{"id":334,"date":"2016-10-08T21:29:56","date_gmt":"2016-10-08T19:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mariaholmstrom.se\/?page_id=334"},"modified":"2019-11-25T20:21:16","modified_gmt":"2019-11-25T19:21:16","slug":"ga-baklanges","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mariaholmstrom.se\/en\/onlinekurs-akademisk-ridkonst\/groundwork\/ga-baklanges\/","title":{"rendered":"Walking backwards \u2013 finding your own body"},"content":{"rendered":"

By focusing on your own body for a moment and start feeling your movements you begin to develop your body awareness. You find the circle track in your body ad thereby you can mediate the sensation of bending to the horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ok, so there is this thing about walking backwards. But really, if you never worked in ground work before, how easy is it to walk backwards on a circle? Will it become a round circle or is it egg-shaped, or maybe even some other fanciful shape? Isn\u00b4t it really easy to trip on your own feet? And are you really supposed to watch the horse at the same time? Well, it looks easy enough but in the beginning it may be difficult to get the circle circular and then it can be a good thing to practice a bit on your own, without a horse.<\/p>\n

Isn\u00b4t it really easy to trip on your own feet?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Start by walking forwards on a circle. Since you eventually want bending and stelling in the horse on the circle it is important that you do the same. This means you need to turn slightly into the circle. Outer shoulder and leg should be placed slightly in front of your inner shoulder and leg if you were to stop on the circle. The head does not twist more than the body, ie do not look more into the circle than your whole body can cope with.<\/p>\n

\"The
Regardless if you are walking forwards or backwards on the circle you need to work with your bending. Turn slightly towards the circle centre, just as much in your whole body, from feet to head.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you now look down on your feet, how do they move? The toes should point a bit inwards and the heels a bit outwards. Do your feet move next to each other or is one foot crossing towards the other? Try actively to walk as if you were walking on a railway track. The feet are walking on one track each, parallel next to each other but they never cross. Since the track is round your toes need to point a bit inwards and the heels a bit outwards. Practice this and then add the rest of your body. Try to soften as much as possible in all of your body. Lower your inner hip when taking a step with the inner leg. Breathe deeply and just relax.<\/p>\n

The feet are walking on one track each, parallel next to each other but they never cross.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When you are getting used to walking forwards on a circle then it is time to reverse the direction and walk backwards. Just as when walking for-wards, start looking at your feet. The feet should still not cross but just follow their railway tracks in the ground, with the heels slightly turned outwards and the toes slightly inwards. Soften in your inner hip, turn slightly inwards, breathe deeply and smile big! You\u2019re exploring your body awareness and that is always useful, regardless if it is for the horse training or in everyday life.<\/p>\n

Remember<\/strong><\/p>\n