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I just want to let you know that I am truly excited about the responses you are giving me in this Survey! I am especially overwhelmed by your amazing stories of how you are using the information of the blog, your feedback on what I've already done and the ideas you are giving me for future blog posts and books. I'm also enjoying getting to know more about your horses, your equine industry experience, and a bit about yourselves.
I'm going to leave the survey up for a few weeks, so if you haven't had a chance to respond and would like to, there is still time.
I am aware that the survey is NOT working for iPad and iPhones in the text form sections that require a keyboard to pop up (where you can actually give me personal feedback) and I am working with the provider to see if that can be corrected. You can either complete it when you have use of a computer (or any Android device does work) or simply send me an email directly.
fwdnrnd@gmail.com
I read everything even if I don't have time to give an immediate response.
Thank you for your ideas, feedback and encouragement!
Kathy
What do you think of Horse Listening?
It's been quite a while since I've done a survey for Horse Listening readers, so I put this one together to virtually "meet you" and get to know more about you. Answer the questions that are relevant to you and skip those that are not.
The information collected by this survey is completely private and for my eyes only. Nothing will be shared with any third party. The results will not be shared with the blog readers or any other audience. It is only to serve as feedback for future planning purposes.
The survey will take 5-10 minutes of your time but the information will be invaluable for me as I plan out the articles, products and services for the coming years. Your contribution is very valuable to me.
Whether you do complete the survey or not, thank you for reading. I appreciate all your feedback, comments, likes, shares and messages.
Kathy Farrokhzad, Founder and Writer, Chief Horse Listener
Knowledge is a wonderful thing, especially when it comes to horses and riding.
There is no doubt that we need to read and watch and comment and form opinions. Thanks to the prevalence of media on the Internet, almost any type of information is now available to us. The horse industry is benefiting from this knowledge surge as much as every other industry.
There is good reason to work at knowing what you're looking at, especially in terms of horse and rider. Knowledge is a significant part of the learning process.
It does take an educated "eye" to be able to see quality - of the horse (conformation and movement), of the rider (aids and effectiveness and attitude) and of knowing that what you think you're seeing is actually what you are seeing.
But it's something else to actually do it.
Once you put some work in, you begin to realize the time and work it takes to develop yourself and your horse. Put yourself into the spotlight in any form (whether at a show, clinic, performance or even trail ride) and you'll understand the difference between knowing and doing.
It is during the doing of something when you understand that each moment of a ride is only that - a moment. Some days can be good days while others can be not so good. Sometimes everything falls together in perfect synchronicity while other times, each good step seems to require great effort.
However, it is only in the doing that we can truly learn and develop as riders and horse people. While knowledge is key, putting that knowledge into action is what horse riders live for - the struggles, mistakes, corrections and the momentary, momentous "feels" that come with achieving your goals.
The best part - while you're out in the ring busily doing, you'll amass even more learning. Because it is in doing that we really know.
So get out there and do something with your horse. And have a great time!
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If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look at the new Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.
Included in the book:
design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages
The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.
Are you a horseaholic - the kind of horse lover that makes horses a lifestyle, not just a hobby?
You know what I mean. First you were the horse lover. Then you became the horse rider. Maybe then you turned into a horse keeper - who then ended up living, breathing, smelling, being (well, especially during shedding season)horses. The official recognition of "horseaholic" requires many achievements beyond just loving horses and thinking they're cute. You have to earn your way into that elite category!
Take a look at the following questions and see how many apply to you!
1. Do you apply almost every concept to something about horses?
It can be anything and everything and doesn't need to have any resemblance to horses - but you'll find a way! Figure skating informs your understanding about core and balance - which of course, you need to be able to ride well. Music must be analyzed to decide if it would match a walk, trot or canter rhythm. "Soft eyes" can help you not only in the riding ring, but out on the road as well, as you change lanes and maneuver between vehicles.
2. Do you notice how so many ladies' tall boots are riding boot imitations?
You find it alternately pleasing and irritating that the new "tall boot" fashion boots look like riding boots. On the one hand, you love the decorative hardware and straight-bottomed heel (in case you ever want to wear that boot to actually ride). On the other hand, it displeases you that almost everybody is wearing some version of your show riding boot - and not riding at all!
3. Does your Facebook page have more horsey pics than human pics?
This is a key indicator of your horseaholic-ness. Take a small unbiased survey of your recent timeline. How many of your posts have something in them about horses or riding? Do you share hilarious horsey memes more often than not? Are your friends and otherwise non-horsey humans relegated to only the odd post and picture?
4. Without thinking about it, do you move people around with the same body language that you use to move horses around?
Hey, it works! It's easy, effective, efficient and best of all, no one knows you're doing it!
5. Do you mistakenly cluck at people (and then look away and pretend the sound came from somewhere else)?
This one can be a bit embarrassing but the real truth is that you don't do it on purpose. It's like your clucking machine just takes over and you've clucked before you even knew you were doing it.
6. Do you have to actually think about not calling "door" when entering... your office?
This one takes quite a bit of effort, especially if you are at a barn that requires you to use your voice at every entrance and exit. Once you get into the swing of it, you might find it very difficult to hold back at any doorway. Which then can lead to interesting and confused glances in your direction.
7. Have you become picky about the amount of "denier" and "fill" you want for your horse's blankets?
You have become quite the expert at identifying quality of horse blanket fabric and you know exactly how much thickness your horse needs for which weather conditions.
8. Do you pre-book tickets to the horsey event of the year - and invariably, max out on the group size limit (so some of your barn friends end up being left out)?
It happens every year but you're bound and determined to get that row of tickets no matter what happens! You'll stay up late or get up early so you can be one of the first to get on that ticket selling website.
9. Can you throw around the terms "aught", "1 degree", "contracted" and "laminae" with the best of them - and actually know what you're talking about?
There's nothing like being a lifelong learner, and knowing all about your horse's feet fits the description perfectly. No hoof, no horse, as they say - and so you learn everything there is about hoof physiology, mechanics and maintenance. Plus you know quite well that your farrier really is your horse's best friend.
10. Do you get irritated when your well-meaning non-horsey friends post a horse pic on your Timeline - the one you already saw months ago and decided NOT to share?
Well, honestly, it's because you've seen them all, as soon as they came out. So if you didn't share it, it wasn't worthy!
So how did it go? Are you a full-on horseaholic, or just a wannabe? What else can you think of that qualifies you for this esteemed horsey position? Comment below!
Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!
Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions.
This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.
I don't believe in putting my work behind a paywall. But there are expenses in every venture. If you really liked this article, consider tipping us! Your tip will help me keep producing more riding TIPS (pun!) with free access to everyone. With thanks for reading!
Click to learn more.
If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look at the new Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.
Included in the book:
design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages
The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.
By the time you reach this stage, you've had lots of experience in getting the horse to move forward to the bit and developing balance both in yourself and your horse. This stage requires a good understanding and ability to do all things from the hind end (Stage Two), and more!
The next thing you need to learn is how to get the horse to "come under" in the hind end, so that he can begin to lighten the forehand. And so, we move now into "real" collection (not the just-go-slow-and-short kind).
When you first learn to collect, it feels like you have to put a whole lot of energy into it. In fact, the first time I was coming near to getting a collected trot, I felt like I was putting everything I could into the trot - and my horse's movement felt huge! But aye, here's the rub. To collect, you need more energy, deeper hind end strides (to the point that the horse starts to "bend the joints" in the hind end) and an even lighter front end.
In fact, if you do manage to get close, you might feel your horse tilt a little - and suddenly, you're sitting into a sort-of climbing-up-airplane tilt. Not because you've moved your body in any way, but because the horse has. He has truly collected, and you are feeling the resultant weightlessness of the front end. Think "poll at the highest point" - not because the rider forced the horse to raise his head (and tighten his back), but because the hind end came under, the back rounded and the front end lifted.
If you can achieve this collection, even for a short period of time - because you will likely "fall" out of that balance until you both strengthen over lots of practice and time - you might feel a new type of contact that you haven't felt before. I've used fluffy terms before to try to describe how it feels to me.
This is what I'm terming as "Stage Three". The difference between this stage and the previous two is that the contact is incredibly light yet super "connected". It's like your horse can really read your mind, although you know it's more physical than mental. It's like you're both floating along in this togetherness that is touch, but not necessarily pressure.
I imagine that dance partners find this connection, as do pairs skaters. They are together at all times, in contact or not, but always lightly connected.
Here's the catch. This type of contact, or connection, doesn't happen from the hands. In fact, it's impossible to keep with the reins. It comes from balance. It comes from the horse's hind end. It's a position, or a posture, and it can happen because of the horse's ability to maintain that balance through his movement.
There's another catch. If you can't balance with him, you'll lose it in no time. So even if your amazing instructor can teach your horse to collect - and get the balance and connectedness - once you're on, you'll have to maintain it! Because this level of contact comes only from the kind of balance which results from your aids. Your horse can only do what you can do.
Once you get used to it, you will ride from all your aids more than from your hands - which can be termed as "on the aids". So you communicate most with your horse from your seat, your legs, your weight, even your head position - and last of all, your hands.
You can control your horse's leg stride from your seat.
You can control your horse's leg speed from your seat.
You can change your horse's gait, ask for more engagement, and encourage self-carriage from your seat and legs.
You ride "from your aids". This is the magical space that "self carriage" happens. Think of terms like "harmony" and "invisible aids".
To recap Stage Three:
Hind end steps under
Hind end tilts (engagement)
Front end lightens (self-carriage)
Super soft but connected "contact" - on the aids, not just on the bit
The Fluidity of the Stages
Although I've identified three stages of contact (I'm sure you can think of others or different paths to the same result), there's one more thing to keep in mind. Although I mentioned initially that you have to learn the stages in sequence, once you've learned them to a certain degree, the stages don't happen sequentially like a 1-2-3 method ride to ride.
The real-life experience is quite the opposite. The stages are there at all times, and you might fluctuate between all three in one ride. So you might start with having to take up the contact yourself, and in a matter of minutes, achieve the level of engagement that allows you to communicate through your aids.
Then you try a new movement, and it all falls apart again and you find yourself at Stage One again. Or it happens that one day, your horse feels great - and/or you came home from an inspiring clinic and are super charged to ride - and everything works at Stage Three - just for that day!
Or, maybe you and your horse can reliably work at Stage Two - over the back and on the bit - during almost the whole ride, regardless of what the actual movements are. Other times, you can get a feel of Stage Three but then you end up at Stage Two for most movements, and Stage One when you try something new.
The Stages are fluid, interconnected but not necessarily dependent on each other.
***
What's the point of identifying and discussing the three stages?
First, to identify the terms and create a conceptual framework around them.
Second, to give you an overview of where you are and where you might be heading.
Third, to let you know that we're all working on the three stages at one time or another, and that it's not a problem to be fluctuating between the three until you can consistently maintain yourself and your horse at the third stage. I think that's what we're always aiming for - the highest level of connection.
* This is the second part of a three part series. In Part I, we discussed "Take Up The Contact".Click here to read Part I.
Stage Two: "On the Bit"
Eventually, "contact" begins to take on a deeper meaning. You will find out that just shortening the reins won't help your horse a lot. The horse will tend to feel any pressure you put on the reins, and will often either brace or tense against your pull.
We've previously talked about how pulling is not the answer to achieving healthy and quality movement. The simple reason is that every time you pull, you block the horse's energy from his hind end and through his back - resulting in a shortening of the horse's stride and a reduction in his ability to use the inside hind leg for balance.
Stage Two is when you start to notice the "pull" and do something about it. Although you know you need to shorten the reins for better communication, you begin to learn that contact cannot happen if it doesn't start in the hind end. So you begin to use your legs and seat to initiate the shorter rein length. Notice that the short rein happens as a result of impulsion/engagement. First, you activate the hind end. Then you shorten the reins.
When you ask the horse to engage (come under the body deeper with the hind legs), the horse's body will round more. The horse uses his topline muscles better and suddenly, your previously shortened reins seem too long! This happens because in rounding, the horse's body length from head to tail actually becomes shorter (the top line actually gets LONGER!).
So at Stage Two, you initiate movement withyour seat and legs. The horse uses that energy to round through the body and cometo the bit. Even though you shortened the reins enough before you asked for the horse to round, it is the horse that takes the bit at this stage.
To repeat: the horse takes the bit.
You don't pull back or harder to get a result. The horse steps "forward" - to the bit. Some people call this action "seeking the bit". The only thing you do is decide on a rein length (by the way, it could be short or long - it's not the rein length that matters) and then send the horse to the bit from your seat and legs. Then you maintain balance through well-timed half-halts.
You will know this happened the first time you get it. It feels great! The "contact" is light, the horse's whole body, including the poll becomes soft, and the movement becomes bouncy bouncy - in a nice, round, trampoline-y sort of way. You will likely get a snort or two, and the horse will feel as buoyant as you do...
...even if it only lasts a few strides! 😉
You will also feel a distinct difference between the feel of the contact between this and the first stage, when you just shortened the reins. This feel is more like you're really communicating, progressing through space together. The pull feeling is replaced by a contact feeling (if that makes sense!). You're in touch but not in a heavy way. The horse feels distinctly more powerful and round. Your aids become clearer and your horse feels freer even while he responds sooner and easier.
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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book:Stepping Forward to Effective Riding
18 Reasons to Establish "Forward" Energy: It’s not exactly about just getting the horse moving faster – this is where the ideas of impulsion and then engagement become more critical.
Collection: A Beginning Exercise To Try: Your leg and seat aids combined will be morphing into something new to tell the horse: put more energy into your movement, reach deeper underneath your body, and begin to tilt your pelvis so that you can start to carry rather than push.
What To Do When Your Horse Pulls: “Pulling” is something that is absolutely under your control and something you can change if you focus on your aids and timing.
Click to learn more.
Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book:Stepping Forward to Effective Riding
Contact: The First Stage - Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography
*This is the first part of a three-part article. Parts 2 and 3 are linked below.
What do people mean when they speak of "contact"?
The topic can be either (overly) simplified or (unnecessarily) complicated. This is another one of those horse riding questions that you'll get 25 different answerswhen you ask 25 different people. Between different riding styles, techniques, horses and riders, and the fairly abstract nature of the topic, you'll find many different responses to the simple question: What is contact?
There is good reason for the ambiguity. "Contact" is one of those things that can take years to develop and understand. Then, just when you think you've finally figured it out, you'll discover something new that changes your whole perspective and adds a new dimension to your levels of understanding. Over the years, I've identified three stages of contact that I've learned and experienced. It is by no means the one conception of contact, but here is my take on it. Maybe it will help you in your development as you go through your riding experiences.
It's Developmental
Each stage builds on the last. I think that all of us go through all the stages, starting with the first one as we begin our riding careers. Then, we progress to the second and then the third over time.
The trick is that we need to go through these stages until we develop the skills to get past them. The level you are at right now isn't where you're going to be in a couple of years' time. Finding the new level takes time, practice and stepping out of your comfort zone. As always, getting educated feedback is the key.
It's worth the effort though. The further along you get, the easier and quicker it will become for you to bring a horse along - even if the horse is fairly young or uneducated.
Stage One: "Take Up" the Contact
Lots of times, instructors tell students to "take up the contact". What they mean is that the reins are too long at that moment, and you should shorten the reins enough to make the reins straight.
When you take up contact, you can begin to feel the horse's mouth. This will in turn help you to support your aids for such things as stops, turns, balance (through half-halts), transitions and much more. Although the hands are the last of the aids to be applied, they nevertheless help to confirm what the rest of the body is signalling to the horse.
This is the most basic form of contact. The main point of the "take up" is that the action is initiated by you and you control how much pressure you put on the bit. You are initiating a beginning form of communication. This would be used especially for beginner riders or young or uneducated horses. While you won't finish your "contact journey" at this stage, it is where you will likely begin.
During this stage, you will likely be learning your other aids as well. You will be working on coordinating your seat, your legs, hands and voice to mean something to the horse. You will learn to stay with the horse and not get left behind. You will also learn to become more of an active participant (rather than passive) and become comfortable with unplanned situations such as spooks, romps and just generally getting the horse to go places.
Even if you are personally at other stages of contact, you might need to come back to this stage to educate a young or inexperienced horse for the same reasons. He will learn all your basic aids and become more comfortable with your directions.
The first stage is only a beginning but it is a necessary place to start for many reasons. However, there is so much more to come!
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The thing about riding in the canter is that at some point, you have to come out of it!
At first, the most basic way you can get a horse to transition down is by pulling on the reins. Most horses are kind enough to allow their legs to change gait at some point after they feel the pull on the reins.
The problem with just pulling on the reins to change gait is that you have to actually interfere with the movement of the horse. The horse reacts physically to the pull in several ways.
First off, he can't bring the inside hind leg underneath his body freely. Then he might have to lift his head to counterbalance the lack of stride length, which results in hollowing his back. The hollowness causes tension - which radiates through the back to the hips and to the neck.
The rider will likely feel the imbalance, possible coming into imbalance herself because she has already committed to the pulling action. She'll fall forward or backward depending on the force of the imbalance. The horse will obviously be stronger than the rider, thereby bracing more in the neck and jaw in order to continue forward into the trot.
Once the trot is achieved, both rider and horse will continue in that sort of tension.
But as with all things riding, it does get better than that. At some point, most of us find a better way - one that allows the horse his full freedom of movement while also getting the gait change and maintaining balance. We learn to fine tune our aids, enough so that it looks like (and sometimes feels like) we didn't do anything and the horse was a mind reader.
Here are the aids to help you fine tune your trot-canter transitions.
1. First, develop a strong canter before the transition.
Not a fast canter - just amp up your horse's energy level just before you begin to apply your trot aids. This helps the horse reach further underneath his body with his inside hind leg (balance) so that he can support his weight from the hind end once his legs change.
2. Half-halt.
We've talked abouthow to half-haltbefore. In this case, the type of half-halt can vary depending on how strong you need to be. In my dreams, I always want to "whisper" my aids - and maybe use only the seat and minimal rein pressure. But in reality, I might need to be clearer than just a whisper. The idea is to use your aids as much as you need to, but as little as possible.
The advantage of using a half-halt as opposed to a rein pull is that there is regular release through the reins (even if it's not alet goof the reins). The horse won't feel a constant pull that he has to brace against. In fact, the inside rein might even "flutter" through the downward transition aids. Try it and see how your horse responds.
3. Trot.
At this point, your seat should be trotting. You can start posting as soon as your horse changes his legs (or sit into the trot motion).
4. Balance and go!
You'll need at least one, or maybe two or three half-halts right after the gait change. It depends on your horse's balance. If he maintains a level or uphill balance, then just one half-halt will help him stay that way. If he falls to the forehand, be there to support him until he can rebalance.
Make sure you don't fall forward. Make sure you don't get left behind! Stay strong in your core and move with the horse rather than against him.
The trot out of the canter can often be strong and powerful. In this case, don't stifle the horse's desire to move. Go with him and let him enjoy his balance and strength. This is often agreat way to developthe horse's quality of trot and use of the hind end.
Some horses come to an almost stop. This would be the moment to urge your horse into a stronger trot. Don't chase him - just encourage and see what you get.
You can practice the "go!" after the downward transition several times until you horse feels freer and more willing/able to get into that powerful post-canter trot.
As with all skills in riding, you can try this sequence several times and work on developing your aids and your horse's responses. When you've done enough, leave it and come back to it another day.
Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!
Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions.
This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.
I don't believe in putting my work behind a paywall. But there are expenses in every venture. If you really liked this article, consider tipping us! Your tip will help me keep producing more riding TIPS (pun!) with free access to everyone. With thanks for reading!
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From Horse Listening – Book 3: Horses. Riding. Life.
"Something about riding horses prompts us to work on our own mental aptitude and attitude. From the coordination of the aids to developing the elusive FEEL that comes along with riding, there are concepts in this book that will help you explore the hidden factors of riding - the ones you may not have the time to really explore while you are on the horse's back....
As the years pass by, and you become a HORSE person, you will realize that horses (and riding) don't just impact your abilities - they impact your life."
40 chapters (196 pages) take the reader through an introspective journey designed to ultimately benefit not only the rider, but the horse.
This is post is the continuation of the previous post, mainly because I felt that each goal should get equal consideration (and the post got pretty long). As I was thinking of the steps most of us go through on our riding journeys, I realized that my "top 5" goals became increasingly less concrete and more based on character development. I think at some point, a rider's attitude becomes as necessary (or more necessary) as a rider's aptitude.
We can all learn skills. The tough part is when we must get past just the skills, and more into how we develop as human beings.
5. Forward
We all need to be more "forward" in our riding. It happens to all of us - from the very basics at Training Level where we're learning a good walk/trot/canter all the way up to the most sophisticated movements. Moving forward is something we often don't recognize or find difficult to achieve.
Besides trying to maintain forward during flat work (and dressage), there's also the concept of "forward" in every riding discipline you can think of - from jumping (what happens when your horse isn't forward coming to a jump?) to reining, and anything in between - we all can inject a sense of being forward to improve our horse's way of going.
It takes two to be truly forward - you have a significant part in this game. If you have a lack of forward in your own body, your horse will feel you being left behind and become less willing to move "ahead of your leg." This reluctance can affect pretty much every riding problem you can think of.
Practice it in every aspect of your ride. Be more forward during figures or patterns. Be more forward in each gait. Keep asking for more forward during the transitions. Really, the possibilities are endless.
What area of your riding needs a little more "forward"? Be specific and commit to working on that in your upcoming rides.
4. Connection
When you find "forward" in your ride, you'll be on your way to achieving the next big riding concept: "connection". Connection falls into the top 5 of the most common goals because it really is essential to finding balance and responsiveness, but it takes you toward something that I think all riders aspire toward: harmony.
Physically, connection involves the horse stepping deep underneath the body (balance), being "forward" through impulsion (energy), allowing the energy to travel over the top line (throughness) and finishing with a light but effective communication to the hands (contact).
As your connection improves, you'll notice that your ride (and your horse) will become softer, easier to move with, more supple, and more precise. Both you and your horse will benefit.
What aspect do you need to work on over the next while to positively impact the overall feeling of connection?
3. Patience
Riding with patience means knowing how to break down the skills required for an exercise or movement. It's being able to wait that extra second longer to let your horse work through something. It's calmly giving it another try if something didn't go as planned. And conversely, riding with patience is knowing when it's ok to leave an exercise for another day.
Just as with all the other goals presented here, developing patience can be a skill in itself. It must be actually learned - by making mistakes, listening to the horse, and then changing things the next time. A patient rider is usually a kind, successful rider. It is a very valuable skill to foster and work on.
What can you add to your ride to make you a more patient rider?
2. Perseverance
Learning to ride is one thing. Over the course of a couple of years or so, you will be able to stay on the horse well enough at all gaits. You will be able to "get" the horse to do what you want most of the time, and you'll have achieved enough understanding between you and your horse to be able to enjoy most of your rides.
But then you getpast those beginning stages. When once you enjoyed the walk/trot/canter however it came, you realize that there are other goals to aspire to: balance; harmony; precision; riding forward and round, in connection. Concepts that were inexplicable come within reach and then you set on the long journey that is "horse riding."
Fine tuning your rides comes with a price. It seems like the better you get, the harder it is to make more progress. Steps become smaller and harder to reach. When once you made huge changes and realized significant improvement, now you must work on small, incremental, almost unnoticeable modifications which result in difficult-to-identify changes in your rides.
Progress can be difficult. It can challenge your confidence. It can cause you to imagine that you'll never get "there" (where ever "there" is). But you will, with perseverance and commitment.
Your most obvious guide will be your horse, who also will improve step-by-step with you.
What concrete, achievable steps can you put into place that will keep you going when things become difficult?
1. Listen-ability
(Yes, I made that word up! I guess you can call it attentiveness, compassion, consideration, carefulness, watchfulness, reflection... and probably many more.)
It takes empathy to be able to consider the horse's perspective in your training regimen. This is the epitome of "horse listening" - because it is quite true that if you listen, you really can get so much information from your horse. Of course, listening can mean that you have to pay attention so many things - from physical responses to social hierarchy to emotional signals.
Why did the horse buck?
What does he mean when he turns his head away every time you reach to put on his halter?
What is causing the horse to pin his ears the moment before he changes gait to the canter?
I think the ongoing exchange of information between horse and human is one of the key reasons we become "horse people" in the first place. This is why I think "listening" is the most important aspect of becoming a well-rounded, effective, and empathetic rider.
What can you learn today to help you understand and interpret your horse more than you already do?
So there you have it! My Top 10 Common Goals for Riders. I've seen all of these in others as they progressed on their riding journeys and I've gone through them all (and still continue to) at various stages of my own "ride".
One last observation I can share is that these goals are not necessarily "mastered" in a sequential order. Nor are they limited to one level of riding or another. All of them are as relevant to novice riders as intermediate or advanced riders. I might find myself working on Goal #9 while I continue to develop Goals #3 and #2. While the basics are truly the basics, nothing is really written in stone. Everything is simultaneous and variable.
Which is why horses and horse riding are so valuable in our lives.
Now that I've listed my version of the top 10 goals, what are your horse and riding goals for this coming year? Share with us in the comments below.
If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look at the new Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.
Included in the book:
design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages
The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.
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