An Introduction to 
UNIFIED RIDING 
with Kathi Berman-Gilmore
Founder & Creator of Unified Riding

---I live in Southeastern Massachusetts and have a small farm. I currently have 3 horses here and 3 donkeys (along with countless cats, a dog, several fish, 3 children and a husband who is a full time, career student). I have a bachelor of science degree/equine and have held my Massachusetts Instructor's license for 20 or so years but have been teaching riding for almost 25 years. (It was an intermediate level license until the state of Massachusetts - in 
one of their fits of brilliance- did away with the different 'levels' - we are now *all* just Massachusetts licensed instructors...). I have had the good fortune to have ridden with several superb instructors over the years. 

I started riding when I was 6 and learned hunt seat from an old cavalry instructor. I did not begin riding dressage until I was in college. I rode 
with the now well known, Sue Blinks, while at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. I have attended many Centered Riding Open clinics over the years. In hindsight, I have discovered that the instructors that I rode with over the years that had the greatest impact on my riding and understanding of equitation had all ridden with Sally Swift at some time in their lives too. 

When I attended my first CR clinic I did a lot of the "hey, I do that" kind of thinking. From the moment I learned there was a CR instructor's course, I always wanted to attend but finances and time kept me away until several years ago. I am currently on the way to becoming a level II CR instructor.

What, exactly, *is* UNIFIED Riding and how does it differ from Centered 
Riding?

---Unified Riding is the name I created for what I now teach. It is not only the unification of horse and rider, but also the unification of Centered Riding and Natural Horsemanship. Centered Riding deals with the rider and Natural Horsemanship deals more with the horse. Unified Riding utilizes the theories of Sally Swift, some of the theories of the classical dressage 
"masters" and those of several of the Natural Horsemanship 'gurus' of today, i.e., Tom and Bill Dorrance, Ray Hunt, Harry Whitney, Mark Rashid, Tom Curtin, and John Lyons to name a few.

Who benefits from this type of Riding? Is it for EVERY discipline?

---Every rider who is interested in improving the way they ride as well as the well being of their horse will benefit from Unified Riding. It applies to all disciplines - hunt seat, western, dressage - even saddle seat!

Is there a benefit for the horse with respect in comparison between 
UNIFIED Riding and other seats?

---Absolutely!! A rider that can ride in balance and softness can enable their horse to become balanced and soft. Tensions in the rider *will* create similar tensions in the horse.

Is UNIFIED Riding something that one of any age can learn effectively?

---Yes! I have started new riders as young as 6 years old and taught them to use their bodies effectively to work with their horses. Of course, you can 
only teach what they each rider can understand at each age. This also seems to work well for us "middle aged" riders.

How did you come across this style?

---I attended several Natural Horsemanship clinics with different clinicians and kept thinking that something was missing. I was already a CR instructor and realized that the clinicians I was seeing were not addressing some of the rider issues that I knew in my heart would also help the horse. My "Centered 
Riding Eye" saw things that I wanted to correct in order to help the rider help her horse and the NH clinicians were not addressing them. For me, it 
seemed a natural progression to put the two sets of theories together to create Unified Riding.

Were you *looking* for a seat that was different than others? Why?

---No, I was looking for a better way to communicate with my horse; a new way to dance with my horse because what I was doing wasn't working as well as I 
would have liked.

Where can one get in touch with you regarding UNIFIED RIDING?

---I can be reached via email at kbermangil@aol.com and please put Unified Riding in the subject.

Where do you teach?

---Anywhere! I freelance my lessons around New England.

Do you offer UNIFIED RIDING clinics?

---Yes, I offer 1, 2, and 3 day clinics.

Is there anything else you can refer to your reader concerning UNIFIED 
RIDING that would help the rider to understand more about this seat?

---Read Sally Swift's Centered Riding and view her two videos, as well as any NH book or video you can.

Thank you, Kathi, for spending time with PENZANCE today. The concept is one that I've personally seen with you and I am amazed by the results, not only in the rider, but in the relaxation and way of going for the horse, as well.

I wish you the best!

--Gwen