Why do we apply pressure from our legs to encourage a horse to go forward? Why don’t we use some other aid? Why don’t we tap a horse on the wither or pull on its mane to signal forward or more forward?
One of the things I have heard coming from the mouths of other trainers, instructors, and clinicians is, “I learned it from the horse,” or “Everything I know was taught to me by the horse.”
The reason why we have been able to work and exploit horses for our benefit over millennia is that they evolved to be highly trainable and compliant. We don’t ride grizzly bears, and we don’t plough fields with giraffes for good reason.
Some people believe that to make a horse safe to ride, they need to get the “freshness” out through exercise. This is not true. So-called “freshness” is the result of a lack of focus and anxiety.
Waiting has always been a challenge for me. I think those early years of learning to be effective also taught me that horses were meant to be on my schedule, not me on theirs.
