Episode 288 Michaela Hempen and Anita Schnee Pt 2: The Link Between Feldenkrais™ Work and Riding Well

This week we’re continuing our conversation with Anita Schnee and Michaela Hempen. Michaela has been our guest on this podcast many times. She’s talked to us about the research project she did on cribbing, about single subject design, and more recently about how animal welfare is assessed.

When it comes to horses Michaela and I share a love of beautiful movement, so she also joined us when we talked with Anja Beran, the classical rider whose work inspires both of us.

For the past ten years Michaela has been studying with a Feldenkrais Practitioner, Nathalie Van Cauwenberghe. In last week’s episode Michaela described the riding challenge Anja’s work poses. Anja has told her that in order to ride well you need to stabilize your torso while remaining loose in the rest of your body.

With Nathalie’s help, Michaela has been figuring out how to turn these words into a meaningful reality.

Nathalie does not speak English well enough to participate in the podcast, so I invited Anita Schnee to join us. Anita is also a Feldenkrais Practitioner so we will be drawing on her expertise as we continue with this conversation.

The goal is to ride well. Last week I ended with a description of the changes I see in horse handler teams when the handler learns to lift through their sternum. I left you with that image to enjoy. We’ll pick up again at that point in the conversation.