Creating Champions – It’s All in How You See It
Image courtesy of D Sharon Pruitt
Many years ago, I learned the value of riding with “soft eyes.” You might be wondering, What on earth does that mean? If you drive a car, you probably drive with soft eyes. Think of it like this: when you use soft eyes your focus is soft, your peripheral vision is active, and you are able to perceive a large area. For example, you can watch the car in front of you and keep an eye on that child near the road as well. In contrast, there are “hard eyes,” where you sharply focus on a particular point or object to the exclusion of everything else. You may have found yourself staring so hard at something that you didn’t even see the person that walked by you.
Try this exercise: when riding, pick a point in the distance and focus hard on that point. Feel how your body reacts. Do you tense up? Does your horse react? Are you still aware of other objects in your environment? Now, turn your head 45 degrees to the right or left. Focus hard on a point there. What happens? If you’re like most of us, your horse will drift in the direction that you’re looking. Why? Because your body responds to your focus by stiffening and subtly cueing your horse to turn. Now practice using soft eyes. Look ahead but don’t focus on a particular point. Use your peripheral vision to scan your entire surroundings. You’ll be surprised how far your visual range extends towards your shoulder area! You’ll likely feel your horse soften as you soften.
Using soft eyes when riding is an important tool. When you keep your focus soft, your body naturally softens. You also have greater awareness and perception and can sense your environment. This keeps you in tune with your horse and allows you to make corrections or adjustments almost before they are needed.
There is also a place for using hard eyes. I most often found this a useful tool in pattern classes or showmanship, where a straight line is essential. If you choose a point at the far end of the arena and concentrate on that point, you’ll find that your body directs your horse straight to that point. The same goes for barrel horses – focus on your pocket and your horse will slip right into it for a great turn.
Have you ever noticed what kind of eyes you ride with? Do you find that these same examples hold true for you as well? Have you found a use for hard eyes other than those that I’ve mentioned? I’d love to hear your stories!
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emma - October 6, 2009 at 10:22 am
lol now I know why Abby is all over the place, Im looking at too many different things all at once. : )
Arlene - October 6, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Good exercise. I never thought about it before. This is neat.
juliette - October 6, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Great post and super great idea. Way better than singing if you have a voice like me!!!! lol
michelle - October 6, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Emma, I think Abby is all over the place because she is SO excited to be ridden again!!! Woo Hoo – the countdown to our next trail ride is on. And please, keep that horse in bubble wrap before she wrecks herself again!
Thanks, Arlene! This concept works for all sorts of things…I was actually thinking today about using hard eyes when bowling. It’s amazing how much you can control your body by controlling your eyes.
Juliette, I had to figure something out besides the singing! Tiny threatened to go on strike if I did it ever again while she was in earshot! Then she started bleeding from the ears. =)
Kim - October 7, 2009 at 5:44 am
Interesting timing. I just finished a magazine article that features Sally Swift’s soft eyes very prominently. It’s not just a riding technique–it’s a way of life.
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen - October 7, 2009 at 9:57 am
That is really interesting! I never really thought of it before, but it makes total sense!
michelle - October 7, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Which magazine was it? I’d be interesting in reading.
michelle - October 7, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Yes, it does, Jenn. Another place it’s easily demonstrated is on a bike.
Lisa - October 13, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Definately. The soft-eyes concept for me does so much to soften my body in general – I also like to do this off the horse. It has made it easier for me to notice little things and adjust my body to my surroundings (eg the horse). I read Sally Swift about 8 years ago and she had so many wonderful ideas – not just about riding, but about life in general. But then, there is so much of ‘riding’ in ‘life’ that I sometimes get all caught up in it.
It’s a wonderful sport and way of life.
Thanks for the great post
michelle - October 13, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Sally Swift is pretty amazing. I first learned about the concept of soft eyes from my coaches – I can still hear “Soften your eyes!” in my sleep!! I tend to get really focused and intense when I’m concentrating. =) It wasn’t until years later that I learned about Sally Swift and read her books. I never cease to be amazed by how much control you have using only your intention. And you are right: riding is such a metaphor for life in so many ways. People that don’t ride can’t believe how impactful these animals are.