| A Little About Arlyn | | | | muscles of the horse. These muscles are located |
| Arlyn DeCicco was born on May 2nd, 1954 to | | | | on the sides of the horse and are used when the |
| William D. and Toby B. Lampie. Despite the fact | | | | horse is asked to bend or move laterally. |
| that she lost her dad from complications after | | | | In order to optimize the medial and lateral |
| surgery in 1984 and her mom to cancer in 1997, | | | | muscles, a rider must supple them. This can be |
| her parents left a strong imprint. | | | | done through lateral and bending exercises where |
| Arlyn learned her work ethic, determination and | | | | the horse is asked to open up and breathe. Once |
| dedication from her parents and often refers to | | | | the horse's muscles are supple and relaxed, the |
| her mother's favorite quote, "you can do anything | | | | horse will be able to more easily complete the |
| you want to do as well as any man if not better." | | | | rider's requests. If a rider begins strengthening |
| Horses entered Arlyn's life when she was nine | | | | prematurely, the horse's range of motion will be |
| years old. "Hennie Bordwin, one of my mother's | | | | severely restricted. This will result in stiffness, |
| friends, took me to Pepperell, MA where I got to | | | | resistance to the rider's aids, and inability to |
| ride a friend's pony. I was hooked." | | | | perform. |
| "After I started riding, my brother Mark began to | | | | BET-SSS in Layman's Terms |
| ride. Eventually, he discovered cars and marathon | | | | Arlyn's Balanced Equine Training Stretch Supple |
| running. I kept riding." | | | | Strengthen or BET-SSS revolves around creating |
| She grew up riding hunters and equitation in | | | | well balanced horses and riders by combining |
| Massachusetts with Brian Flynn. She took clinics | | | | aerobic range of motion exercises with a system |
| with Ronnie Mutch and George Morris. Later she | | | | that develops all four phases of the musculature. |
| trained with Dottie Morkis, Kathy Connelly, Ernst | | | | Stretch is the beginning phase when the horse is |
| Bachinger and Belinda Nairn. | | | | asked to lengthen its stride in the walk and |
| During the 1970s Arlyn added Eventing through | | | | stretch its neck as long and low as possible |
| the Preliminary level to her list of disciplines. | | | | making sure the head is not behind the vertical. |
| Arlyn's teaching was transformed after she | | | | Once the horse is comfortably swinging in the |
| suffered two traumatic accidents. In 1972 Arlyn | | | | walk, they begin to breathe and function |
| was thrown from a horse and suffered a back | | | | aerobically. This aerobic exercise puts less stress |
| injury. | | | | on the horse's muscles, joints, and heart and |
| "One week after graduating high school I was | | | | allows the horse to use itself more completely in |
| bucked off in the morning while competing at a | | | | a relaxed manner. By allowing the neck and head |
| horse show. I continued to ride but later that day | | | | to stretch down, the horse can lift its back and |
| fell off again from the pain. I was rushed to the | | | | propel itself forward more correctly from the hind |
| hospital in an ambulance and x-rays showed I | | | | end. Once the horse has experienced the rewards |
| broke my back (L3 and L4). I spent the summer | | | | of this phase, they will be asked to repeat these |
| in bed staring at the ceiling, which is why I can't | | | | movements in every gait and stage of work. The |
| ever sit still today. Every moment is important," | | | | Stretch phase of SSS helps to relax the horse |
| explained Arlyn. | | | | and prepare for the upcoming phases of Supple |
| Through her strong determination she survived | | | | and Strengthen. |
| that ordeal and in 1979 she and her husband | | | | In the Supple phase the horse is asked to move |
| Alfred started their first business called Woodlock | | | | on a circle. The horse may then be asked to |
| Farm based in Massachusetts. | | | | lengthen the outside muscles and shorten the |
| In the early 90s dressage was added to her riding | | | | inside muscles or, alternatively, to shorten the |
| and in 1995 she had success on a horse name | | | | outside muscles and lengthen the inside muscles. |
| Sedona who she rode to third place in the NEDA | | | | Other, more complicated suppling exercises |
| High Score Award at Fourth Level. In 1996 she | | | | involve leg yields or asking the horse to move |
| competed in Prix St. Georges. | | | | away from the inside leg and rein. By shaping the |
| The year 1997 was a turning point in Arlyn's life. | | | | horse's neck and body through these |
| She mysteriously fell off a horse when no one | | | | movements, the horse opens up its rib cage. This |
| was around and was found lying on the ground | | | | will allow the horse to breathe more easily. After |
| with what was later diagnosed as a head trauma. | | | | using the suppling exercises, the horse will be free |
| "She was unconscious and was medi-flighted to | | | | to stretch and use itself more properly. |
| Beth Israel Hospital in Boston," explained her | | | | Strengthen is the final phase and should only be |
| husband. "The left side of her body was | | | | attempted after the other two phases have been |
| compromised as well as her vision - eyes not in | | | | completed. Here the object is to build muscle and |
| sync as I looked at her - double vision. After | | | | strength in the horse. This phase can involve riding |
| undergoing a battery of tests the doctors could | | | | on varied terrain and work with cavalletti and trot |
| find no reason for the fall. Arlyn doesn't | | | | poles. For more advanced exercises, horse and |
| remember the horse bucking and prints in the | | | | rider can work with gymnastic grids and jumps or |
| arena, which had just been dragged, suggested | | | | the collected, medium, and extended gaits. Each |
| she must have passed out and fallen off." | | | | horse's physical development and mental acuity |
| Being a strong and independent woman, Arlyn | | | | must be taken into account when developing a |
| convinced the doctors to let her come home just | | | | Strengthen program. |
| three days later. "Unfortunately, I couldn't get her | | | | On The Scene |
| up the next morning and had to take her back in | | | | Now that you are armed with the concept the |
| for two more days of observation," continued | | | | question remains as to how Arlyn would proceed |
| Alfred. "They still could not find anything and the | | | | to use all of this knowledge. |
| doctors said there was nothing they could do. | | | | When giving a clinic, she begins with a |
| "She would sleep a lot, but would then wake up in | | | | demonstration and follows that with individual |
| the morning. She lacked taste, except for | | | | sessions. She has found the best timing is to have |
| Starbuck's Java Chip ice cream which was her | | | | a minimum of three days in a row. |
| staple. The head trauma had compromised her | | | | Arlyn starts by assessing the situation. "She |
| left leg and hand. Before she got back on a horse, | | | | analyzes the horse and rider as a pair and bases |
| which was about six weeks from the fall, she | | | | each exercise on their physical and mental |
| regained enough use of her left leg and arm to | | | | abilities," explains Brittany Bazeley. "Her |
| drive herself to cranial-sacral therapy and physical | | | | understanding of anatomy and physical fitness is |
| pool therapy. She wasn't able to keep her left | | | | applied to both horse and rider to stretch, supple |
| fingers closed to ride so she devised a system | | | | and strengthen and no matter what happens |
| where she tied reins to our treadmill and | | | | throughout the day, it ends on a positive note for |
| performed her own physical therapy." | | | | everyone. |
| While Alfred worried "my attitude was that she | | | | "She looks at everything from the ground up. She |
| would get better. She had her mother's | | | | looks at the horse in the stall and the placement |
| determination." | | | | of the saddle on the horse's back among other |
| One Determined Lady Figures Out A Way to Go | | | | things," adds show jumper Holly Scapa. |
| On | | | | While watching the horse in motion, Arlyn |
| "My goal was to continue to ride," commented | | | | assesses the horse's range of motion and |
| Arlyn emphatically. "Thus I began my quest to | | | | rideability. She also takes into consideration the |
| obtain knowledge about the body starting with | | | | rider's level. Armed with this information she then |
| my treating physicians." | | | | works with the rider to educate them on what |
| Arlyn already had some knowledge because her | | | | they can do to help improve these aspects. The |
| mom was a registered nurse who was always | | | | next step is to watch the combination. The rider's |
| asking questions of trainers, vets and farriers. As | | | | imbalances are also corrected so that they do not |
| a curious child, Arlyn would always be sure to | | | | interfere with the horse's range of motion. |
| glean every word that was said. Arlyn continued | | | | Through various aerobic exercises and the |
| asking questions and has added horse muscle | | | | philosophy of Stretch Supple Strengthen, the |
| therapists and horse chiropractors in her quest for | | | | horse's musculature can be developed to create a |
| knowledge. | | | | more balanced and adjustable horse. |
| She also benefitted from courses she took just a | | | | Her Students Speak Her Praises |
| few months prior to her accident in August 1996. | | | | Few words speak louder than from those who |
| Arlyn became certified as a Personal Trainer by | | | | are on the outside looking in and on the inside |
| the American Council on Exercise (ACE). The ACE | | | | looking out. The success of Arlyn's method is |
| training manual includes human anatomy and | | | | repeatedly echoed in the words of her students |
| bio-mechanics. Little did she know then how | | | | and clients. |
| valuable that education would become later when | | | | "I observed how Arlyn's recovery from her injury |
| she intuitively transferred that over to horses. | | | | enhanced her ability to teach and ride horses," |
| As Arlyn assessed her situation with an attitude | | | | commented Martha Weckel. "After the injury, her |
| of not letting anything stand in her way she also | | | | ability to 'feel' for what the horse needed was |
| realized that she could no longer ride at her | | | | that much more amazing. She could no longer |
| previous level. She further realized that she could | | | | 'make' the horses do their jobs; rather she had to |
| not MAKE a horse do what she wanted. "All of | | | | guide them as their 'dance partner.'" |
| my organizational skills and talent were of no use | | | | Dr. Heather Mack added, "I have learned to be a |
| to me. I needed a new approach and I had to | | | | solid dance partner with my horses whereas |
| figure out how to direct my horse's movement." | | | | before I was mostly just trying to stay out of |
| She looked for a way to naturally guide the | | | | their way." |
| horse's energy. The answer came in bits and | | | | "What I learned is that you have to ride both |
| pieces until it evolved into the philosophy that | | | | sides of the horse. What we tend to do is ride |
| Arlyn has coined Balanced Equine Training Stretch | | | | whatever direction we are going and you need to |
| Supple Strengthen (BET-SSS). This philosophy | | | | ride both sides going both directions," explained |
| likens the rider to a man in a dancing partnership | | | | Holly Scapa. |
| and the horse to a woman. The rider needs to | | | | "Arlyn's extensive knowledge of the anatomy of |
| learn how to lead the horse's movement, rather | | | | the horse and rider along with her unique training |
| than force or demand it, creating a willing | | | | methods has helped put many struggling horses |
| partnership. After having been stretched and | | | | and riders on the road to successful balanced |
| suppled, the horse wants to dance. | | | | riding. Aryln doesn't just teach you how to sit on |
| The concept of BET is to ride the neck as the | | | | a horse; she takes the time to teach you how to |
| counter-balance for the body. The goal is to | | | | really ride," commented Julie Weisz, winner of the |
| educate riders to have the tools they need to | | | | 2003 Onondarka Medal Finals. |
| lead their horses without interfering with their | | | | "Arlyn is deeply committed to improving the |
| movement. Arlyn's philosophy is "less is more" and | | | | physical and mental state of the horse. Her |
| her goal is to have the rider "guide" the horse's | | | | method works," noted Sally Black, owner of |
| energy so that they are a dancing couple | | | | Blackland Farm. |
| effortlessly maneuvering around the arena. | | | | "When horse and rider are both balanced you |
| Alfred has always been impressed with Arlyn's | | | | have a willing partnership. The horse doesn't need |
| attitude and teaching. "For Arlyn it is always about | | | | to be forced or manipulated. You have a happy |
| the horse first. If the horse is properly developed | | | | horse," commented Diana Yeater, owner/trainer. |
| then it will perform better because it is | | | | "Watching Arlyn ride is classical. She doesn't force; |
| comfortable with itself. I have heard many | | | | she flows with the horse. She is able to get a |
| students tell Arlyn that she has the ability to | | | | horse to soften and collect. She's like watching |
| explain new exercises clearly." | | | | poetry. She teaches the horse how to use its |
| Understanding the Anatomy | | | | body properly," noted Dino Fretterd, Equine Body |
| Understanding the horse's anatomy is crucial in | | | | Worker. |
| training. A horse's body is extremely complex, and | | | | "You can already walk, trot and canter. You don't |
| a rider must understand the horse's musculature | | | | need me to do that. I'm here to help you and |
| in order to know how to supple, stretch, and | | | | your horse do it better," is how Sally Haddon |
| strengthen each muscle group properly. By | | | | explained what she heard when Arlyn helped her |
| training a horse incorrectly, one muscle might | | | | son, Gatlan. |
| unknowingly be developed to inhibit the use and | | | | Miniature Horse owner Susan Hopmans of LaVista |
| movement of another muscle. | | | | Farm added, the fact that this program allows |
| There are four phases of the musculature: | | | | horses to be all they can be and never forces |
| anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral. In | | | | makes my heart soar. It has such a calming and |
| understanding these four different areas, a rider | | | | centering effect on the horses. The end result is |
| can understand how to develop a horse correctly | | | | a relaxed horse that understands and enjoys |
| and how the four phases interact with one | | | | what is being asked." |
| another to create the whole horse. | | | | Jumper rider Joie Gatlin's former stable manager |
| The anterior and posterior phases of the | | | | Darren "Dagwood" Roberts is a fan as well. "She |
| musculature refer respectively to the muscles in | | | | has an intuitive knowledge of how their minds and |
| front and back. These muscles include those along | | | | bodies work. She was a huge part of Sun Cal's |
| the top and bottom lines of the horse, muscles in | | | | King's many successes." |
| the front and back of the legs, and any muscles | | | | Show Jumper Mandy Porter who competed at |
| that work in a swinging motion. | | | | the 2009 Las Vegas World Cup remarked, "Arlyn |
| While many riders may have heard or used the | | | | considers the wellbeing of the whole horse and |
| expression "riding from back to front" or allowing | | | | the reward is a whole horse." |
| the horse to move forward from the hind end, | | | | Amateur-Owner jumper rider Mia Beckham noted, |
| few understand how this relates to the horse's | | | | "Arlyn was the first person that did not try to |
| musculature. If a rider does not encourage a | | | | teach me how to win. She taught me how to |
| horse to work forward from the hind legs or | | | | ride." |
| refuses to stretch the anterior and posterior | | | | "She has given me the skills to tap into my |
| muscles correctly, the horse's movement and | | | | horse's physical and emotional potential. They are |
| performance will be inhibited and its performance | | | | so content and confident in their bodies and my |
| and ability to flex will be limited. This will result in | | | | riding of them," concluded Dr. Heather Mack. |
| lack of adjustability and possible injury. | | | | And there you have it. Aryln has turned tragedy |
| The medial and lateral phases of the musculature | | | | into triumph and our horses thank her. |
| refer respectively to the middle and outside | | | | |