In todays episode we talk about how to achieve relaxation and swing in the saddle. We discuss how to get physical relaxation we first need mental relaxation.

If we want to work with a horse that isn't shut down, is emotionally engaged in what we are asking, is learning from our cues and connecting with us so we can ask more challenging ask of them, we need them to have confidence in their job, what they've got to do, their aids, us, their environment and their experience.

For mental relaxation our horses need to be:

• Pain free

• Able to look to us for emotional support and guidance

• Understand how to find answers by us clearly marking our desired behaviours through ways that are motivating to our horse as an individual

• Enjoying learning

• Enjoying movement

When we work our horses for 100% submission we miss cues from our horses saying:

• They don't understand or know what the answer is

• They can't give us the answer their looking for because they physically can't do it

• Pain cues

• The subtle nuances (and sometimes not so subtle) nuances of their individual personality and how they like to be work with and interacted with

• And we miss rewarding them for effort.

If you think you would like a step by step process to mental relaxation and then the physical conditioning for physical relaxation and swing, check out our membership at https://www.equestrianmovement.com/ridingforsoundness

Ready to join the movement? Check us out at https://www.equestrianmovement.com/thearenagrande