walking beside
Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photo

Do you sometimes wonder if what you are doing with the horse is beneficial to him? Are you occasionally unsure of how well your riding/training program is going?

One of the surest ways to know if you are  being helpful to your horse (with your riding) is to listen to your horse. If you know how to interpret his signs and communications, all your questions will essentially be answered, especially in terms of how well your ride is going.

Are you following your horse's movement?

Are you asking for/allowing enough impulsion?

Do you "commit" your body to the forward motion you're asking for?

Is the horse learning to/allowed to stretch over the topline so he can more effectively use his musculature to carry you?

These questions (and more) can be answered by correctly reading the horse's responses to your requests. Although many of these signs can be seen from the ground or during groundwork, the advantage of these horsey "yes answers" is that they can be identified while you ride. Here are some ways to know if you are on the right track:

- the horse gives an emphatic snort.

- the horse licks and chews through the movement.

- the horse is calmer at the end of the ride than he was at the beginning.

- the horse's topline looks fuller, even just moments after the ride.

- the horse's stride becomes longer, bouncier and more cadenced.

- the horse bends deeper with less rein aid.

- movements come easier after a few repetitions.

- the horse reaches higher/wider/longer with the hind end.

- the eyes get soft.

- the horse's expression is calm.

- the horse's ears fall (of sometimes flop) gently to the side unless he is "listening" to your aids, at which point the ear will momentarily come back to you.




- the horse softens his poll/jaw upon contact.

- transitions come easily.

- bends and turns are softly negotiated.

- he can stay straighter in his body while moving on or off the rail.

- the horse engages his hind end quickly and easily without tensing or bracing through the additional energy.

- the back becomes softer, especially in the trot.

- the tail lifts slightly during movement.

- the hind legs track up or overttrack.

- the horse's overall body outline rounds rather than hollows.

There must be many other ways to know how your riding or ground work is going. Please add your tips in the comment section below.

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.

Click here to read more and to join one of the most complete programs on the Internet!

Horse Listening

I don't believe in putting my work behind a paywall. But there are expenses in every venture. If you really liked this article, consider tipping us! Your tip will help me keep producing more riding TIPS (pun!) with free access to everyone. With thanks for reading!

Horse Listening The Book
Click to learn more.

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

From the first book in the Horse Listening Collection: Horse Listening, The 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.