This lesson focuses on discovering your asymmetry through exploring the diagonal connections of your hips and shoulders. The X is formed by drawing an imaginary diagonal line from the front of your right shoulder to the front of your left hip joint and vice versa. Where the two lines cross marks the centre of the X. You could call this your subjective middle as it very rarely marks a ‘true’ central spot. You can also create an X from the back of your shoulders to the back of your hip joints. Compressing the X will keep your more compact and elongating the legs of the X will create more length and width.
You can also create a smaller X which will help you sense your oblique muscles. Draw an imaginary line from the bottom front ribs to the side of your solar plexus across to the opposite hipbone (iliac crest). In the walk this X will deform and reform as you follow your horse’s movements. In rising trot, the X stays more or less the same shape throughout.
Play around! It would be great to hear what you discover.
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Thomas & Shana Ritter - www.artisticdressage.com
Now located in Portugal, Thomas is an International Clinician and author of "Dressage Principles based on Biomechanics" and "Long Reining: From the Beginning through the Levade" (published by Cadmos Press in both English and German) and countless articles in many publications. Shana is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist. Together they create and orchestrate the Artistic Dressage program.
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