Sally Swift, Godmother of Mindful Horsemanship, Dies At Age 95
03. Apr, 2009 
23 Comments
Mt friend Sandy Rakowitz and I were discussing Sally Swift yesterday at One Heart Healing Center. Neither of us knew that at that moment, Sally Swift was probably leaving us.
Implicit in much of what I write is the basic instruction of Sally Swift. Perhaps I should have made it more explicit.
From the Centered Riding website:
Sarah Rodman Swift known to her worldwide following as “Sally Swift” passed away on April 2, 2009. Sally was less than three weeks away from reaching her 96th birthday. She was born on April 20, 1913 in Hingham, Massachusetts to Rodman “Tod” Swift and Elizabeth Townsend Swift. She had one sister, Agnes, who died in 2004.
Sally Swift was known all over the world for her innovative horse-riding methodology known as “Centered Riding.” She was the author of two books Centered Riding and Centered Riding II – Further Explorations which, together, have had sales of more than 860,000 copies worldwide in fifteen different languages. Sally was the Founder of Centered Riding, Inc., which is the non-profit organization that oversees the worldwide membership of instructors and horse riders. Sally began Centered Riding at the age of 62 upon her retirement from the Holstein Association in Brattleboro Vermont. Her first book, Centered Riding was published in 1985.
Sally Swift’s thoughts on riding technique emphasize balance and harmony in much the same way as the martial arts. The disciplines share the concepts of correct breathing, control from the center of the body, and the need for awareness and the quietness of the balanced body.” In the forward to her book, Centered Riding, Sally Swift explains her methods as, the combination of how your body works, the ability to allow it to function unhampered, and the awareness and use of energies created through you and your horse. In contrast, traditionally, athletes are urged to push, try harder, work harder, go for the burn. Unfortunately, when they approach horseback riding in this manner, the muscle tension that accompanies their efforts transfers directly to the horse, which the rider must then try harder to control, and the vicious circle ensues.¹
Swift’s use of creative imagery clarified numerous technical issues of horseback riding in a way that riders understand more clearly than all their trainers’ descriptions. Enabling her students to envision the action of their bodies on horseback liberated many from the confines of exclusively technical training to allow for a more natural connection between horse and rider.
Susan Harris, the renowned clinician and author of the classic, Grooming to Win, wasn’t sure what to think when she first learned of Sally Swift’s “centered riding” approach, a sort of Zen and the art of horseback riding. It explained how to do “all those wonderful classical things riding teachers are always talking about. For once, it was a way to discuss–and to teach–the elusive concept of feel.”
Though Swift had slowed down in her later years, her contributions to horseback riding and horsemanship continued. Certified Centered Horsemanship Instructors will no doubt carry on the tradition of “soft eyes” in riding and in life. This concept alone bridges the gap between Buddhist mindfulness and Centered Riding. (Sadly, At the time of this writing, I was researching and writing a post on this topic. I wish that I’d been further along on this.) I for one will miss the existence of Sally Swift. Her absence will leave a void in the wold.
¹ adapted from Who Is Sally Swift? by Patricia Celley
© 2009, enlightenedhorsemanship. All rights reserved.
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Kim…Sally was very big around here. I attended clinics and have her book. A great contributor to the horse world. She had a nice long life and made a difference.
She will be missed in the horse world, she brought so much to all of us who have read her books and watched her instructional videos. But she had a long and interesting life and knew that she made a difference in her field and knew she helped many horses and riders.
It’s a sad day for the horse world. Thank you, Sally!
Oh, I’m late to reading this – I’m so sorry she has gone, but her work will stay with all of us. In an interesting side note, I was digging around in my garret on April 2nd, and without knowing why, sought out her book Centered Riding and brought it down to my computer desk, where it has the honor right now of being on the top of my “heap.”
I’ve read it many times, and hadn’t been thinking of it recently, but as she left I must have felt that in some way and wanted her book down here with me.
I use soft eyes almost constantly when I ride – and the image of the tree with deep roots and branches going up to the sky.
Will look forward to your series!
billie
I am given to understand that Swift got the soft eyes concept from martial arts. It’s a wonderful way of describing the non-striving form of acute awareness reflected in mindful living. A sort of meditation in action.
Learning it first as a rider and then extrapolating it to life as a human being was powerful for me.
It’s good to know that I’m not the only one riding around with roots coming out of my hips!
Harmony, Balance, and breathing are my first thoughts when I think about Sally Swft. She added so much to our world, she will be missed.
Karen
I see from the work on your blog that you know something about harmony and balance! What lovely work. Would you mind if I featured your work on an upcoming Wordless Wednesday here?
Thank you for commenting here!
I agree with you. Sally Swift will be missed. Who knows how much we have lost or what new wonders she might have shared with us.
Thank you for your kind comments about my work. I would love to be featured on Wordless Wendnesday! I have a strong bond with my horses, and it inspires me to make the painting/horsemanship connection. It is from that profound place that I approach each painting. In the end, I hope that I will be able to touch that place in those that view my work.
Remember though – whatever Sally Swift tapped into, viewing it from a Jungian “collective unconscious” perspective, it’s all still there, and she’s still there, and any one of us, or all of us, can tap in and keep sharing the good stuff we find. In that way she lives on.
Hi there!
Thanks for submitting this post about an obviously inspiring and enlightening person to the Carnival of the Horses for the May edition.
Chris
I had the good fortune to meet Sally in the early 80′s as a competitive event rider. I followed her thru the path and it was life changing. I rode with her for over 20 years and
now as a Level IV clinician travel all over the US and Europe helping to share what she taught me. Not only did the CR information change me physically It caused me to become a therapeutic instructor. We have to continue our own education in Body awareness. At age 59 I now have better posture.less body and back pain than in my 30′s.
God Bless you Sally,
Lori
Did you ever meet her? She DID make a difference. One that is often hard to put a finger on for most people. Swift often left people with a sense of, “Oh yes, that DOES make sense.”
How these little bits of information have been incorporated into the general, traditional knowledge is a little fuzzy to me.
Seriously. So few have contributed that much.
Indeed. Thank you.
billie
I am planning on re-visiting her work from a mindfulness perspective here. I would love it if you joined in with your own thoughts. We can re-visit Sally together and honor her contributions to the horse world!
Karen
Thanks. I will get you up there! I appreciate this!
billie
this is also a very Buddhist perspective. she is still here.
Chris
How nice to see you here! I adore your blog, though I don’t get there as often as I should. These days I have to fight for my internet connection with my daughter.
I’m looking forward to the May Carnival! Thanks for hosting it.
Judy
It is not surprising to me that those who have crossed paths with Sally Swift have moved in the direction of service.
Readers, visit Maine Trail Rides for information about Judy’s programs.
You are doing what I want to do when I grow up, though at the age of 48, I don’t have a lot of time left, especially since my path has been radically altered by Linda Tellington-Jones.
Linda’s work has impacted my life in much the same way, though I am at the beginning of my journey.
As one whose family life has been changed for the better by therapeutic riding, I salute you. And I thank you for taking up the cause of Centered Riding. Please pass it on to as many people as you can!