Learning to ride is a multi-stage process that mirrors that of the horse. The rider’s first goal is to have an independent seat. Without this balance in movement, it is not possible to ride in favor of the horse.

To get there, the student first needs to know how to relax on the horse’s back, because tension creates a vicious circle… the horse becomes tense too. Once relaxed, the student needs to train their balance in the horse’s three gaits. This balance should come from the center of your body (psoas, iliopsoas and rectus abdominis muscles). Once you’re relaxed and balanced, comes the part that for some is the hardest: staying in the horse’s movement. In addition to these body aids, there are also voice aids and the use of whips and spurs.

From the independent seat, we can communicate with the horse through seat aids (small changes in weight to maintain or change the horse’s balance), leg aids (to encourage the horse and act on the hind legs) and reins (to control the horse’s pasterns).

To ride lightly and in favor of the horse, the student must learn how to coordinate the aids. Once the student knows how to do this very well, by interpreting the horse’s reactions well, he can influence the horse in a subtle and light way. For those observing the partnership, it seems as if everything is happening in harmony, as if they are watching a centaur.

We also encourage our students to seek out theoretical knowledge through books and articles and to observe good riders