Question for Shaboom & Clyde
Dear Shaboom & Clyde,
My horse's name is Tessy, she is a sorrel QH mare. She is broke but she doesn't pick up the lope very well. I have to swat her on the buttock, and it's really hard to do that and ride at the same time. What should I do?
Megan S., 11 years old, Idaho
Dear Megan,
What a good question, because almost everyone has this situation at some time in their horsemanship journey. Getting us horses to canter or lope soft and willing, while you stay in balance in the saddle is the goal. Here are a few key things for you to ask YOURSELF first, then ask of Tessy. We have also suggested some exercises to help both of you achieve a beautiful lope: First you have to ask yourself HOW you are asking Tessy to canter. You want to set it up so that she thinks it was her idea to lope off softly, and that it may even be fun! It is easy for you humans to want the lope so badly, that you actually try too hard and get in the way of your horse. So first, prepare your body for the lope. Picture you and your horse softly cantering uphill in your minds-eye, take a deep breath, put one leg back of the girth area and the opposite leg on the rib cage at the girth. In the beginning, lift or slightly open your hand or straighten your arm from the elbow down in the direction you’d like the horse to go. Then squeeze a little bit with your legs. If Tessy doesn't follow your suggestion at this point, you have to ask her a little more firmly! Here's where your idea of swatting her on the rump was perhaps what you need to do a few times, until Tessy is convinced that cantering softly is a whole lot more fun than getting bitten on the rear! However, I would use a tool such as a dressage whip or the end of your get-down-strap to help. The idea for you is to use these tools without getting angry and without loosing the positioning of your legs, seat, and hands that you used to first ask her to canter. Use your dressage whip in the outside hand and practice a little wrist action, rather than your whole arm and body twisting to give Tessy a little swat. If you are using the end of your get-down-strap, try putting the reins in your outside hand, lifting the get-down-strap with the other as a warning to your horse that you really did ask for the canter, and then if she doesn't go, give her a little windshield wiper movement with the rope. (i.e. In front of your chest, back and forth, tapping her first on one side, then the other.) REMEMBER, it is important that each time you ask for the lope that you prepare in this step by step way. You want to get Tessy cantering off beautifully on your first ask, as you see the picture in your minds-eye. See it...Ask her...Then reinforce your request.
Here are some suggested readings: The Handbook of Riding Essentials, Francois Lemaire de Ruffieu, or go to www.tnthorsemanship.com and ask Alice about her T&T Horsemanship Student Workbook. She really knows how to help humans communicate with us horses.
Shaboom & Clyde
Reasons for Riding…from Scott Braidwood, BC Youth Editor
Riding in today's society generally falls into one or both of two categories; pleasure and/or practical. There are many reasons for pleasure/practical riding. But one should always take into consideration what effect their riding has on the horse. A horse that is trained in almost any fashion will be faithful to the rider. In any discipline, a horse will teach a rider about life. Any willing rider can become a student of their horse.
Practical riding involves riding where the horse is necessary in order to aid in the completion of a task and/or to generate income in some way. Often those who ride for practical reasons also ride for pleasure, as it is obvious that there are many alternatives to the horse that are far more economical. Those who choose to rely on their mount instead of a machine are those who realise the true value of an equine companion. But, those who choose not to respect the horse will learn the significance of a one-sided relationship.
Pleasure riding is an idea that may evolve into a way of life. People begin riding for any number of reasons. Most people find that their reasons for starting to ride are not their reasons for continuing to ride. We begin to ride to become something, and we continue to ride in order to learn.
Riding is an evolutionary process. One begins to ride for a selfish reason that usually begins with "I want." As this person continues to ride, they begin to realise that equitation requires great discipline of the mind and body. The mind is exercised and in turn, the body is toned. With the development of the mind comes a realization of the continuing process of true riding. Eagerness towards achieving that end result becomes imperative. Through the mistakes one makes in haste one learns to slow down and enjoy riding for what it is instead of what it can become. Mastery comes over time with patience and learning.
The horse does an incredible amount for us; in return we feed and shelter and groom him. But what many people do not realise is that more can be done in order to equalize this trade. In return for the permission to ride we can develop our horses properly so they can carry our weight. We work to obtain the natural state of the horse and his movement with us in the saddle. This is done to avoid damage to the physical and mental state of the horse in a method that will actually benefit his well-being. As Paul Belasik stated in Exploring Dressage Technique, "To wander around without making an effort to round the horse's back is not kind. It borders on the kind of presumption that the animal will somehow adjust (Belasik 1994)."
People often ride for themselves. Horses will ride for their people. In order to avoid a self-centred, self-induced form of confinement, one should return the favour of the horse and ride for him. A horse can lead us into an almost Zen-like state of mind. Horses share their wisdom with us if we take the time to listen. Only this will lead to a state in which a horse and his rider can mutually reach a state of true fulfilment. Without this reciprocity, only the affirmation of one's own egoism and vanity will be achieved.
Did you know?
- Most Rolex and Olympic riders were in Pony Club.
- The 1st Kentucky Derby race was May 17, 1875. There were fifteen horses that raced one-and-a-half miles and a chestnut colt named Aristide won the purse of $2,850.
