I have been a riding teacher for nearly thirty years, lecturing and teaching here in the UK and internationally, as well as writing for most of our national equestrian magazines. I have long been a campaigner for teaching people a 'Kinder Way to Ride', and although I am well known, so that people think that I am somehow above teaching beginners and novice riders, nothing could be further from the truth. Beginners are on the most important rung of the ladder, where the foundations are laid, and like a house, if they are not laid correctly at the very start, underpinning them later is much more difficult altogether.
Learning to ride can seem a daunting task, because unlike learning to drive a car or ride a bike, you are in charge of a live, large animal, with a very distinct mind of it's own! This is the message that I would like to stress from the very beginning. Don't forget that very fact, that the horse is a living creature, with feelings. He was not created for the purpose of carrying a rider on his back, and so it is necessary that we as riders are aware of our actions, and what he is feeling as a result of them. So often the horse is punished for being stubborn, or 'misbehaving' in some way or another.
'we are often expected to learn to
ride on horses that have had their
sensitivity completely obliterated...'
Very often his so called 'misbehaviour' or resistance is his only way of communicating to us that we are doing something to him that he finds uncomfortable, or even downright painful. Unlike a dog, he cannot yelp or cry out in pain, so he has to try to tell us in the only way he knows how, and for his 'disobedience' is then further punished. Is it any wonder that so many horses end up in the slaughterhouse as being 'unrideable'? If riders were educated in the proper way right from day one, then I can guarantee that there would be many fewer so-called 'difficult' horses.
Sadly, in this country, we are often expected to learn to ride on horses that have had their sensitivity completely obliterated by years of bad riding, that you have to kick repeatedly to make them even move, and pull on the reins to stop or turn. No horse was born like this.
Try this - place the heels of your hands on your own sides and give them a good thump, several times, and I mean a good thump (!) , with a similar force that you would use to ask a lazy riding school horse to go forwards. Now do it again and see how your own body responds. You will feel your ribcage tense right up, and your stomach suck in, more often then not, you will feel your back stiffen up too. The horse feels the same, and all of this makes it difficult for him to use his body correctly to propel himself forwards. In time, he just simply switches off to the discomfort, and allows himself to be kicked, resigned to his fate.
If you can borrow a snaffle bit with a pair of reins attached, try this experiment to see what the horse feels when you pull on the reins to stop or turn. Roll up your sleeve, and place the bit around your forearm. Now raise the forearm vertically, and get a friend to take up the pair of reins. Get your friend to pull back gently on the reins- you will have to resist slightly to prevent your arm from being pulled forward. Now get the friend to pull harder, then harder still, finally sawing on the reins from left to right, as you will often see riders doing to get the horse to lower his head.
'always try to put yourself
in the horse's place'
I have never shown this to any 'victim' yet that didn't yell for mercy after about 10 to 15 seconds. Quickly remove the bit and see the white ring that has formed around your arm where the blood has drained out - and this is only after seconds - think how the horse must feel after an hour or more of being ridden with a strong tension on the reins. The horse's mouth is far more sensitive then your arm. He has many nerve endings in the part of the mouth where the bit lies and acts, and in time, all of these become destroyed by harsh handling of the reins, so that the horse becomes 'hard-mouthed' and insensitive.
Therefore, always try to put yourself in the horse's place. If you do not think that you would like what you are being asked to do to the horse, if instead, it were done to you, be brave enough to stand up to your instructor and question. I am sure that most people who want to learn to ride, do so firstly because they love horses. I am equally sure that they do not want to hurt them.
Having said this, we have got to be sufficiently firm with the horse, so that he knows who is his leader, just as he would in a herd situation. The herd leader would keep him in line with a good sharp nip and flattened ears, so there are times when we must discipline the horse if he does not respond to a gentler aid. I do not like to see the horse kicked in the ribs, ever, for the reasons stated earlier in this article. However, a sharp tap with a long dressage whip, applied just behind the girth, if he doesn't respond to your leg aid, is infinitely preferable to a dunt in the ribs. He soon learns to go forward when the sharp tap is applied smartly after the leg aid if he doesn't react to the leg alone. Kicking the horse along just makes him dull, and totally unresponsive.
There are times when it is necessary to be tough with a horse, but never rough - there is a big difference.
In an ideal world, all beginners would be started off on my Equisimulator machine, on a correctly designed saddle, and then put on the lunge (a long rein which is generally about 21-24 feet in length, which the horse circles around so that the instructor has control of the horse, and the rider can think about his or her riding) on a very well schooled horse. This is sadly rarely the case.
If enough beginners and novice riders start to voice their dissent, then things will have to improve. Don't be afraid to speak up! I am well known for being outspoken in the horse world, and I am still alive!
Find
out more details about Enlightened Equitation, seatbone savers,
saddles, equisimulators and training courses on www.enlightenedequitation.com
Comments
If you have a specific tip, experience or comment relevant to this article please post a comment below. We are unable to answer individual questions through the comments system. The New Rider Message Board is a better place to post specific questions.
Julia Newman6th Apr 01
I am so pleased to read your comments! I started to learn to ride late - at about 25 - and had not realised that I would feel uncomfortable with what I was being taught. I learned to ride on horses that had been mistreated - their mouths were numb and I was constantly told to 'leg on'. I had a number of nasty experiences where I had no control and I totally lost my confidence, despite loving horses, I couldn't ride. I felt bereft.
I eventually found a yard and teacher who I respected and it took a long time for me to regain some confidence. I still class myself as a nervous novice but know that I have the temperament to be a really thoughtful rider.
I am now considering starting to ride again as I miss it so much. Will visit this site regularly.
Many thanks
Carolyn Ryan19th Apr 01
I have read and recommended Enlightened Equitation and find it and Sylvia Loch's new book a refreshing and overdue wake-up call to the traditional horse world. I too have been told by respected riders and trainers to jam my leg on which I have always hated and never been able to achieve and at the same time remain soft through the rest of my body. I now follow the classical principles and my own intuition. People say I have an easy, cooperative horse - I wonder why?
Miriel Dorsey21st Apr 01
Hi,I am 54 years old and just started riding 7 months ago, I am learning saddleseat and would like to know if Elightened Equitation would be a good book for a saddleseat rider. thank you ! Miriel
Judith Smart2nd Jun 01
Saddleseat query from Mirie.
Saddleseat is very different from Classical Riding, but the principles of being in balance apply to all riding. I have a Morgan horse and I was getting very confused about saddleseat/dressage, etc., etc. A Morgan owner from Devon told me that they had lessons from Heather on their Morgan, and when they wanted to show him in saddleseat all they did was alter their riding position and hey presto - he did that too, very successfully.
dippa1st Jul 01
I know that this is not the right area - but thankyou for the wonderful seatsaver! It has made such a huge difference to the way I ride and it has helped with my flapping lower leg (because i am not trying to keep my seat still) It's a god send and I am sure my horse is just as grateful that at last I sit still and am able to give clear aids. Thanks.
Salma15th Jul 01
Do I have to be a certain weight to ride a horse? I liked your tips but it never mentioned about weight. I would like to know since I am on the heavy side...
louisewatson25th Jul 01
I went through a bad patch when learning to ride at riding schools. As an animal lover, I have so much compassion and respect for animals of all kinds that it really upset me and played on my mind that "experts" (as I believed they were) were "making" me kick, whip, be harsh etc, I couldnt live with my self doing this, I used to come home from lessons crying. I thought the only answer was to give up, although I really didnt want to, so I stopped lessons at riding schools and now share with an experienced owner who teaches me classical riding, I have Heathers book and it's great, I have been taught that I dont need to be cruel, but sometimes have to be firm, (like you would be with a child I suppose) now I can sleep at night again as I am doing now what I know to be the right way.
The advantage I had is that because of the type of person I am, and being that bit older, I question everything, and only except the answer if I understand and believe in it, unfortunately many new/young riders are not so confident in their own morals and therefore look upon these "experts" as their guidance, so if they are told to whip, kick, pull, shout, bully etc they think its right. sorry to go on but I feel so strongly about this.
Katie_8529th Jul 01
To Salma about weight. I think it really spends on the horse and what he/she can carry. A horse with more bone can carry a heavier rider. Search for weight on the message boards and you will find a few threads about it. :)
Sue15th Sep 01
ok. I'm confused. I've heard it both ways. Example. If I want to turn left do I put pressure with my left leg? Or do I put pressure with my right? I hear people say one one thing.Then another will say the opposite. Can you tell me the right way?
Scout23rd Sep 01
As far as my limited information is, if you put the pressure around the girth, the horse moves away from the pressure, and therefore the horse moves its front end. If you put the pressure back the horse moves his back end away from the pressure. Is this right? Niagara Falls, ON
Heather1st Oct 01
HI Folks,
Many thanks for the kind comments. If you have any queries, do visit my Enlightened Equitation forum on the Message Board. I don't often look at the Kinder Way to Ride pages, but check into the message board as often as time allows- not nearly as much as I woudl like lately, as I am just doing the second video-aaaaaaargh!! Rather have my teeth pulled than do this wretched editing!
All the best,
Heather
Kelly16th Oct 01
Hi
I am 23 years old and have just started to learn to ride again after having a few years off after a bad fall. I have been riding know for a few months and have just started to ride a different horse. I am finding it very hard not to be rough as such with him as he just sems not to listen to me. I am a very nervous rider and think that this may not be helping the situation. How can I gain my confidenece and my horse's??
Sally24th Oct 01
Have also started riding again at 26 after a ten year break and have become quite nervous. I really want to get some confidence back and enjoy riding but am having problems finding a riding school in Nottingham. The two stables I have tried have both been registered stables, however, lessons at both of them involved being shouted at to kick, kick, kick!! a bored horse to get him to walk which I really do not believe in, I also had all of my lessons with very small children who cried for Mummy for most of the hour. Please please please can anybody recommend me a stable, I really want to get back into the saddle with some like minded people.
Sharon Plastow29th Oct 01
My new instructor recommended Enlightened Equitation, I was looking to order it when I found this site. I noticed, my new instructor uses these methods, she say,s gently squeeze leg for direction, along with a slight additional contact with the inside rein and hey presto, I can steer well, with control, the horse is happy and so am I. All those times, being told kick, I just wanted to scream. I now have half loan of a very gentle, horse and now I know I won't ruin her, she has been very well schooled and is very sensitive. I intend to keep it that way!!
bradley5th Nov 01
Hi
I think that this section of the web site is the most important.
I volunteer at a disabled riding center (RDA) and ride myself. I will be competing for the first time on sun 11 nov
The kinder way to ride has told me many thing and they are.................
1) to give and take not just take as your horse could gradually turn sour and resent being worked
2) I am a very keen dressage enthusiast and everyone knows that outlines are important in BHS prelims so I read through this section and spoke to my instructor and she has now agreed to work with me so that we can get a great outline without sawing at the horse's mouth
thankyou
Paul21st Dec 01
I have found this site very interesting as I am new to riding (I rode when I was 19, but felt that I wasn't taught properly, so I have asked to be treated as a complete novice). It's much harder to learn properly, but more rewarding. I would like to be able to find information that someone like me can digest when not actually in the saddle. For example, how does one take up more rein without actually stopping the horse, and what is an appropriate amount of tension? I'm very eager to learn and would like to do some dressage in the future. Also, just when I think I've got something sussed, I get it wrong again - very frustrating as I don't want to hurt the horse and I am very critical of myself.
Elizabeth Salmon27th Dec 01
I entirely agree what you say, Heather, about riding in general and learning to ride. I'm 50 years old and started riding at the age of 10. The stables were owned by an excavalary man and run by a senior instructor. He did not allow anyone to kick or pull excessively at the reins or saw the horse's mouth. But I have ridden at many stables where the staff (yes, AIs and Is) teach that to get your horse to move, kick to stop your horse, pull the reins. I have a 7 year old Exmoor pony whom I've had from a 6 month old foal. He's never been kicked in the ribs or yanked in the mouth. He goes from a gentle squeeze and stops when you say 'whoa'. If I did kick him, he'd probably buck me off and quite rightly so.
Haley16th Feb 02
I am 13 and confused. I'm sensitive and dislike kicking the horses I ride but I have taken from the only English riding teacher in my area for about two years. I ride an older horse most of the time. She normally obeys my cues fine but she occasionally stops or refuses to increase her pace. My instuctor tells me to kick then use the crop if she still refuses. If she really 'acts up' I'm supposed to yell at her and kick her. The thing is that it doesn't happen often. My instructor says that horses have low sensitivity in that area. Which way is it and what I'm I supposed to do? I'm not very out spoken and I love my riding teacher and lesson horse.
Michelle3rd Jul 02
Hi Everybody,
It's so good to read your comments as I too have am in a similar situation. I just started learning again after falling off 35 years ago and giving myself concussion and am finding it so hard to get through the fear i have of being on a horse that bolts and you can't stop. The riding school horse that i learn on is wonderful and your also in a arena etc. but as I am a single mother can only learn once a fortnight it's very slow going and it seems to be impossible to find a quiet horse to practice on between times! I so much want to conquer this fear as I love horses but the memories are very hard to quelch!
Susan23rd Jul 02
Hello, especially to Michelle,
I too am starting to ride again at 37 after falling off 20 years ago, when the horses bolted. I had concussion and didn't ride for years. I have been riding once in a while at a local stables and then only at walk and trot. Then I stopped because my nerve went again. The owner is very kind and lets me go and see the horses each weekend. But I would feel frustrated because I would see tiny little children going out for a ride on the ponies and then would see them returning safe and sound. I thought to myself why can't I do that? But I was afraid that something would go wrong and the horses would bolt.
Then when I was browsing on the internet I typed in "overcome fear of horse riding" and came up with a web site called E-stable (not meaning to be disloyal to this wonderful site). They went through the reasons why people are afraid and suggested relaxation and other exercises that should help people. (I think that really they were talking about nervousness before a horse show, but I decided to give the suggestions a try anyway) I also decided that this was my life and I could dither around for ever putting off riding and feel annoyed with myself, so I booked a private ride for last Saturday. I was nervous, but practiced the relaxation and positive self talk and went anyway. We went out for a hack and the instructor's horse was spooky - shying at drains and paper bags. After a while I realised that my pony wasn't taking any notice of her at all, so calmed myself. We got back to the stables without anyone falling off or any horses rushing away and I had a nice time. I felt pleased with myself for my accomplishment. It has been said that to help overcome fear, ride a "safe" horse/pony to build confidence back and I think that is good advice. There are horses/ponies in stables, who go about quietly and aren't bothered by nutty companions. I am sure that I will be afraid for some time to come, but I will keep trying.
Tim K10th Sep 02
This is the best site I have seen so far. Heather cuts through the complicated and unhelpful explanations we see too often, with a clear and practical approach.
Congratulations and keep up the good work !
Peg Mills24th Oct 02
Thank you!! I am a beginning rider at 55 years old. Two of my sisters have rode for years and I always wanted to learn. My daughter bought a colt 6 months old and I have helped to raise him. He is now 3 and returned from the trainer in May. I got on him and decided I could do this. She just recently bought a quarter horse, who is a very good riding horse but I feel that he has been mistreated and sometimes gets very nervous that he cannot be tied up. Last weekend we went on a trail ride and because he acted up while I was grooming him I got very nervous. Went anyway, but rode our trainer's mare who had just been taken away from her colt, needless to say she picked up on fear and after 2 miles I got off and walked her back. I want to ride more than anything and am struggling to overcome this fear. I am very thankful to have found your site and will come back often. If anyone has any suggestions please email me. Thanks again and sorry for going on so long. xtenngal@mindspring.com
Anne11th Dec 02
I have been riding for almost 3 years. I'm from Holland and I'm 15 year's old. I was looking for something for school. I found this site and it changed my way of riding. Thank you
Heather26th Dec 02
HI All and many thanks again for your kind comments.
I completely forget about this comment/question section on NR, so I do apologise for my lack of replies. My assistant Sue Carnell had just drawn my attention to it again.
I get so many emails each week, and it is hard to find time to answer all of them, but I do try. Hence, my time spent on forums etc is limited, but if any of you have questions, do go to the Enlightened Equitation forum on the message board, where I try to answer as many questions as I can.
Hope everyone has a Happy and under current international circumstances, Peaceful New Year.
Heather
val14th Jan 03
Hi, I'm wishing to begin riding again after many years. My problem is that I am terribly allergic to horses! My GP is a homeopath and has given me some horse dander tablets and I am about to find out if they work as my daughter is having her first lesson today. It is very hard to find information on horse allergies and how to cope with them. Does anyone have the same problems - allergic rhinitis and asthma? If so any hints on how to cope would be appreciated.
Many thanks Val.
chris19th Jan 03
Hi Val,
I was wondering the same thing, I took our dog to training classes and came home every time with my allergys at full bloom. I wondered if I would be the same with horses. Since you have a homeopath, you may not like taking regular pharmaceuticals, but I wondered if claratin or somthing would help. I will have to try that myself.
Rebekah28th Feb 03
I'd just like to say thank you for standing up for the horses! We need more people like you who really care about the horses instead of just wanting to get a lot of fame for themselves.
Thanks for the advice on thinking about how the horse feels. Even if I can't try your suggestion with the bit it's something good to remember.
Thanks again!
Rebekah
leigh jackson28th Mar 03
Hi Val
this is my first time visiting this site. Very interested in your allergy problem of 14th Jan 03. Having owned and worked with horses some 30+ years, and having been medically diagnosed as alergic to Hay, straw, horse hair to name a few!!! I started having a course of injections to de-sensitise me, but was unhappy about the possibility of anaphalactic shock, so I went to a Kinesiologist (jane Thurnell-Reed a complementary therapy) some 15 years ago. The results were very pleasing. A course of treatment over about 3 months and I am still enjoying the benefits. If interested in a practitioner in your area try the following address. Association for SYstemic Kinesiology
19 Westfield Lane, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN37 5NE Tel No:01424 753375
Good Luck,
