Lesson 6: Basics of the Trot
Breathing, again and always
Sally Swift’s work in Centered Riding makes a great deal of breathing, as explained in the previous lesson.
Some people have trouble breathing because of the way the inside of their nose is constructed, or because of allergies and so on. Take care of as much of that as you reasonably can (no one is suggesting nasal surgery unless you intend to make a life’s work out of riding and expect to compete at the Olympic level). But beyond that, be aware of your breathing and, when you tire (which can happen easily when your muscles are deprived of as much oxygen as they need), rest. If you realize breathing is a problem for you, tell your instructor and ask that you be allowed to rest briefly, even if you are in a class that is continuing with whatever exercise was going on. If your instructor will not accommodate your physical requirements, find another instructor. All of us—ALL OF US—differ from the ideal rider in some way. And yet all of us who want to can become skillful, happy riders with instruction, patience, dedication and compassion. That compassion has to come from us to ourselves, and it must also be demanded from instructors.
WARNING: Do not take this to mean you get to ‘wimp out’ every time something is a little bit challenging. It just means you do not get physically, or for that matter mentally, pushed beyond the point of reasonable safety. Often, instructors are so far removed from their own learning days that they are not being mean by making demands you find difficult to fulfill; they just need to be reminded that your skills and strength and stamina and knowledge and reactions are not where theirs are. Yet.
