Glossary

1. Kabat Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation:

The methods of American neurophysiologist and physician Kabat were first described in 1945. The theory underlying his treatments is as follows:

Stimulating specific movements will initiate purposive reactions, which in turn serve as impulses for potential movement patterns. The most effective movement patterns progress diagonally (in spiral form); they are developed by stretching and compressing body parts by means of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction as well as by rotation. The therapist brings the patient into appropriate posture, which is held, if necessary, even against resistance.

When employing PNF, the resistance offered to muscular action should be proportional to the strength of the muscles involved in order to avoid damage to bones, joints or musculature. These passive movements imprint patterns into the body tissue and promote the storing of movement patterns in the central nervous system. These patterns can be tapped into in order to peripherally control the matching movements. Applying selected combinations of movements requires knowledge of anatomy, neurophysiology and genetics, as well as the ability to break down movements into their components. Reactions within the body tissue, which are prompted through stimulation, constitute the above mentioned proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Rhythmic repetitions of the stimuli are essential when practising new movement patterns.

2. Inner Game Coaching:

This teaching method was devised to produce patience and serenity of mind.

When combined with a comprehensive knowledge of horses, it will create a foundation for a good rider. Many instructors will agree that 80% of learning problems are caused by tension, which is often related to our tendency to be negative about ourselves. Pupils are therefore encouraged to realise that the inner game questions and suggestions their instructors pose, are non-judgemental.

Internal resistance is often present when we are asked to change even though we may long to do so. Telling a pupil what to do all time is inadeqate. Words alone rarely succeed in real learning, for who can describe accurately what they feel, let-alone what someone else should feel. Riding needs to be spontaneous. So inner game coaching is a sensitive and relaxed approach to riding, teaching you by guidance and encouragement rather than by direct command with the repetition of "failed" exercises that don�t have the correct feel in them. Riding is like dancing, success can be found in the rhythm, with you the rider leading - as your bodies become one.

A good riding session is where the rider sets himself a target which is realistic and he is able to achieve this goal in a subconscious way that has not been obsessed with the want to achieve instant and perfect results. So in other words every time you achieve your goal it will increase your sense of commitment to riding in a subconscious way.

Inner game coaching alleviates this conflict by focussing the pupil�s attention on one area at a time. This training method develops the riders own intuition, giving the rider a sense of freedom from instruction. It releases the mind from any tension, setting it upon observation, intuition and common. Once pupils realise that they can talk to their instructor, they settle down into a routine of sharing experiences, which has a supportive effect on all concerned, because one rider will learn from anothers' experiences.

When self confidence and relaxation are experienced, a new form of awareness is created so time and space take on different dimensions. Your goal is for relaxed concentration to turn into total absorption. This is where the horse will emerge as a true partner and teacher.

3. Alexander Technique:

Ten years of careful self-observation by F. Matthais Alexander (1869-1955) led to the discoveries that became the cornerstone of the Alexander Technique.

While attempting to solve the vocal problems that were ruining his career as a Shakespearean recitalist, Alexander discovered that he was creating a pattern of tension that was interfering with the correct relationship between his head, neck and back. Alexander, and the teachers trained in his technique, have been demonstrating empirically over the past 100 years how to change this pattern of tension and establish in its place more calm and poise, even in stressful situations.

The Alexander Technique helps you use the appropriate amount of effort for a particular activity, giving you more energy for all your activities. In the process, your kinaesthetic sense becomes a more accurate guide so that you can take on new activities, as well as old ones, with greater ease, freedom and control.

Each part of the body in some way, great or small, affects every other part. Alexander tries to teach the freedom of balance, which he calls primary control. In a riding sense he asks us to ride more with our bones so that our muscles do not need to work so hard.

4. Bowan's Technique:

Can simply be considered to be a holistic healing program. It is a series of gentle, rolling, sequential movements of the fingers and thumbs applied in a specific non-invasive manner over the soft connective tissue or fascia. Which when performed with accuracy, integrity and intent in a predetermined order over key dynamic areas of your horses' body it creates a modality for energy release.

This will release muscle spasm and stimulate a healing response from the brain via the neuro-muscular pathways in the fascia or covering of the muscle. Remembering that "Muscle Spasms" are natures way of protecting the body from further injury. This allows the patient to relax, rebalance and achieve the ideal state of homeostasis wherein internal wisdom acts to its maximum to relieve pain and achieve perfect health at all levels physical, chemical and emotion.

So it creates a response to muscular, skeletal, respiratory, lymphatic, digestive and glandular problems. One problem within the body will often set off another problem in a sort of chain reaction and you will not be able to achieve the complete results you require until you identify and address the true root cause of the problem.

In this however we need to consider the fact that with this technique we are balancing the body and showing it how to heal itself. So to do this we need to apply the techniques symmetrically and to treat the whole body not just the area where the pain is felt.