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| 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
