Feel and Release: Root of the Neck Explained

"Feel" can seem elusive at times. In Bill Dorrance's definition of Feel, Timing and Balance (True Horsemanship Through Feel, Meanings Section) he points out that we need to understand these separately and then together. I started to learn about biomechanics and the root of the neck from Dr Deb Bennetts series "Principles of Conformation Analysis". It was only later that I learned from Leslie Desmond (co-author of Bill's book) how to make use of these facts about the horse to get with a horse through FEEL - in short, the art of releasing a horse in the root of the neck to access both mind and body without brace, and without creating pressure to release first. The better our understanding of this aspect of biomechanics the better our ability to read a horse and adjust to fit. Core stuff, wonderful stuff!