Want to Extend a Connected Trot?

I find it fascinating that even with the most accomplished riders that after about 15 min (sometimes much less time) of the sitting trot their body has tightened against the movement of the gait. When this happens the rider absorbs less of the power of the trot into the body. This causes more imbalances that the rider must further brace against to manage. Returning to the walk or the rising trot has little effect on relieving the body of this tension.

It seems the most effective way to release and recover from this tightened state in the seat is to get off the horse and do 2 simple stretches:

Kiss the Toes

Place Palms on Feet

You will be amazed at the results when you are back in the saddle!

Walking Backwards--What Happens in Your Brain!

Here's a response to a question about the benefits of walking backwards from Lynda.

Hi Lynda,
Walking backwards has very strong and positive effects on the brain. It expands your awareness, something I'm not sure we could measure even if we had a neuro research lab. Having said that, this is what I think, as we walk backwards we are reversing the order in which the muscles are being used and this has a powerful effect on the wiring and firing of electrical impulses in the brain via the nervous system. I also know that the neuro pathways involved in walking are some of the earliest and deeply established wiring paths. Just ask anyone over 3 years old if they have to think about walking? Nope, they just do it. Walking backwards does not use the same ingrained paths in your brain, it develops new ones. It's not that big a deal over all because it happens all the time in the brain. What is fascinating is that the new paths are created by the new movement in the body. Again no big deal except that the vision is not directly involved because we don't look back to see where we are stepping. This increases our need to use other senses. If you look at it from another angle, say the energy/chi angle, every time your foot hits the ground, toes first it opens the yuen cheun ( kidney channel) it then bares the weight of the body which in turn pushes earth chi into the meridian with every step that's cool! Because you can't or won't lean back when walking backwards your bones take on more force from gravity. This greatly increases the electrical activity in the entire bone structure, it's way better than milk for your bone health. This increased electrical activity heads straight for the brain and helps create more and new stimulation for the wiring. All of this could be easily tested if we had the equipment, and feeling better and more alive after walking backwards is all the proof I need. I hope that I have answered your question. Thanks Lynda see ya soon.
James