Horse Sense and Cents

There’s been a recent barrage of messages lately through blogs, online forums, DVDs and other platforms that lambaste those who use tactics that ignore the horse’s needs. Of course, most of these directives are worded in a techie fashion that excludes the neediest novices from the conversation. It’s also interesting that some of the more vocal horse advocates are rude to the people who chime in with limited understanding and questions in an effort to learn. It kind of makes you wonder how they really handle a confused or green horse when no one is looking (and sometimes, even when they have an audience). When it comes to horses, though, anyone who professes a single right answer to a challenge may benefit from some basic observation and the associated horse sense it generates – provided they’re open to learning.

What’s a horse novice to do?

That’s the beauty of the uninitiated equine enthusiast – and the danger. They’re sponges for knowledge and easily influenced by messages that seem to offer easy answers, but may be designed with a profit motive in mind that doesn’t serve either the horse or handler. It’s sad that some who may have the knowledge and the willingness to share what they’ve learned over decades of kind approaches to horse interaction make their words so esoteric, the most eager learners flee feeling too ignorant to grasp the ideas being offered or fearful of being judged  if they join the conversation. Those who really want to help the horse should consider how their buzz words and platforms designed to impress their peers alienate those they claim to want to help.

Let horses teach you

Horses are great at communicating – if you know how to listen. It’s hard for anyone who hasn’t had a good deal of experience with a variety of horses to be able to read what a horse is trying to tell you. Often, it’s equally hard for someone who’s learned to reach horses in a subliminal fashion to express to others how they do it. Sometimes, it seems those who hide behind words and concepts too abstract for the most basic learners to understand do so intentionally to hide their failings.

Draw from the experience of those willing to speak your language

So, how can the novice begin to learn how to structure a plan to consider the horse? Spend time watching your horse and seeing how he reacts to what you do. Mix it up and carefully observe what he responds to with eager enthusiasm. Try to find people you trust who speak to you in terms that are clear with an approach that is flexible and responsive to your horse’s learning and performance preferences. Seek out those who are able to express ideas in simple terms, and willing to demonstrate, graphically, how certain actions influence the horse’s behavior. Ask people who are getting good results and building great relationships with their horses how they did it – and see if you can observe them in action. Use your head on what seems right and fair and where tactics designed to create a compliant horse may not make a happy horse.

The truly successful are humble

Some of the most successful human leaders in the world are humble, accessible and able to speak to anyone of any status or education as a respected and appreciated peer in a language that is easy for them to process and implement. The same holds true for those working with horses in a stand-out fashion. Those who use communications to dominate, impress, posture, separate and/or put others in a place below their status are suspect – both when it comes to human and horse communications. Learning should be fun for all involved and those who can make it easy for both the horse and human to understand, implement and embrace are special.  Sometimes they lurk in the most unexpected places. Finding someone with truly selfless motives where both you and your horse are concerned (and some of these people may charge for their knowledge – but it’s clear early on that it’s not about profit, but satisfaction in improving the experience for both you and your horse) is a joy. If you haven’t discovered such a resource yet, keep looking. They’re out there.

So often, you hear instructors harping on things like “heels down,” “look up,” “sit back,” “hands still” and a whole range of corrections that focus on how the rider looks. Sadly, most students don’t understand that there’s a much bigger picture to effective riding and these type of directions tend to move a rider further away from a relaxed, balanced and conscious presence on and with the horse.

Give (and get) some real value from riding lessons

When should a rider learn that stiffness is an impediment to good communication with a horse? That balance is critical to everything you ask of a horse (both yours and theirs)? What about the importance of learning to work the hands, seat, legs and weight independently?

From day one.

Sure, it’s easy to get bored standing in the center of an arena watching the same beginner mistakes (or those of more seasoned riders) and fall into a dull and distant routine of focusing on equitation issues that won’t help the rider learn solid techniques. You could do this with your eyes closed (and probably are tempted to do so on some days). It’s also frustrating for novice’s to try to digest big concepts while their still trying to master a correct canter transition. No proper gait changes will occur, though, without this knowledge.

Can green riders use their seat?

Sure. Even the youngest (or oldest) novice riders can learn how wonderful it is to connect with a horse through the seat. Clearly not as an FEI dressage competitor would, but certainly at a basic level.  Of course, this requires some one-on-one attention, but this can be done even in large group lessons. Instead of doing the easy rote drill on rider position issues, consider talking about concepts and showing the rider (you’ll need to use your hands for this to touch the rider) how their seat works with (or against) the horse. Teach riders early to open their thighs and knees and let the horse help make riding a whole lot less work. Help them understand how the seat is the key to balance and show them how (this could certainly relate to your “shoulder’s back” bark and be illustrated very easily with a “whoa” to a good lesson horse).

If you’re a rider who hasn’t learned how to enjoy a deep and effective seat on a horse, think of opening your hips, relaxing and letting your leg be loose (the only area your leg should be in contact with the horse is the inside of your thigh and the back of your calf). It doesn’t matter if you drop your stirrups and let your toes point to the ground. In fact, this can make it easier to feel. It might be best to try this first at a walk. It’s important that your shoulders are over your hips (otherwise you won’t be able to sink deep into the saddle) and your head isn’t dropped forward. Breathe deep and let yourself go a bit limp. Feel how connected you are with the horse’s motion now? That’s where the rest of good riding comes from.  Don’t choke up on the reins when you do this as you will stiffen, pitch forward and bother the horse.

Good teachers create intuitive riders

Horsemanship covers a huge array of equine issues, but most get their first exposure to horses riding. Wouldn’t it be great if those putting a shingle out as beginner instructors committed to a process that focused on the harder big picture understanding from the onset vs. the easy rider form issues? Of course, some may need to educate themselves in such matters, but presumably, most calling themselves professionals have mastered basic riding precepts. Sometimes, it requires a bit of creativity to figure out how to best express this to students (like horses, they’re all different and no pat answer will work for all), but it can be done.

And for the novice riders – stretch yourselves. Learn to make your seat, balance and learning to keep hands, legs and seat operating independently your goal and you will experience a joy riding you never imagined. If your current instructor can’t help you here, find another. You’ll never truly be connected to a horse until you figure out how to connect with them. It’s not that hard, but it’s different from what most teach. And that’s sad for both our future riders and horses.