Olympic Master Class

Photo by Rick Hustead

The goal of most, if not all, horse riders is to be so in-synch with our equine partner that each movement, every breath, every heartbeat seems to come from one organism. Like the centaur of Greek mythology, the equestrian partnership makes it seem as though horse and human truly are one individual. Watching the equestrian events during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games was like witnessing a Master Class in what such a relationship should and does look like.

This morning’s equestrian competition was dressage, the sport I also train in. I have a long way to go to achieve the skill and experience these riders possess, let alone what is required to even compete in grand prix tests. Nonetheless, just observing and studying what each rider had to do to elicit the desired response or gait from his or her horse was an invaluable opportunity to learn and create new imagery for my own training. After all, it isn’t every day that I get to watch the world’s best dressage riders perform in one place, in the space of about 90 minutes.

The highlight for me was watching Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro successfully defend the gold medal they won at the 2012 Olympics in London. The communication between them was and is so subtle it is practically invisible. Ms. Dujardin’s hands and upper body are so still and quiet, yet it is obvious how much strength and balance are needed to sit his huge extended trot and extended canter strides. I know that my physical strength and balance have greatly improved since I started practicing yoga again, but watching them “under sail” was certainly humbling and motivating.

I also paid close attention to all of the competitors’ leg aids. My first horse, Geeves, usually only needed one squeeze or kick to encourage him to transition up to another gait. Conversely, and like the horses competing today, my gelding Galahad also requires constant communication when I ride him. The smallest shift of my body in the saddle or repositioning of my leg is a separate question, which he answers even if I didn’t mean to ask it. Watching the Olympians communicate with their equine partners this way illustrated how each calf squeeze, re-positioned leg to cue a tempi stride or tiny weight adjustment in the saddle truly was part of a bigger conversation between them. The rider asked and the horse answered.

My second thrill this morning was to watch Isabell Werth compete. She has been one of my dressage role models and inspirations for my (dressage) imagery since the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong where she won a team gold and individual silver medal. (As of today, Ms. Werth has won 10 Olympic medals, including five team gold, one individual gold, and four individual silver.) In addition to her skill as an equestrian, I identify with her most in terms of physique and complexion, compared to three-time individual Olympic gold medalist Anky Van Grunsven or even Ms. Dujardin. The real treat for me was in knowing that Charlotte Dujardin once used imagery of Ms. Werth performing a half-pass at the trot to successfully perform this movement in her own ride later that day. (For more information about this imagery, see my blog titled Continuing Education.)

Finally, each of the competitors accessed various roles/characteristics of a master herder¹ to encourage/inspire (leader), direct/correct (dominant), reassure (comforter/companion) and watch out for possible problems/opportunities (sentinel) during each of their rides. Last Thursday, we saw Carl Hester bring his gelding Nip Tuck back from a spook during their preliminary/qualifying dressage test. Then Adilende Cornelissen, a competitor from the Netherlands, dropped out of Olympic competition after her horse, Parzival, became ill after being bitten by a poisonous insect. Although the veterinarian cleared him to compete the following day, the equestrian could tell he was not at his best to continue the ride and made the brave and noble decision to not risk his health. Instead, she took him home—essentially culling them from any chances of winning an Olympic medal at these Games (predator). 

From their masterful rides to the ways they conducted themselves during the competitions I will  always remember the lessons I learned from the riders and horses of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

1.        Kohanov, Linda. The Five Roles of a Master Herder: A Revolutionary Model for Socially Intelligent Leadership. 2016. Novato, CA: New World Library.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2016