Taiji Ma
The horse-shaped fist of the mind
Taiji Ma Principles
Tai Ji Ma Foundation Principle:
The foundation principle of Tai Ji Ma can be summed up as “Internal yields External”. In Tai Ji Ma, the rider is seen as the mind and
the horse is seen as the body. Training starts with applying Tai Ji Ma principles to the human element, the rider. These principles of
training then flow out from the rider to the horse in order to unify the horse and rider.
Centre Line:
In Tai Ji Ma, the concept of the Center Line of both the rider and the horse is vitally important. The Centre Line is a conceptual line
that runs from the top of the head down through the centre of gravity of the rider. It forms part of the Centre Line Plane extending out
in front and behind the rider at right angles to their shoulder axis. Movements through the Centre Line Plane are most powerful and
efficient. It is essential that the rider understand the Centre Line concept and how to manipulate their own Centre Line and the
Centre Line of their horse to avoid instability and loss of forward impulsion.
Stability and alignment:
In order for a horse and rider to be stable, the centre of gravity of both horse and rider needs to be correctly aligned. Through
classical dressage’s emphasis on the ear, shoulder, hip, heel alignment of the rider, this stability is achieved on an external level.
Tai Ji Ma refines and elaborates on this through breath control and meditation to achieve true internal stability of the rider which
manifests externally in deeper and more relaxed stability of the horse.
Rhythm:
Rhythm implies coordination of body movements to some predetermined sequence and timing which results in improvement in
efficiency and impulsion. It is achieved by learning when and where to use particular muscles in the body of horse and rider. The
horse and rider have internal rhythms of their own and both rhythms need to be identified and fused into a single rhythm for the
horse/rider partnership. Only then can the highest levels of connection be reached.
Contact:
Physical contact through the legs, reigns, hands and seat is the main control and feedback mechanism for the horse and rider.
Tai Ji Ma training heightens the sensitivity of the horse and rider to physical contact. The highest application of this sensitivity is seen
when the horse reacts to the rider without the use of physical aids at all and when the rider senses the horse’s reaction before the
horse actually moves.
Collection:
One of the fundamental principles of Tai Ji Ma is the ability of horse and rider to raise and sink their centre of gravity at will. This is a
difficult concept to grasp but once understood, it becomes one of the foundations of power generation in the rider and impulsion in the
horse. It is also one of the keys to greater stability.
Impulsion:
Impulsion in the horse and power generation in the rider is brought about by a combination of the other Tai Ji Ma basic principles.
Impulsion is powerful, balanced forward movement in the horse. Power in the rider is stable, generation of high levels of force over a
predetermined time by the movements of the body.
