There is no such thing.  

As you become a better rider, you begin to run into obstacles that were previously unnoticeable. Invariably, there comes a time when the simple becomes complicated. Without warning, riding becomes more than just the various gaits and transitions, more than a turn with the hands. You read and study and watch and discover that there is so much more to each gait, more to each turn, and more to the joys of riding.

The original walk that once felt adequate is no longer satisfying. That wonderful canter is now not quite balanced enough. You discover nerve endings where there were none before, and you are inspired to reach for new heights thanks to energizing "feels" emanating from an enthusiastic horse, confirming more than ever that you are on the right path.

The joy that went along with the simplicity of riding might be temporarily gone. You approach days of confusion, questions, and ultimately, frustration. You wonder why there seems to be so many details, so many little nuances that change sometimes on an even daily basis. And you begin to wonder:

Why is riding so difficult?

The quick and easy answer is that riding horses is about combining many and varied details into one - nothing can be achieved in isolation.

Everything matters:

- the mood of the horse

- the weather

- the horses around you

- the regularity of the the exercise the horse gets

- the type of feed

- the riding environment

But there is more! 

Photo Credit: C.C.

Aside from the environmental factors, riding is an especially difficult sport because of the balancing requirements inherent to moving through space on a living, breathing animal. Charles de Kunffy says it so well in his book, The Athletic Development of the Dressage Horse (1992):

The partnership between horse and rider is difficult to achieve and even more ambitious to make beneficial to both. Horse and rider posses the two most unlikely anatomies to be harmoniously united for the purpose of progressing effortlessly through space. The horse has a narrow, precariously balanced, horizontal structure, much like a pipeline. This structure has narrowly set, weak underpinning, the legs, bridged by a weak back. There, almost at its weakest point, the most unlikely candidate for partnership, the vertically pipelike human, wishes to intercept at a 90-degree angle. Both are creatures of precarious balance, even when left alone to cope with the ground. In riding, we wish to harmonize our balance with the horse's for common progress through space. (p.2)

Obviously, there have been thousands upon thousands of "mutually beneficial" partnerships in the past and in the present; apparently, the human body can in fact become united with that of the 4-legged horse that travels so relatively effortlessly over the ground. The trick is to learn how to become harmonious - how much to give, how much to take, and when to accept what is being offered to you.

So many questions!

You must learn to differentiate between too much, too little and just enough; between too early, too late and just in time; between resisting, energizing and being plainly passive. When is the horse going too quickly, too slowly, too enthusiastically, too lazily? What do you do in each case? How do you combine all your aids to communicate the right message at the right time? How do you not only refrain from interfering with your horse, but even learn to improve your horse to become better than his original state?

What is the answer?

There is no easy answer. The most obvious consideration is to seek out a credible instructor well versed in not only in all things 'horse', but also in instructional techniques and experience. There is no replacement for an 'eye on the ground' - no blog post, no (however well written) book, and no video - although such media do play a role in the over-all education of a rider. The person on the ground is the one who translates what the rider is doing now into what the rider can do in the future.




The other task, however difficult, is to try, try, try and try again. Pack it in one day, and start all over again tomorrow. Learning to change muscle memory and developing a blueprint takes time, dedication and repetition. Each time you change the 'rules' on your horse, be ready for a step backward before a new step can be reached. There is no other way.

Be patient - with yourself and your horse, and find joy in the pure accomplishment of learning from your horse; focus more on the journey rather than the goal. As Mr. de Kunffy writes so eloquently, "Riding is, therefore, an ongoing, never-ending, challenging process. That aspect makes riding so intelligent and significant an effort. One merely strives, one never arrives." (Ibid, p. 4)

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the new 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.

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Horse Listening

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Horse Listening The Book
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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

From the first book:
"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.
Riding gives us the place to just be.
Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.
But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."
And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.
This book is geared toward the rider:
- the rider's motivations
- the essential skills for the rider
- some specific strategies
- solutions to common problems
- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience
Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!
Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!
Available as an eBook or paperback.