Lightness in riding (whatever the discipline)is the result of a particular postural balance, spontaneous in good horses and more challenging if not impossible in others.
Establishing a correct working posture requires the installation of a perfect balance between all the muscle chains. This very dynamic state, by definition impermanent, as always perfectly adapted to the changes and totally reactive, is built around three main totally interdependent pillars :
the lumbo-sacral and abdominal box
the scapular arch and scalenus muscles
the hyoïde apparatus and poll
THE ABDOMINAL BOXis created by the tonic and balanced contraction of psoas muscle (g) and abdominal muscles, mainly large right abdominal muscle (h), increasing intra-abdominal pressure together with the diaphragm (f). The resultant forces are centered on the center of the horse power source of the pulse.
THE SCAPULAR ARCH, based on the abdominal caisson, and contraction and tonic again balanced scalene muscle (e) and longissimus (d), can erase part of the cervico-thoracic curvature and raise back the withers,
While this balance can not settle by the fine tuning of the region of the neck muscles splenius dorsally (a), all the hyoïde apparatus (b), the digastric muscle (the reins of the mandible in man!), and sternocleidomastoid muscles, omohyoïdiens and long of the head (c) ventrally.
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Adjusting the posture of the head is closely linked to the contact, through the mouth, with the rider’s hand. The bending of the head on the neck will turn on the nucal ligament and its extension the supraspinous ligament, helping to unify the whole body of the horse, to facilitate the support of back and harmonize locomotion.
The muscles involved in propulsion (including the semi tendinous, i) may come into operation on a horse united under him as lightweight, opening the chest, the withers ready to welcome the momentum accumulated by the form below (the conceptus vessel in acupuncture) and expressed by the line above (the Governor vessel). The front is led forward, vertical, and head and neck posture is well coordinated by a mouth relaxed so dear to Baucher in CESSION DE MACHOIRES.
This posture, except quadrupedi, is quite similar to the actual posture of the rider in the practice of Tai Chi. (see Article Mag Tan Tien).
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Restrictions in the scapular arch considerably degrade the locomotion of the horse. The horse becomes heavy in front, heavy on the hand and shortens its stride. By shortening in front, the horse severely hinders the rear limbs, causing problems in racing trotters. The restrictions of the first ribs are very painful and cause pain in the a girth area, using a surcingle can be the source source of defense and aggressiveness in some horses. see video.
