They say timing is everything, and I can’t think of a truer statement to describe how my teaching and riding system began to solidify for me. I have always counted on repeating the information that worked in the past and trying out new things when I could. It turned out that this was invaluable to building the foundation of my system. A couple of years ago I reached a point in my teaching when I began to see places for improvement. I was becoming frustrated that I couldn't get my point across to my students and I could tell that the horses were becoming less willing. At the same time I had reached a point where I truly missed riding. I got into this business because I love horses, riding and teaching, not for the countless hours standing in the middle of the ring at the in-gate or in my office doing paperwork. If for nothing else, I needed to be reminded of why I had chosen to do this every day. Presto played a huge role in the realization that I wanted to define and develop my own system of training. I had known Presto since he first arrived to the United States as a very young horse. He was imported by a good friend of mine and purchased by one of my students who has remained one of my closest friends over the fourteen years since we first met. After years as a show horse and a variety of medical problems he was on the brink of giving up altogether. This once vibrant, outgoing and lovely gelding had become sullen, recalcitrant and generally miserable in the two years since he had been donated to the riding program. As summer vacation began, Presto and I went to work. Having known his training and work program for ten years, I knew what Presto was capable of. This gave me a lot of confidence as I knew that a very well-trained horse was somewhere in there. I vowed to spend more time listening to him which helped me recognize his anxiety about being ridden alone without another horse in sight. Despite the beautiful weather outside he seemed more focused and less anxious when we worked indoors. I was feeling a little anxious because I was very out-of-shape. It was a great excuse to take things slowly. It didn’t take long to realize that he had simply gotten away from his basic training. Since I believe that a correct basic design of position for the rider is paramount to the horse being able to perform the requested maneuver I made sure that I was sitting in the center of the saddle and in balance. How can you find your center of balance? Imagine if you could divide yourself in half (left side and right side and front to back) where those two places meet is your center of balance. Once you find it, then practice keeping your center of balance quiet at the walk, during a turn and during the transition from halt to walk and walk to halt. You should start to see your horse become more willing, stay straight during the transitions and improve consistency simply by improving your center of balance. Presto was still only traveling on a temporary straight line and I found myself fighting the urge to micromanage him with the reins. The solution was correcting my leg first at the walk. I was using an alternating leg, but without purpose and certainly not always in rhythm with the walk. How can you do this? First, allow your lower leg to rest softly against your horse’s sides. Then using your lower leg, feel when your horse’s side shifts from the left to the right and notice how it will shift back from the right to the left. This is easier to feel on some horses than others, so if you don’t feel it right away, do not get discouraged. You will feel it and be that much better for it. Once you find that movement allow your lower leg to follow the movement. When your horse’s side moves from the left to the right, allow your lower left leg to follow the movement and your lower right leg to relax. Then allow your right lower leg to follow the movement back to the left lower leg (which is relaxed). Back and forth until you have committed the movement to muscle memory. If you apply both legs with equal pressure, you are directing your horse to travel in a straight line. Back that up with a quiet center of balance and your horse will always have the opportunity to travel straight, and you don’t have to overuse the reins. It’s amazing how simple things become when you allow your horse to travel in a straight line. All too often I hear riders claim that a horse is really crooked or falls in through the turns. The majority of the time this is a result of the rider leaning in or sitting crooked. Wonder why your horse is missing a lead change? More than likely it is because the horse isn't straight. Once I became more consistent Presto started to become more consistent. By correcting my lower leg usage first at the walk, I improved my timing which allowed for Presto to relax. This allowed him time to respond to my aids and improve his connection from his back end to his front end. In addition to all of those positive things, I was beginning to feel more secure in the tack. This allowed me to relax and for Presto to start to trust me. Once I earned his trust, he began to try harder for me. This was the start of something that will last, this was the start of my system. Next up, You Can’t Go In a Straight Line Forever, What to Do When You Want to Turn.
8 Comments
Carrie
12/3/2015 09:47:23 am
I love how much I have learned from you because, guess what? These are two things that I always start my riders with - without proper balance and without an encouraging yet supportive leg you can't get a whole lot done. Can't wait to keep reading!!
Reply
Anna
12/3/2015 10:47:11 am
So often I hear your voice in my head when I ride, I'm thrilled to be reading it and reminded of all the wonderful things you have taught me!
Reply
Geoff
12/3/2015 12:43:15 pm
"Geoff, just slightly pull back and say whoa..." Complete stop from Presto. Geoff's nuts in his stomach and the end of a lesson.
Reply
Kim
12/3/2015 02:07:28 pm
I love this! These are all things I learned at the very beginning of riding, but often go to the back of my brain when I start doing something more challenging or difficult. What a great reminder that going back to basics can fix 99.99% of all of your problems! Also, I just love Presto too. Can't wait to read more.
Reply
Med Long
12/3/2015 03:42:41 pm
brilliant!
Reply
Good Ideas. I so much appreciate your efforts the way you construct each sentences. Very informative and resourceful these will be good to share to everyone. Btw. want to share some ideas too about the blog I was read before from www.horses-haarlem-oil.com I read like what you posted here. Anyway, I am so happy that I became here more content/articles to post. God bless!
Reply
10/13/2022 09:06:48 am
Serious nice modern history magazine at. Too ever you and result season in.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Megan Taylor
Horses were my first true love and two bay horses stand out as having a significant impact on my life. As a student, rider, owner, trainer and coach I have had the opportunity to experience horses from every side. These experiences have shaped my training system for riders and horses that creates a positive working relationship between both. Archives
August 2018
Categories |