1913-2009

Dedicated to Sally Swift

Sally Speaks through ME to my students and our horses 

 By Sam Morrison   Level IV Instructor & Clinician 

     In 1983 along with a room full of curious people, I attended a lecture sponsored by the Midwest Dressage Association in Michigan. We were curious and then enthralled by this little lady named Sally Swift and her innovative ideas on how the rider’s body should work and move to enhance his/her horse’s performance. 

     In my early years I had ridden saddle seat on Morgans in college, shown hunters and foxhunted in Virginia, ridden Western and worked cattle in Kansas and then moved to Combined Training events in Michigan.  It was all fun for me and my horses.  Then when I started Eventing, I had to do that phase called Dressage. We were extremely successful but having to be precise and have the correct form in dressage made me tense and rigid affecting both myself and the horse. Although the cross country and stadium phases 

were still exciting and exhilarating we lost the element of FUN.  And I know the horses were not happy. 

So, when Sally spoke and did her demonstrations of how to use our bodies practicing the four (4) basics, I realized this “use of self” was the missing link. The next year I took her Instructors’ Course, quit competing and started to learn to ride all over again.  I knew the horse training methods, but Sally taught communicating with the horse in a new way, bringing back the FUN I had lost.  She also introduced me to T’ai Chi and the Alexander Technique with their benefits for riding and for doing everyday chores.  It has been an ongoing process as I have been through family stresses, my own injuries, illnesses and disappointments. 

     Her biggest message to me has been “take care of yourself” and then you can take care of others.  As I applied her philosophy into most everything I did, I remembered to “ask and allow” and to be patient both with people and with horses. I can sometimes imagine Sally sitting on my shoulder watching as I teach. 

     So, I in turn try to instill these attributes into my students. And our horses are at last peaceful and happy partners.  Thank you Sally, you will always be in my heart ..