Just A Thought
Photo: Carly Hughes
“We have almost forgotten how strange a thing it is that so huge and powerful and intelligent an animal as a horse should allow another, and far more feeble animal, to ride upon its back.”
- Peter Gray
This is something I try to keep in mind always, most often when I’m working with a young or problematic horse.
Everything a horse does while we’re riding is for us or because of us, good and bad.
Riding is not natural for the horse, they receive no real reward for letting us do it, and yet they do. Day in, day out they try for us. They work for us. They do their best with the knowledge we give them to perform for us.
Whenever you find yourself struggling with your horse companion think to yourself; am I communicating this well? Is there a better way I can explain this to my horse? They are as unique as we are, they don’t all learn the same. Slow down, regroup, ask a different way. But most importantly remember to reward, give back and let your horse know clearly when they’ve gotten the right answer.
It’s up to us as riders to listen to our equine partners and help them learn what we ask of them, it’s the least we can do in return for all the amazing privileges they give to us.
Be kind with your hands, clear with your aids and plentiful in your love. Mistakes are made; we as people and riders are not perfect ourselves, so we must not expect perfection always from our equines.
Carly Hughes