| Meditation and Relaxation Add to Western Horseback | | | | communication center. Sitting deep and comfortably will |
| Riding | | | | ensure a direct line of communication. Relaxed reins |
| New riders are often drawn to western horseback | | | | offer less continuous contact with the mouth and being |
| riding for the reason that it appears less rigorous than | | | | able to use legs and seat to transform desires helps |
| other riding disciplines. The fact is nothing could be | | | | develop a pivotal relationship between horse and rider. |
| further from the truth. Although western styled riding is | | | | Getting a Leg Up |
| more laid back in general it requires every bit as much | | | | With all of the benefits of western horseback riding it is |
| attention and skill even when compared to the skill of | | | | very well suited to helping disabled children and adults |
| dressage. Controlling a 1200 pound animal is no | | | | alike enjoy the inherent communication between horse |
| uncomplicated feat regardless of how competently | | | | and man. The benefits extend even further in that the |
| taught and the unique communication between animal | | | | muscles used to sit a horse are naturally engaged and |
| and man based on mutual respect is as essential in | | | | steadiness is improved along with mental stillness. |
| western horseback riding as it is in any other style. | | | | There have been numerous cases where therapeutic |
| As rigorous as western horseback riding is there is | | | | horseback riding has helped bring autistic children out of |
| some reason for the belief it is relaxed. Though it | | | | their shells even for short moments, given physically |
| takes knack there is a mental and physical relaxation | | | | disabled children and adults more dexterity and |
| involved in western horseback riding that is as much a | | | | confidence, and made important strides in the mental |
| part of the skill as it is part of the satisfaction. Using | | | | well-being of psychologically distressed individuals. |
| relaxation to broaden western riding abilities has | | | | Past Connecting the Yet to come |
| become a key to excelling in the competitive world of | | | | While it is less historically known in Europe western |
| western style riding events. | | | | horseback riding has a root deep into the western |
| Locating Your Core | | | | past of America. Those roots connect to the current |
| Just as in meditation and relaxation techniques finding | | | | era of competition, trail riding, open country, combination |
| your center is crucial in western horseback riding. | | | | training, and even most recently Olympic riding |
| Employing many of the same methods used by yoga | | | | endeavors. The future of western horseback riding is |
| and meditation experts can help you relax into your | | | | ensured by its value in stock control, exciting rodeo |
| seat. In western horseback riding the seat even more | | | | events, challenging gaming events, as much as in the |
| than in all other riding disciplines is a major | | | | relaxing mental setting it provides. |