This web site was created by author, trainer, and clinician, Linda Benedik. It showcases a collection of educational materials to help you create a deeper, more resonant harmony with the horses you ride.
Creating harmony on the back of a large, unpredictable flight animal is a complex learned activity for horses and humans. Most every rider seeks to establish union with the horse—it is a universal goal despite the various reasons we ride. And while riding is not a "natural" act, it can become a "harmonious" one when we cultivate the appropriate level
of self-discipline to safely enjoy our chosen mounted
activities. Whether we are content with casual riding,
or wish to pursue a higher degree of sophisticated control, riders today must take responsibility for our their equestrian education. This starts with an exploration of the many learning opportunities available.
Today, resources for riders abound. With the Internet, information is at our fingertips, although it may seem daunting with the multitude of books, videos, and riding programs currently being marketed. There are (and always have been) differing opinions on how to master the art of riding, in part due to the varied types of horses that have been bred for specific purposes. This has resulted in a myriad of approaches to the same goal of creating harmony with the horse. Nevertheless, as you research, you are likely to find common threads that connect the works of classical teachers, past and present, depicting the well-ridden path to rider harmony.
For a better understanding, remember that humans have been riding horses for thousands of years. Throughout history, this activity developed as both a martial art and a performance art. Techniques became "correct" because they were tried, tested, and proven effective and took into consideration the well-being and preservation of the horse. Such methods have been documented by riding masters worldwide—even the United States Army once produced its own horsemanship manuals.
While striving to interpret and apply time-honored principles, modern equestrians often face "obstacles" that block their efforts to harmoniously connect with the horse's movement. Traits such as: insufficient awareness, chronic tension, poor posture, one-sidedness, impatience, anxiety, fear, and excessive grip with arms and legs are some of the common hurdles riders need to overcome. Sadly, it is our equine partner who suffers most when "horse control" is prematurely attempted before our own obstacles have been identified, addressed, and eliminated. This approach is the absolute longest road toward harmony, and can create even more riding obstacles, such as: confusion, frustration, struggle, and forceful manipulation—all of which negatively impact the safety and well-being of rider and horse, and increase the risks already inherent in riding.
Although technology now enables us to communicate instantly and exchange information at lightning speed, horses continue to communicate primitively through a physical language that includes postures, expressions, and movements. To be successful at riding, we need to speak in a similar non-verbal manner with the horse. For most people, body language is not employed as a conscious method of communicating, which is why acquiring the requisite skills that enable us to speak with the horse physically, while implementing self-control of body and mind, must take priority in a classical rider's education. For safety and efficiency, the classical rider strives for a balanced position in the saddle, as well as the ability to focus and relaxon demand, while refining the awareness and coordination needed to clearly communidate without disturbing the horse.
The body language riders use on horseback is called "equitation," but before we can "speak" it, there are preliminary objectives to meet as we endeavor to master this communication style. We need knowledgeable ridingteachers (not necessarily competitors) to help us interpret body and horse and hone our "basics." An effective teacher guides us to "converse" with the horse, developing both talking and listening skills. Becoming a fluent "equitator" also requires an experienced equine teacher to impart a feel of the gaits before we are expected to influence or control them.
The most direct way to remove obstacles and build a solid repertoire of riding skills is to work on the longe line, as prescribed by classical teachers over the years, and detailed in my latest book: Longeing the Rider for a Perfect Seat. Based on my experiences as both a teacher and student through decades of classical equestrian training, my book offers a comprehensive program to facilitate a "closer-to-perfect" seat and position for riders, and benefits riders, instructors, and longeurs.
The book defines: Rider Basics, Equitation, The Four Corners of the Seat, The Phases of Seat Development, and describes how conscious breathing in rhythm synchronized with your "seat steps" while mounted enables you to participate in the horse's movement as though dancing! Longeing is profoundly effective as a rider training tool and more rapidly improves performance in the saddle—in fact, it offers the most direct path to creating the harmony on horseback that you desire!
I hope this introduction will inspire you to learn more...and I wish you all the best on your equestrian journey.
Happy Riding!
Linda
"Riding Without Reins" is a creative longeing program with a holistic approach: addressing physical posture and performance, while helping riders focus wandering thoughts and neutralize emotions. By combining traditional mounted exercises with yoga in the saddle, conscious breathwork, seatwork, and hands-on bodywork, riders can create a personal balance that leads to a deeper self-understanding and connection with the horse.
One of the many benefits of rider longeing is that it preserves the horse's sensitive mouth by preventing the misuse of the rider's hands for balance. Here, Sierra is practicing the "Double Whips" exercise, which will challenge her seat, promote the relaxed position of her arms and shoulders, and help her develop an independent use of her hands.
“Recreational Vaulting” is an increasingly popular cross-training method for riders practiced on the longe line without reins, stirrups, or a saddle. Using a vaulting surcingle helps riders quickly feel secure and confident, leading to rapid developments in balance, postural stability, and mind-body coordination. Plus, learning the vaulting compulsories may be the most fun a rider will ever have on the back of a horse! And it is not just for kids or trick riders...I was introduced to vaulting in my 40's, and you can read testimonials from other adult amateur riders in the chapter called "Vaulting for Riders" in my new book, Longeing the Rider for a Perfect Seat.
Meet Linda Benedik
Linda is also a classically trained singer, musician, and rock vocalist. Learning abdominal and diaphragmatic breathing from voice teachers, and strengthening these techniques with a practice of hatha yoga, she learned to integrate conscious breathing with her riding and teaching. Drawing from her musical experiences, Linda guides riders to use breath control for improving rhythm, relaxation, and creating a fluid cadence in the horse.
Linda
Benedik is an internationally known equestrian author, clinician,
trainer, and riding instructor in the United States. She is the founder
of Harmony With Horses, a unique riding program that blends mind-body practices such as hatha yoga with traditional equitation and dressage.
Harmony With Horses is the birthplace of the acclaimed book Yoga for Equestrians, first published in 2000 in the USA by Trafalgar Square Publishing, and in the UK by Kenilworth Press. A foreign language edition was released in 2003 by Italian publisher Equilibri. In 2004, Linda's two-part instructional video seriesYoga & Riding Techniques for Equestrianswas published by Trafalgar Square to complement the book. In
December 2007 Linda's second instructional book was released, entitled: Longeing the Rider for a Perfect Seat: A How-to Guide for Riders, Instructors, and Longeurs.
A life-long artist and student of the horse, Linda began riding in Maryland horse country. Introduced to dressage as a young rider, it became her passion. After apprenticing with traditional trainers in the early 1970's Linda attended Lake Erie College
in Ohio, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Equestrian Studies. In
1981 she began teaching professionally, and throughout her career has continued to study and train
academically. For the safety, enjoyment, and well-being of riders and horses, Linda advocates a thorough program of basics, seatwork, and equitation in preparation for equestrian sports or horse training (i.e. dressage). Not
only does she promote longeing, but also encourages riders of any age to
learn the vaulting compulsories. Vaulting and rider longeing enables beginners to start safely and correctly; it also helps long-time riders and instructors refine skills and eliminate bad habits.
An
innovative equestrian educator, Linda's career has been dedicated to facilitating the whole-body learning process that riding involves. Students have benefitted from her
personalized teaching style that integrates life experiences in music, art,
dance, visualization, meditation, hatha yoga, and other types of
bodywork. While it is often said that teaching riders to feel is a difficult if not impossible task, Linda has made this her specialty.
In addition to working with equestrians across the USA, Linda has tutored
visiting riders from Canada, Europe, and South America. Since the mid-1990's, she has presented educational clinics that combine classical riding instruction with unmounted RiderHarmony Workshops featuring Yoga
for Equestrians. As Linda guides students to master the body language
essential for communicating with horses, positive results occur
predictably in her clinics where the mutual relaxation of both riders and
horses is observable and often life-changing for participants.
Linda resides North of Los Angeles on California's Gold Coast in Ventura. She currently has limited availability for teaching private or group clinics, locally or long-distance. Sessions with Linda will teach you to blend yoga with riding while mounted, and to perfect your classical seat for improved "conversations" with your horse through equitation—the rider's body language. Please contact Linda via the form below. Thank you.
Using hands-on bodywork, Linda sculpts the rider’s position and helps students develop and refine rider basics: Awareness, Breathing, Relaxation, Suppleness, Alignment, Rhythm, Coordination, and Feel.
Contact
Fill out the feedback form to the left if you'd like to contact Linda. Thanks!
