Horse Geeks Episode 186: Rider Balance Without Gripping

The Horse Geeks Podcast - Where we look at horses and riding from the inside out FREE TICKET link for the Art of the Horseman Online Horse Fair May 31-June 1, 2025 https://www.becauseofthehorse.net/a/23333/a2zsSgDH NEW: Sign up for Kirsten's email list and get all four of the horse fair videos as part of the welcome sequence and a free monthly newsletter. Sign up is at the bottom of the home page at www.kirstennelsen.com   Topic: There are as many different ways to actually ride a horse as there are people and horses. While we all learn how to not fall off with our basic training, moving from one level to another in riding often feels like we have to start over again. What works to keep us on a horse in the early levels of riding are actually skills that hold us back from advanced riding, where we learn how to influence the movement and balance of a horse. Balance as a rider, without gripping, is more like surfing - where there is nothing to hang on to. Balance is more about soft, subtle weight shifts than anything else and we have to let go of all those tight muscles, jamming our heels down, thrusting our shoulders back in order to even feel what we need to feel from a horse. If you want to really advance your riding skills, then be prepared to feel like a beginner all over again. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor www.optimalposture.org Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainer Developer of Training for Optimal Balance https://kirstennelsen.com/ The workbook series mentioned is only available at: https://kirstennelsen.com/shop/