My daughter, Sabrina, is an equestrian. At the end of February, she got bucked off her horse in mid-jump while at college, ended up in the emergency room closest to her campus for seven hours, and based on a very slight fracture in the L1 was told not to ride for 4-6 weeks, after which she'd be good as new. Nothing else was required, thankfully. She got the all-clear to ride six weeks later and was feeling physically great but, as much as she missed riding, chose not to do so because it was the exact time of college finals and she just didn't want to take any chances at that very important time.
Fast forward to mid-May. Home from college for the summer, and itching to get back on the mount the very next morning. Having not seen her ride for some time, I decided to hang around the ring and watch. Sabrina's coach, Andrea, was in the middle of the ring, and I knew from having spoken to her while Sabrina was tacking up, that her intention was to get Sabrina over the jump that very day. She knew that despite Sabrina being gung-ho about getting into her previous cantor speed and height of the jump, it's easier to think it than to do it when you've been off the mount for almost three months, and the longer Sabrina went without, the more anxious she would be.
Into the ring. First the warm up flatwork: The walk. The trot. Easy enough. But, when it came to the cantor, my daughter's time off showed a little rustiness. And then I heard her coach, Andrea, say something that stood out for me:
"Sabrina, look to the turn. Where do you want him to go? You know this... always look in the direction you want the horse to move."
"Look to the turn." Just look, and the horse will go there. Sounds simple enough, right? Not exactly.
From the moment the thought enters a rider's brain to turn their head to the direction she wants the horse to move in order to prepare for a turn or a jump, there are so many subtle actions a rider takes, barely seen from the untrained onlooker's eyes:
Rider positioning in the saddle
Using inside/outside reins
Using inside/outside leg pressure on the girth
Applying weight to their inside/outside seat bone
... and more... and again, all must be done in the seconds leading up to a successful and safe turn or jump.
"Look to the turn." And I thought to myself, this is exactly what I tell clients every day. Whether you're in the weight loss or weight maintenance mode, it's your thoughts that come first; your planning to fulfill those thoughts second; and then the actionable follow-through. In order to successfully complete a day of good eating, you've got to look to the turn.
Want tomorrow to be a great day? Look to the turn = Look to the next day.
What is your schedule?
What are the challenges you may have to work around?
Want to land a jump safely? Look to the turn = Plan for a perfect day.
What actions do you have to take in advance (night before)?
What is your meal plan for the next day?
Are you packed with what you need when you leave in the morning?
Follow through with what you've planned.
My daughter (or any rider) always wants to have a good, healthy ride both for herself and the horse, which cannot happen without planning for every turn and every jump.
A person who has weight to lose (or maintain) wants to have one great day of eating at a time, which cannot happen without planning for every day.
Sabrina finishes up every ride by giving the horse a nice shower and grooming to thank him for an enjoyable and safe experience; and a kiss on the nose before returning him to his stall.
A person who completes a day of eating as they planned should finish up those days by feeling wonderful; and should pat themselves on the back (or kiss themselves in the mirror!) for having been successful in their efforts.
In the end, horseback riding is all about the relationship between the horse and its rider, yes, but... there's a big difference between being a rider and a driver. Being 'just' a rider, letting the horse take you where and how it wants to go, doesn't allow you to develop the skills necessary to become a good equestrian. If the horse is in control, you're not... a recipe for potential disaster, for both you and your horse. Being a driver means you are in control, and have the skills necessary to tell the horse where you want it to go, how fast and how high. Only when you are in control, do you and your horse have the best chance for a great and safe ride.
In the end, weight loss is all about whether you're in control of your day, or it's in control of you; whether you're the driver or the rider.
So, if you want to be successful in your weight loss or weight maintenance efforts, use a little horse sense. Look to the turn.
I am passionate about helping my clients become slim and healthy. I publish a weekly blog and podcast to educate and motivate on all issues related to #weightloss, #obesity, health and wellness, diet and lifestyle change.
Visit me at http://www.weightnomoredietcenter.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lori_Boxer/2169327
Into the ring. First the warm up flatwork: The walk. The trot. Easy enough. But, when it came to the cantor, my daughter's time off showed a little rustiness. And then I heard her coach, Andrea, say something that stood out for me:
"Sabrina, look to the turn. Where do you want him to go? You know this... always look in the direction you want the horse to move."
"Look to the turn." Just look, and the horse will go there. Sounds simple enough, right? Not exactly.
From the moment the thought enters a rider's brain to turn their head to the direction she wants the horse to move in order to prepare for a turn or a jump, there are so many subtle actions a rider takes, barely seen from the untrained onlooker's eyes:
Rider positioning in the saddle
Using inside/outside reins
Using inside/outside leg pressure on the girth
Applying weight to their inside/outside seat bone
... and more... and again, all must be done in the seconds leading up to a successful and safe turn or jump.
"Look to the turn." And I thought to myself, this is exactly what I tell clients every day. Whether you're in the weight loss or weight maintenance mode, it's your thoughts that come first; your planning to fulfill those thoughts second; and then the actionable follow-through. In order to successfully complete a day of good eating, you've got to look to the turn.
Want tomorrow to be a great day? Look to the turn = Look to the next day.
What is your schedule?
What are the challenges you may have to work around?
Want to land a jump safely? Look to the turn = Plan for a perfect day.
What actions do you have to take in advance (night before)?
What is your meal plan for the next day?
Are you packed with what you need when you leave in the morning?
Follow through with what you've planned.
My daughter (or any rider) always wants to have a good, healthy ride both for herself and the horse, which cannot happen without planning for every turn and every jump.
A person who has weight to lose (or maintain) wants to have one great day of eating at a time, which cannot happen without planning for every day.
Sabrina finishes up every ride by giving the horse a nice shower and grooming to thank him for an enjoyable and safe experience; and a kiss on the nose before returning him to his stall.
A person who completes a day of eating as they planned should finish up those days by feeling wonderful; and should pat themselves on the back (or kiss themselves in the mirror!) for having been successful in their efforts.
In the end, horseback riding is all about the relationship between the horse and its rider, yes, but... there's a big difference between being a rider and a driver. Being 'just' a rider, letting the horse take you where and how it wants to go, doesn't allow you to develop the skills necessary to become a good equestrian. If the horse is in control, you're not... a recipe for potential disaster, for both you and your horse. Being a driver means you are in control, and have the skills necessary to tell the horse where you want it to go, how fast and how high. Only when you are in control, do you and your horse have the best chance for a great and safe ride.
In the end, weight loss is all about whether you're in control of your day, or it's in control of you; whether you're the driver or the rider.
So, if you want to be successful in your weight loss or weight maintenance efforts, use a little horse sense. Look to the turn.
I am passionate about helping my clients become slim and healthy. I publish a weekly blog and podcast to educate and motivate on all issues related to #weightloss, #obesity, health and wellness, diet and lifestyle change.
Visit me at http://www.weightnomoredietcenter.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lori_Boxer/2169327
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