous riders tend to cling onto their horse and bounce around. This creates tension in the horse and then the rider and then the horse and the cycle is set

If you core is weak it is no wonder you are tired or sore after riding. Without a conditioned core your body feels out of balance to your horse. Your body is constantly adjusting, re-adjusting and over working postural muscles which become injured over time. The horse does not feel you harmonizing with his movement but rather working against him like a ball and chain. He will not want to lift his back, instead he will hollow his back and you end up with a rough ride and real struggle. Your body becomes a drag on movement and you have to work extra hard to get lightness and forward impulsion.

One of the absolute keys for a comfortable and relaxed ride for both you and your horse is better core stability. A good rider has knowledge of their body and posture. This gives them confidence, strength, skills, and stability which allows them to achieve high level results.

So if you are feeling blue because you can’t get out and ride your horse because of the winter weather conditions then it might behoove you to set aside some time for strengthening your core because it is so important for horseback riding. It is the center of gravity and your body relies on it for proper posture and body functioning. It provides a solid foundation of movement for the rest of the body and injury prevention.

I would recommend Pilates or Yoga, however anything you do to become more aware of your body, increase your strength and flexibility, while learning to control your breathing will greatly benefit your riding this spring no matter what discipline you choose to participate in with your horse.

I want to encourage you to set as one of your goals this year to become a conscious rider who realizes that sensitivity and understanding of your body-mind connection are essential to riding. As you continue on this journey you will begin to understand that using your body to communicate with the horse is the essence of riding and your most challenging task.

COME TO OUR STUDY GROUP IN BROKEN BOW OR THE RIDING SIMULATION CLASS IN HASTINGS THIS MONTH TO LEARN HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CORE STRENGTH AND AWARENESS FOR RIDING

Question: This year is an especially long and cold winter with very poor riding conditions. Because I do not have an indoor facility I have spent very little time with my horse. I am longing for warmer weather to be able to ride and play with my horse. What can I do in the mean time to better my riding skills?

Answer: Winter may severely challenge your horse riding routine. So we may have to alter a few things. I like what Theodor Roosevelt said, "Do what you can, with what you have, with where you are."

This winter most of us have been snowed in with 4-8 foot high snow drifts wondering if we will ever see spring. Unless we have an indoor riding arena we aren’t doing much riding right now, so we will have to do what we can with what we have. We could perhaps haul to an indoor arena to ride, but most of us can’t even get to our trailers right now, not to mention the thought of hauling my horses on slick roads is not to appealing. So in order to counter-act the gloominess and stress of the weather we can focus on some other areas that can help improve our riding. Aside from watching training DVD's and reading good horse books and magazines there are some things we can do to improve our riding right now.

Balance is one of the biggest keys to riding. Our horse's feel every move we make when we are astride, and react to every unbalanced move however subtle. So anything we can do to recognize the unbalanced errors we have in our own bodies and correct them before we get on the horse will help improve our riding.

To find our balance we need body awareness especially of our core. With body awareness and balance we can clearly see where our weight is shifting and understand what our horse is feeling. These subtleties can affect our horse's confidence and behavior. How can we expect our horse to trust a person to guide him if the rider can't even manage his own weight? A balanced confident rider creates a balanced confident horse.

There is an old cavalry saying, “it’s never the horse, always the rider”. So if we can do something this winter to improve our balance, flexibility, breathing, core strength, focus, and overall awareness of our bodies it will make our “fair weather” riding more productive. We will be ready for spring and competition or pleasure riding whichever you choose if we start doing something right now. Plus some good exercise is proven to relieve stress and uplift your spirit.

To become a better rider one has to become a conscious rider, which is to realize that sensitivity and understanding of your body-mind connection are essential to riding. It is important for us to understand that using your body to communicate with the horse is the essence of riding and your most challenging task. As you gain valuable insights and techniques for effectively using your own body your horse will thank you by reflecting your positive changes and become more willing, balanced and pleasurable to ride.

It is a known fact that horses communicate through a physical language that includes postures, expressions, and movements. To be successful at riding, we need to speak in a similar non-verbal manner with the horse. For most people, body language is not employed as a conscious method of communicating. So it is our job to acquire the skills that enable us to speak with the horse physically, which includes self-control of body and mind with powerful focus. For safety and efficiency we need to learn a balanced position in the saddle, as well as the ability to focus and relax on demand. Refining the awareness of our own body and coordination is needed to clearly communicate to the horse without disturbing him.

Creating harmony on the back of a large, unpredictable flight animal is a complex learned activity for horses and humans. Most every rider seeks to establish union with the horse—it is a universal goal despite the various reasons we ride. And while riding is not a "natural" act, it can become a "harmonious" one when we cultivate the appropriate level of self-discipline to safely enjoy our chosen mounted activities. Whether we are content with casual riding, or wish to pursue a higher degree of sophisticated control, riders today must take responsibility for our equestrian education. This starts with an exploration of the many learning opportunities available.

People who come to me for lessons often face "obstacles" that block their efforts to harmoniously connect with the horse's movement. Traits such as: insufficient awareness of their own body, lack of core strength, chronic tension, poor posture, one-sidedness, impatience, anxiety, fear, and excessive grip with arms and legs are some of the common hurdles riders need to overcome. Sadly, it is our equine partner who suffers most when "horse control" is prematurely attempted before our own obstacles have been identified, addressed, and eliminated. This approach is the absolute longest road toward harmony, and can create even more riding obstacles, such as: confusion, frustration, struggle, and forceful manipulation—all of which negatively impact the safety and well-being of rider and horse, and increase the risks already inherent in riding.

In my opinion one of the best ways to become more aware of your body, strengthen your core, improve your breathing, flexibility, focus and ability to relax is through yoga. Yoga is the oldest self-improvement practice in the world. Yoga has survived because it works. I have been doing yoga this winter plus other exercises for general overall tone to keep my body in shape for spring riding.

Here are some benefits of Yoga that I know will help improve your riding.

Benefits: Posture

With increased flexibility and strength comes better posture. Most standing and sitting poses develop core strength. That's because you're counting on your deep abdominals to support and maintain each pose. With a stronger core, you're more likely to sit and stand "tall." Another benefit of yoga is the increased body awareness. This heightened awareness tells you more quickly when you're slouching or slumping so you can adjust your posture. (All very important to a good independent seat when riding.)

Benefits: Breathing

Yoga provides time-tested practices for improving your breathing. I believe breathing skills are essential for equestrians to move in rhythmic harmony with the horse. And they are definitely needed to keep us calm and relaxed in a stressful situation with a horse. Because of the deep, mindful breathing that yoga involves, lung capacity often improves. This in turn can improve sports performance and endurance. Most forms of yoga emphasize deepening and lengthening your breath. This stimulates the relaxation response -- the opposite of the fight-or-flight adrenaline boost of the stress response. Again we need to relax in order to ride well.

Benefits: Less stress, more calm

Even beginners tend to feel less stressed and more relaxed after their first class. Some yoga styles use specific meditation techniques to quiet the constant "mind chatter" that often underlies stress. Other yoga styles depend on deep breathing techniques to focus your mind on the breath. When this happens, your mind becomes calm. Again it is important to stay calm with horses in many situations.

Benefits: Concentration and mood

Harder to pin down and research scientifically, concentration and the ability to focus mentally are common benefits you'll hear yoga students talk about. The same is true with mood. Nearly every yoga student will tell you they feel happier and more contented after class. Recently, researchers have begun exploring the effects of yoga on depression, a benefit that may result from yoga's boosting oxygen levels to the brain. Again focus and concentration makes for a much better rider.

You might want to try yoga for stress management and relaxation from the challenges we have faced this winter. It will also benefit your physical body for better riding this spring. Look around for classes in your area to see what's offered. You can also learn yoga from books and videos. I personally tune in to Veria TV on Dish every morning at 9:00 and follow the program. If you don’t want to do Yoga at least try to implement some type of exercise program inside these cold winter days and you will reap the rewards this spring. Come spring your horse will be happy you improved your body tone, posture, strength, breathing, and ability to stay calm.

For more information on exercise and simulations classes to develop better feel and riding ability check out Sherry's new website at www.heartinyourhand.com and sign up for one of our summer horsemanship camps or clinics.

Happy Trails,
Sherry Jarvis
Author of "Win Your Horse's Heart" (And Be a Better Horseman