The Rider's Seat — Clinic Information:

The Rider's Seat: How to be Light and Stable in the Saddle

The Rider's Seat two-day clinic teaches riders how to efficiently use their bodies. The clinic explains how to apply the principles of posture, breath and awareness to riding horses. This information applies to any riding discipline and can help all levels of riders, from beginning to advanced.

Morning sessions consist of lecture, demonstrations and exercises off the horse regarding the location, importance and use of the psoas muscles to gain stability and the hyoid muscles to gain lightness in the saddle. Refining the breath and awareness exercises are presented the second day. Clinic afternoons consist of group riding sessions, maximum four riders per group, applying the techniques and methods learned in the mornings.

Engaging the psoas lengthens the lower spine, tones the seat and inner thighs and provides stability for the rider. Engaging the arms (extending forward) enables the solar plexus of the rider to soften and move slightly inward. Engaging the hyoid muscles lengthens the upper spine of the rider and enables the chest to lift and expand, while dropping the shoulders and allowing the head to release. This enables the rider to achieve self-carriage thus distributing her or his weight evenly over the horse's back and internally "lifts" the rider's body. The rider will then be able to feel, follow and influence the bilateral movement of the horse, eventually leading to true unity between horse and rider.

The Rider's Seat – Advanced is a two-day clinic for further refinement of posture, breath and awareness. Participants must have attended a Rider’s Seat clinic. The advanced clinic focuses on the posture of the rider, presenting both rider alignment bodywork and exercises as well as review of the psoas-method techniques. Breathing as it relates to keeping the engagement of both psoas and hyoid muscles is presented. Awareness exercises present information about timing, energy, resource management and attitude as they apply to riding. The riding part of both days consists of applying what is learned/experienced in the morning sessions on horseback in the afternoons.

For clinic pricing and available dates, please contact info@zenandthehorse.com or 815.858.4090.

The Rider's Seat Clinics

Posture
Introduction to the psoas muscles
Engaging the psoas muscles for stability
Engaging the arms
Engaging the hyoid muscles for lift
Bilateral movement
Rider alignment bodywork
Tone - experience your true power
Testing rider stability

Breath
The psoas and the diaphragm
Exhale for stability
Inhale for lift

Awareness
Technique vs. feel
Changing your focus
Riding from back to front
Riding from inside out
Time/resource management

The Rider’s Seat – Advanced Clinics

Posture
Rider alignment exercises
Rider alignment bodywork
The 4 Basics to Stability and Lightness
1) Engage the psoas
2) Engage the arms
3) Engage the hyoid
4) Feel and follow the bilateral movement of the horse
Rider stability in the turn

Breath
Refining both inhale and exhale
Using the breath as a half-halt
Using the breath for power

Awareness
Timing and the beat of the day
Energy of the four seasons
Changing your attitude
Finding the zone
Riding as training for life

What people are saying about the clinics:

The more riders can work with you and understand what you are teaching the better off their horses are going to be. Many thanks for your inspiration.
 
Sally Haney
Senior Level IV – Centered Riding Instructor

WOW!!!!  Was that a great clinic week or what? You all looked SO different and wonderful by the end of each of Tom's clinics, as did the horses with you!!!  And there was so much sheer JOY buzzing around that arena!!!  Incredible!!! My thanks to you all for being such fantastic farm guests and clinic participants.  It is such a high to host something that gives everyone so much knowledge, discovery, achievement! and enjoyment! 
 
Tom’s book is very helpful and the hands on clinic experience puts you right over the top!!!  He has taken the Zen principles of posture, breath and awareness and applied them to riding, in both unmounted and mounted sessions.  Tom is a superb teacher, positive, intuitive and just plain fun. Come discover that elusive "independent seat!" for yourself, through yourself!
 
Lynn Elston, Owner
FromtheMother Farm

I cannot thank you enough for your time and patience and teachings with us all last weekend. It was an experience I’m still savoring! I believe that what you are teaching truly is the 'Key' to that dream place we all aspire to...
 
Tom, you have a real gift for teaching, and your organization and your sequencing of information was perfect. I was so impressed with your lecture day. Each new idea taught followed the last in easy steps for us to learn. It made the lessons seem to teach themselves. But you truly teach from your Zen place, with calm and plenty of spaces for us to play with the ideas. It was fun and effortless! I am breathing better, slower and lower, and leaving more spaces.
 
Karen Irland
Level IV – Centered Riding Instructor

This clinic has consistently provided riders with an essential learning experience on the topics of posture, breath and awareness. I have hosted and participated in six clinics and am still learning! This past weekend while riding in the clinic, I had the best ride I have ever had on my young horse "Chi". In the clinic we learned, among other things, about the application of the half halt.
 
I've acquired many valuable tools and techniques in my study of horsemanship over the years --- through posture, breath and awareness I am learning how to apply them effectively and also, deepen my "feel" for the horse. I am developing new habits and becoming more disciplined. My horses are grateful and they tell me so! They feel light and engaged. This is an exciting time for me!
 
Lisa Kaul-Bjornson
Kairos Equestrian Center

I did not know exactly what to expect (from the clinic). I know I needed a broader picture of what my horse and riding in general means to me. I did not expect it would almost immediately make me feel better and take steps to have a better riding "seat." I thought it would be more philosophy. Your presentation was well balanced between lecture, demo and practice.
 
Lynne Donoghue

Thanks so much for your ability to make what was beginning to seem impossible, possible. You don't know how many years I've been looking for the key to make my riding/body go with the horse.
 
K. Bernardini

About Zen and Horseback Riding
the book:

There is a great new book on the market called, Zen and Horseback Riding, Applying the Principles of Meditation to Riding Horses, by Tom Nagel. This book is a quick read and has many great exercises that teach you to isolate the psoas muscles. It is available through www.zenandthehorse.com.
 
Julie Goodnight
Clinician and Trainer

I finished reading Zen and Horseback Riding and must acknowledge what you have achieved in its writing. It is so much bigger than horseback riding, It is concise, well-organized, clearly worded, consistent in tone and deeply insightful without sounding "wise." You demonstrate the power of being, of observing, rather than doing.
 
Marlane Agriesti Miriello
Writer

Have a look at and bookmark www.zenandthehorse.com. Tom Nagel was my first Zen teacher and you have heard me speak of him often. The concept of Zen and the Horse is about integrating Zen with your life; no separation. In Zen and Horseback Riding, Tom combines horseback riding and his training in Zen and the martial arts to create a "Do" or way of living. Ultimately, it is up to each of us through our training to create our own Zen and ...
 
Paul Serrano
Engineer