TEACHING LEARNING

AND

When Sally entered college and

eventually the working world, she began

to ride less and less. But in the mid-

1970s, after retiring from the Holstein-

Friesian Association, in Brattleboro,

Vermont, she once again became more

active in the equestrian world. She be-

gan riding more frequently and taught

riding to a few friends.

At the same time, she was experi-

encing trouble with her back, and she

began to work with Peter Payne, who

taught the Alexander Technique and

the martial arts. In tai chi, she heard

about the “dan tien” or “the center” and

thought, “That ball---it has a name!” The

Alexander Technique led her to under-

stand more about the “use of the self” (a

similar concept to that of a horse “using

himself” well), and the importance of

freedom and balance of the head and

neck in order to free the back and allow

the body to move lightly and without

stress. Although not an Alexander

Technique teacher herself, Sally studied

with Majorie Barstow, Danny Pevsner

and other Alexander Teachers here

and in England. Sally was especially

interested in music, and she gave a

presentation to the Marlboro School of

Music in Brattleboro, Vermont; some of

the participants became so fascinated

with “Centered Singing”

that they signed up

for Centered Riding

lessons, too.

At this time,

Sally was teach-

ing riding and

riding herself,

though not