Have you gone to a horse show and seen some riders very active on the horse, almost as though they are fighting with the horse, and the horse didn't seem to listen? And then you have those riders that sit so still atop the horse and barely move and the horse just moves along happily doing what the rider asks. Have you noticed how beautiful and noble the horse and rider look when they are working together as one? It seems like the horse is just reading the rider's mind. It looks so easy, but it's not. It takes years to get to that point.
I am an artistic type of person. I am not very athletic at all. Some of you may disagree with me, but riding is a form of art. Not everyone is able to do it. To me, riding is more enjoyable when your horse is happy and not fighting you every step of the way. If you just use light touches to cue him, he will gladly do as you ask. (Horses by nature like to please.) If he is being kicked all the time, jerked with the reins on the mouth, and constantly bounced on his back, he will try to avoid the punishment and try to get away. It can get ugly and dangerous. Put yourself in the horses place. Would you like it if you were constantly hit, kicked and yanked? I didn't think so. Then why do riders still do this and say they enjoy riding? I personally don't understand.
It is such a pleasure watching the Lipizzaner Stallions, from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, perform. I have not seen a single horse in their performances resist the rider or handler. They work together as a team.
To get to this point, it takes years of training. You have to have your basics first. Riding on the longe line is the first step in learning to get your balance and teaching your muscles to quietly cue the horse. You have to admit, if you don't have your balance to stay on the horse though all the moves, you will end up on the ground more than being on the horse. That doesn't sound like fun to me. After mastering the lessons on the longe, then you can start riding using the basics on your own. Believe me, it's not that easy. I started riding over 30 years ago, and I am still learning. You should never stop learning. There's always something new to learn.
I have a 17 year old Thoroughbred Gelding I ride. We got him as a 7 year old and green. He knew walk, trot canter, and when you get to a fence, jump. He is very sensitive and will accept gentle aids. To turn, you just have to shift your weight and, voila, he turns in the direction you want him to. No pulling on the reins. Now that is what I call a pleasurable ride. He is like that all around. Eveyone that has ridden him, love him.
Those of you that ride, doesn't that sound like a great horse? Working as a team is what it is all about. If the horse is happy, he will do anything for you.
Brigita:
I know what you mean. It is a work of art and beautiful to see a horse and rider. I had thought that maybe you were going to approach this comparing clients to a sometimes being a rough ride and hard to handle. lol
Joan,
The thought actually did occur to me after I made the post. If you think about it, handling some of the clients is a type of art.
Well said Brigita,
I too have been riding all my life. I would actually like to print this and give it to a dear friend of mine to read to her students (beginners)...I think you put some good words on paper and they should be shared. We must always remember to be kind to our horses (heck, animals) and I see too often where this does not happen. Thanx for this post
Patrice:
Be my guest. Make as many copies as you need.
I wrote this post so that many more can see it and possibly understand the horse. People need to realize that the horse is not a machine, but a living, feeling animal.
Hope we can get more people to realize to be nicer to horses.