This month’s theme is balance of the body and mind. I have found that there are days that my balance is great and the next day I’m amazed that I can walk without falling down. Why is this so? For a healthy individual, balance is more a state of mind than a physical strength. Let’s explore this a bit more.
Do you find that some days your balance is better than others? Ever wonder why this is so? You must think about the answer. For a healthy individual, balance is more a state of mind than a physical strength. Yes, if you’re horse is bucking and rearing, it is a physical ability to stay on, but in the case of losing your balance during simple maneuvers, your frame of mind may be more of a factor. Let’s explore this a bit more.
Mind Over Body
Recently, a friend of mine commented on her daughter doing poorly at her last horse competition which she normally took first in. The horse hadn’t changed, the footing was the same, her daughter didn’t have any injuries. What was different was a significant change in her daughter’s personal life. This disrupted her concentration and mood interfering with the horse and rider communication. A balanced mind equals a focused mind. The rider’s frame of mind can effect the horse. Watch the same horse ridden by a hyper individual versus a relaxed individual. It will look like two different horses.
So how do we develop consistency with our mental state of mind when riding?