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  Discussion on The benefits of jumping with your eyes shut...
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Member:
imogen

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 3:31 am:

I went to a brilliant showjumping clinic yesterday (I'm embarassed to say I don't know the full name of the trainer - he's English and his first name is Jonathan, he comes over to Ireland every few months and gives clinics).

He had us all focussing on the quality of the canter after the jump - nothing new there. What he also did and I was amazed at the effect on my lunatic mare, was to get us all to canter down the long length of the arena to a medium sized upright with our eyes closed until about three strides before.

My mare jumped the most calmly I have ever known her to do in 10 years. It really gets across the point that even when we all think we are being calm and still, in fact we are sending subconscious messages to the horse related to our anxiety about the jump itself.

This trainer does not mind if you knock, get under the jump etc. - the focus of the session is purely on putting your attention after the jump, and it had fantastic effects on every horse/rider partnership that attended.

Clearly not something to be practised except under supervision in controlled circumstances, but one of the most interesting pieces of horse and rider training I have ever seen.

All the best

Imogen

It was like intravenous valium!!!!

Clearly not to be recommended except in controlled supervised circumstances. He said that he had seen a well know French coach do this with the British young showjumping team (but they had to jump as well with eyes closed...)
Member:
hwood

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 9:59 am:

Wow, Imogen!!! How INteresting!
There has been so much written about "visualization" in riding and training . . . and I have heard some trainers say that it is all a mystical kind of mind control between us and the horses . . . but I truly believe, as I learned years ago from John Lyons, that our bodies DO mimic our minds and that any visualization in our minds transfers to the physical, even though we may not be able to see the changes . . . It is, as you say, extremely subtle.
Anyone who doubts this may want to read the very amazing story of CLEVER HANS and the conclusions of the research.
The clinic lesson is invaluable and can transfer to our body language on the ground, too . . . How we see ourselves, and how we visualize ourselves is how we present to others . . . to our horses . . . and prey animals are extremely aware of movement.
Member:
stevens

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 12:25 pm:

I had a really bad habit of looking down at the jump. After receiving some particularly direct direction from an instructor to NOT look at the jump, I decided the only way I could do that was to close my eyes. Worked for me, worked for the horse, totally freaked out the instructor.

I've also heard that closing your eyes is a good way to learn posting diagonals.
Member:
hpyhaulr

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 1:01 pm:

ROFL picturing Chis' instructor's horror. I think we have just redefined an "uninsurable act". I just can't even imagine having the spine and trust to do such a thing. I'm old, my bones are brittle. Sorry thing is, I don't think I was ever young enough! I am in awe. Thank you for the visual.
Member:
boomer

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 1:06 pm:

Hi Holly Wood, I just read Clever Hans, WOW very very interesting and it explains a lot about behavior.
Member:
stevens

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 2:12 pm:

Cyndy,

Before you give me too much credit, I did keep my eyes upon until 1 or 2 strides out and opened them again upon landing. Since it was alleged that I not only looked at the jump on approach, but in the air and would turn my head to make sure I cleared it, drastic measures were required!
Member:
imogen

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 2:02 am:

The trainer's name from yesterday is Jonathan Lewis. Interestingly, I am sure one of the reasons I have not come across this technique before in Ireland is insurance. It's a French idea (free health service...) and insurance is much less of a problem in England where he works... and I should point out this was towards the end of a 2 hour session so the trainer had a good handle on what each horse and rider was capable of.

All the best

Imogen
Member:
sswiley

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 10:14 am:

This reminds me of a Jimmy Wofford clinic on my hot, hot event mare. She was pulling too much down this triple down bank. So he had me approach it(at the trot thank goodness!) only holding the buckle of the reins. Talk about a leap of faith !! Of course she quietly hopped down the bank with as much sense and calmness as anyone could want. So as it turned out it was me who was pulling ! I would love to try the eyes closed excersise . . . . when the time is right.
Member:
hwood

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 10:20 am:

Imogen, I bet you are mostly right about taking risks in different climates of insurance coverage.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as "free" medical insurance.
Member:
ilona

Posted on Thursday, Jan 25, 2007 - 7:04 pm:

On the same topic, but not applied to jumping, what I have people I work with do, is rest their hands softly on the front of the saddle, take their feet out the stirrups, and close their eyes as I lead the horse around the arena, changing direction, going in circles etc. I watch and gently comment on their breathing, seat, and back suppleness. Its amazing how quickly their balance improves, their confidence increases and the horse relaxes. I only do this with riders on certain of my own horses. It works well IMO, demonstrated once when, after doing this excercise with a relatively new rider, we were working in the arena with all aids, stirrups, reins, (eyes!), when there was a huge unexpected noise (nasty neighbour chosen activity) and my usually unflappable horse leapt forwards with amazing athleticism. I was certain she would come unseated, but no, stuck like velcro adapting her weight distribution to his movement as if with her eyes closed. She was so excited. BoomBoom was surprised to still have a rider and I was was greatly relieved. It turned out to be a happy ending all around.

Many decades ago I was trained to jump with my hands on my hips and no stirrups, this on a lunge line....that was test enough. Don't know that I could have done a 'Chris' with my eyes closed, or an Imogen with no sight until 3 paces pre-jump! That requires a kind of courage I don't know that I possess
Member:
sswiley

Posted on Thursday, Jan 25, 2007 - 7:33 pm:

Today I trotted my daughters 13.2 HH pony over a cross rail with my eyes closed . . . does that count?
Member:
ilona

Posted on Friday, Jan 26, 2007 - 9:39 am:

Very funny Shelly!....I vote yes.
Member:
amara

Posted on Friday, Jan 26, 2007 - 2:39 pm:

i was taught to jump with eyes closed and/or hands off the reins as a kid.. and have continued to do it in lessons, or have my own students do it, for many many years....talk about seeing how you can mess the horse up.. a definate "eye opener"

i also taught something similar to what Ilona does with her students in flat work... my halfie is trained to change gaits/tempo based on my body energy only, whether i'm riding or lunging.. no legs or hands ever required...i would put my students in the RP, bareback, with reins (attached to halter since he doesnt use a bit) knotted up in his mane... and then i'd have them close their eyes, and i would control all the transitions, changes in pace, etc...since they never knew what was coming since they couldnt see me, and they couldnt hear me since i never said anything, they learned to sit deep, be relaxed in the seat, and be ready for anything... i could also get him to do circles/figure 8's and serpentines without the use of any rein aids, so then i'd do the same thing, but add ring figures to it as well.. they never knew what i was going to do...scary? you bet! but i had the most deep seated, secure riders when i was done!..
Member:
tipper

Posted on Friday, Jan 26, 2007 - 5:11 pm:

We used to have to do chutes with our eyes closed, also singing, buttoning and unbuttoning our jackets, patting heads/rubbing stomachs. It was fun and not nearly as scary as we thought it would be.
Member:
sureed

Posted on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 - 12:46 am:

Too Funny. After some bad stops and falls, I developed a fear of jumping, especially oxers. I am far sighted but normally need glasses to see, drive, read, write, or ride, but I don't wear my glasses in lessons anymore. I can see where the jumps are but they are blurry. I can't always tell if they are oxers or not if they are set even. I can see more clearly long distances off, so I am keeping my head up now. I also don't let my trainer tell me how high the fences are since I can't tell the difference between 2'6" and 3'. My riding has improved greatly.

Whatever works!

Suzanne
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