3 Time World Champion Endurance Rider

 

Level 3 Centered Riding® Instructor

 

Endurance and Centered Riding Clinician

 

408-425-5860

 

bghart@garlic.com

Centered Riding is an innovative way of expressing the classical principles of riding, using body awareness, centering, and imagery. It encompasses all seats and styles of riding and teaches a language that allows clearer communication between horse, rider, and instructor. The technique was developed by Sally Swift, author of the best-selling book, Centered Riding, and is now taught by trained instructors world-wide.

Centered Riding is based on a knowledge of human and horse anatomy, balance, movement, and on understanding how the mind affects the body and how both affect the horse. It uses centering and grounding techniques from the martial arts, along with body awareness, mental imagery and sports psychology. Through increasing body awareness, inhibiting old patterns, and replacing them with a more balanced, free, and coordinated use of self, both horse and rider can move more freely and comfortably, and develop their best performance.

“The ultimate goal of Centered Riding is not to be a discipline unto itself. It must go forward in its purest and least complicated form so it may be integrated into all disciplines of riding.” ~ Sally Swift

What are the benefits of Centered Riding?

Centered Riding teaches you how to help your body do what you need to do in order to ride well. The techniques help promote suppleness, stability, and clearer aids, making riding more comfortable for both horse and rider. As you learn and experience the principles through your horse’s motion and responses, you and your horse tune in to each other and work together in harmony. These techniques can increase confidence and enjoyment and release tension in horses and riders, making training easier. They also help people cope with old injuries or chronic conditions that cause pain during or after riding.

Centered Riding is used successfully by riders and instructors of all ages, interests, and levels, from pleasure riders to international competitors, and in therapeutic riding. It can be applied to any type of horse or horsemanship. Most of all, it makes riding more enjoyable for horses and riders. Become a rider member. Go to www.centeredriding.org for more information.

Meet the Four Basics

BREATHING
Using the diaphragm and breathing correctly for better posture, relaxation, and energy

CENTER
Using the center of balance, movement and control, located deep in the body, gives quiet strength, harmony and power, as in the oriental martial arts.

BUILDING BLOCKS
Aligns the riders body for improved balance, straightness, and ease of movement.

SOFT EYES
Encourage visual and physical awareness, better peripheral vision, and improved “feel.”

GROUNDING
The foundation on which the four basics rest. A sensation of connection with the ground.

Endurance riding is the fastest growing equestrian discipline in the world. While the international competition distance is 100 miles, a rider can choose to ride anywhere from 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles. There are even multi-day rides where you can ride every day for 3 to 5 days. The multi-day rides are often historical, covering pony express or wagon train trails. Other rides take place in national forests, county and state parks and private lands.

In no other discipline do horse and rider have such a close bond. The rider must know the needs of the horse in order to keep him fit and able to travel long distances. Horses are checked by veterinarians before, during and after the ride to be sure they fit and able to continue on.

Endurance competition is for all levels of horses and riders. Any breed of horse can do it, although Arabians and Arabian crosses are the most suited physiologically. A truly great horse and rider can move up through the ranks and aspire to making the U.S. endurance team and competing in world competitions.

I have used these pads with great success on mulit-day, fifty and one hundred mile rides. The endurance pad has one inch inserts with the highest level impact load deflection are available. Many colors and styles are available.

Equipedic also sells AirElastic girths and cinches, HoloSocks, splint boots, and more. Check out the products at www.equipedic.com and contact Becky to order.

With the use of the Bemer Vet, your horse will benefit from faster recovery, regeneration of muscle tissue, and more efficient hydration. Bemer applications boost blood flow, thus benefiting the body's cardiac system, regenerative abilities and even mental acuity. Imagine your horse being better tomorrow than today . . .

For more information go to beckyharthorsepro.bemergroup.com.

Becky is also an ambassador for Purina and would be happy to connect you with a Purina Representative to develop a complete feeding program for your horses. I have been using this feed for twenty years with confidence that my horses' nutritional needs are being met, well proven by our many successes. Check out their web site — https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed — and be sure to register for great savings on feed.

Riding Warehouse is now sponsoring Becky! Go to their web site to find everything you need for you and your horse. http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/trail.html?from=group