3 Holds to Create Harmony Before Equestrian Events
So you’ve got a big riding event coming up and you’re doing everything you can to prepare. You’ve cleaned all your tack, made sure you have the proper leg wraps, ear bonnets, and other gear, and your riding clothes are clean and ready. Trailer’s set, and your groom’s made sure everything you need is packed to care for your horse. What else can you do?
Jin Shin Jyutsu offers some great “tools” you can utilize to prepare yourself and your horse before your next big show. You may have read some of them previously in the blog, which involves holding fingers to calm your emotions and a simple connection exercise for you and your horse. Here are three more tips you can have ready to use before you leave and at the show.
Hold 1: Increasing Adaptability
Moving from place to place is a part of the horse show circuit. Two weeks here, back to home base, then out again to another to another show. The horse and rider that do the best are adaptable to every situation and circumstance. The stabling may be different in each location. So are the hotels. So are the arenas and show jumping fences.
Hold For Rider
There’s a pair of energetic locations that are all about adaptability. For us, they’re located on both sides of the body, just below the collarbone. You can cross your hands and tuck your fingertips on both centers at one time. Exhale.
Hold For Horse
Since your horse doesn’t have collarbones, they are found on the left and right sides of the chests just below the neck.For your horse, you can hold each side one at a time for a few minutes each. See how your horse responds. Show him in your mind what’s coming up, be it the travel to the next show, or the two of you working together through the water jump he’s never experienced before.
Hold 2: Creating Comfortability
Some horses become old pros at new stabling locations. Others may become nervous and off their feed. Stress expends energy that could be better used in their class. A horse comfortable in its surroundings feels more secure. This hold can be done before leaving for the show and also when your horse is stabled in its new surroundings.
Hold For Horse
One hand is placed just behind the front leg on the torso. Your other hand crosses over the body to hold the top of the opposite hip. Most horses find this deeply relaxing. Look familiar? Think of how a mother holds a child, cradling the shoulder and the hip. This hold creates a deep sense of connection and security.
I find that most horses respond to this well. I like to use this hold on both sides of the body. The added benefit is that the hold connects the right and left sides so that the horse will move with more balance. It also calms the emotion of worry.
Hold For Rider
This hold can be done for yourself as well. One hand crosses the body and holds the underarm area while the other crosses behind the body, resting on the hip area. It’s easiest done lying back on your couch or in bed. I find it’s more comfortable to rest the back of my hand on my hip rather than my palm. Works just great this way.
Hold 3: Help With Trauma
The third hold I like to do for the horse helps with any trauma that they’ve experienced during the trip. Did they have difficulty trailering? Is this a show location they had an accident at last year? Horses remember just like we do.
You may feel the trauma of the fall you took at this show last year as well. Let’s clear that out.
Hold For Horse
For your horse, you’ll put one hand on the shoulder of the horse at the base of the neck. Your other hand will land at the top of the ribcage by the spine, on the same side of the body. This is right at the back of your saddle. I like to do this hold on the right side of the body—but try both sides. It can release old and recent trauma, big and small. You’ll find that your horse will relax.
Hold For Rider
For you, it’s the same. One hand crosses the body and holds the shoulder just below the neck. You may feel some tension and discomfort there. That’s the spot. Your other hand reaches behind the back and holds the ribcage area near the spine. Like the security hold, I like to do this hold lying down or resting on the couch with the back of my hand against my body. It can calm those “I remember what happened last time” jitters.
Final Thoughts
These three holds are only a few of the possible Jin Shin Jyutsu light touch holds you can use for yourself and your horse before and at your next big show. You only need a few tools in your toolbox to get started with Jin Shin Jyutsu. You’ll both feel the difference, and hopefully, come home with more ribbons to show for your work together.
Talk with Jennifer
Jennifer Bradley partners with both equestrian and human clients to increase performance and balance. Have a specific question not addressed in this article, send her a message today! Jennifer wants to be a resource to you.