Developing the Basics: Step-by-Step

Just as we would never pressure a kindergarten child to jump straight into high school and expect them to be able to think critically and produce A+ essays overnight, we should never "jump steps" or rush the levels in the training of our horses.

It is vitally important to the success of the horse and rider partnership and to the harmonious physical, mental and emotional development of the horse that the horse understands each aid, each request, each exercise that he is asked to perform. It is the rider's responsibility to ensure that the horse is prepared properly and has the physical capabilities, flexibility and balance necessary to be successful before introducing a new request, the next exercise. Instead of having a set of rigid expectations based on the horse age, breed, pedigree and the rider's goals and ambition, the rider should train the horse they have in front of them: what do its muscles look like, how confident is it? What does it understand? How long does it take to warmup? What working routines work better for him? Only by knowing his horse and adapting his training to his individual needs will the rider truly be able to forge a partnership with his horse.