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written by Jim Geibel

 “Keep your eyes up”. This is repeated often during beginner and intermediate riding lessons. But why? What is so important about eyes being up?

 In riding, balance is aided through the proper positioning of the rider’s head, upper body, arms, seat and lower legs. A riders eyes being placed in the head and the head weighing 15 or 20 lb. can and does affect the whole balance of the rider and horse.

 The rider’s eyes are a positioning force for the head. When looking straight ahead, the head and neck are in-line and balanced with the rest of the upper body. When a rider starts looking down at the horse’s neck or the ground, there is a definite change of balance. This can be the begining of the end, as far as a balanced ride is concerned.

 When the eyes get stuck looking or staring at anything, the neck of the horse, the ground, off into space, a jump, the rider will loose the sense of pace, impulsion and movement left and right. Your eyes will overpower all these other senses.

When used nicely, eyes will be active and soft, blinking normally, not fixed on anything for more than e heartbeat or two. The rider should look where they are going and glance, briefly at the shape of the horse’s neck, what the ears are doing and these sorts of things.

 Good eyes are very important in riding straight lines and round circles. These are the basis of good training. Find a point far ahead and ride straight to the point. You will know if your wandering left or fight only if you keep your eyes checking the point ahead, often. Circles require many points along the imaginary figure you actually project out from your “minds eye”. Imagine the circle being a solid line of many points along the circle. What ever works for you. Experiment with this. You can do lots on your own with a push from time to time when thing get unclear. You are your own best instructor in many situations.

 Remember that good eyes are soft but active. Good eyes look early for the next jump, the next letter, or the next point along a curve or circle.