Rider/horse training..was--I made a decision

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

>It's that old truth about the joy being the journey. 

That is the greatest mental concept that I can possible think of...and one
I try to live my life to!  It's a prominent bumper sticker on my van!!  

>But in all
>honesty, I am saddened that so many people do not even appear to *want* to
>learn or to improve their training and riding skills. Some really do seem to
>think that if they can manage to hoist themselves into the saddle and remain
>upright most of the day until they cross the finish line, they have
>accomplished much. No matter that they bounce around on the poor horse like
>a sack of potatoes. (poor horse). It is a testament to the strength and
>patience of the horse that they manage to remain healthy and sound, for the
>most part, and some of these riders even manage to come up with a "best
>condition" award now and then. Amazing! Imagine what these horses could
>accomplish if only their owners would learn to ride.


Having come from the dressage area to the endurance area, the lack of
riding skills amongst many of the endurance riders was extremely evident.
I am amazed at the number of riders I see slip into a chair seat with their
stirrups too long, their saddles too far forward, their cues often very
wrong or totally absent...and their riding foundation from the Kick and
Jerk School of Riding.  Riding a lot of miles will certainly help you
acclimate to the movements of the horse, but it can very often be very much
out of balance and non-communicative.  If you are using *your* body
incorrectly, the horse will be ALSO using his body incorrectly!!  Good
riding is the only thing that will aid in the proper development of your
horses muscles...poor riding will lead to horses that lean, develop
underneck muscles instead of top-line muscles, don't come up under
themselves correctly, don't bend correctly, and so on.  

I'm equally as amazed at finding people who have ridden for several years,
have developed a certain style of riding (with lots of errors), and have
absolutely *NO* desire to improve -- riding with the "It's worked for me
for years, why should I change?" philosophy...an attitude that I don't have
much respect for.  

Sue 



"If all you can do is what you've always 
done, then all you can be is what you are right now."
                              author unknown

sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.