By Jennifer Klitzke
My favorite super hero came to life when international bio-mechanics author Mary Wanless traveled to my State November 2012 to coach riders into an effective riding position. I have been a decades-long book student since she published “The Natural Rider.” This book helped me find balance and relaxation through Mary’s unique metaphors which helped me overcome riding fears sustained after a few bad falls. I was elated to take my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) to this clinic.
I quickly realized that book study and hands-on learning can bring about entirely different results. While I had grasped some aspects of Mary’s riding bio-mechanics, there were a few that I had misinterpreted in regards to riding position. Was I ever glad that Mary’s keen eye picked up on them immediately as she addressed them in our sessions.
Mary began by helping me establish a solid riding position. While most dressage instruction I’ve received over the last 20 years has taught me to ride with the longest stirrup length possible, keep my heels down with weight in them, keep my weight back, and thighs light against the saddle, Mary took the opposite approach. She shortened my stirrups so that my knees were like the point of an arrowhead and my thighs were at 90-degree angles. Instead of keeping my weight back, Mary asked me to press forward as if I am resisting a push at my sternum. Also involved are the engagement of the core muscles of my midsection which felt like I was lowering my center of gravity and expanding my inner anatomy forward, sideways, and back to fill up all sides while breathing deep into my stomach.
Mary noticed that my seat bones were getting propped up by my seat muscles. She asked me to relax these muscles in order to lower my seat bones in contact with the saddle. Then she asked for me to increase my seat coverage along the saddle. When my seat bones are nearer to the saddle it aids in my communication with my horse. Mary also asked me to pull the bulk of my thigh flesh behind my thigh and snug my thighs along the saddle where I hold 80% of my weight (only 20% of my weight on my seat). This allows my seat bones to remain close to the saddle without creating pressure points on my horse’s back. Riding in this position feels a little bit like kneeling even though I was vertically aligned: shoulder, hip, and heel.
After my riding position was established, we practiced this position at a walk, trot and canter. Mary coached me in becoming aware of my energy and directing focused energy downward to my bikini line (not that I wear one) and discharging this focused energy forward through a small hose to the place on the horse’s neck just under my hands. My hands maintain a light contact with the reins, and I imagine pushing my fists towards my horse’s neck. That’s where I aim to push the wrinkles out of my horse’s neck. This helps our energy travel from the hindquarters through the back to the bit.
When traveling in a rising trot, the balls of my feet only hold 20% of my weight and 80% of my weight remains in my thighs. Riding this way takes a lot of isokinetic effort, yet it produces great results: stillness and balance in the rider and balance in the horse, (plus burns more calories)!
Words do not describe how much it meant to me to ride with Mary and have her set me on the right course with her hands-on riding bio-mechanics. She is an articulate, polished, highly observant and educated instructor. She quickly assessed we were at and immediately provided understandable corrections that build on each other in metaphors that were easy to remember. In two days I felt that I had grasped A, B, and C of Mary’s riding bio-mechanics and hope she comes back to my State again so that I can learn more of her alphabet.
It was an honor to ride for someone who has helped me overcome my riding fear and has re-inspired me to ride dressage after a 15 year break. The 2012 Mary Wanless riding bio-mechanics clinic was a lifelong dream come true!
For more about Mary Wanless, visit www.mary-wanless.com
Photo Gallery: 2012 Mary Wanless Biomechanics Clinic
