Rhythm is an essential part of music. Crucially, rhythm is also a vital part of riding. Good riding depends on the rider's ability to predict and control the rhythm of the horse, both accurately and sympathetically. However, whereas the musician receives specific training to improve his rhythmic skills, in riding this training is often neglected. Instructors tell their students to 'feel the rhythm'. But how many of them train their students to 'ride in time' or, better still, 'ride in tune'?
In the modern world we are increasingly challenged by the complex rythmic patterns inherent in electronically produced sounds and in unorganized environmental noise. This compromises our natural sense of rhythm when we are riding. As a result, we are often unaware that we may be responsible for perpetuating rhythmic errors - errors that eventually lead to subtle, and even multilimbed, lameness in the horse.
Tuning Your Horse explains how music can be constructively used in training to re-educate our sense of hearing, balance, and movement, and revive our natural perception of rhythm. At all levels, music has a beneficial, even therapeutic, effect on both horse and rider, so it should not be confined to the competition arena. Music can calm, animate, organize and focus; it is a gadget-free way of encouraging horse and rider to go forwards while at the same time helping them to stay in time.
Riding to music is not in itself new, but in writing this book Sara Wyche provides a unique and entirely fresh perspective on the subject, one that explores and explains the most fundamental ingredient of riding - rhythm. It is written not just for those who wish to compete at the higher levels of dressage, but for every rider who seeks a true understanding of that fundamental ingredient. It is for anyone whose ultimate aim is to 'ride in tune'.
Hardback.