Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -158-still horses used for pulling things like carts and
wagons but for the most part you won't see too
many horses pulling plows anymore. Nowadays
they have been replaced by other motorized farm
equipment. For the modern horse, riding is where
humans find them the most useful.
People use horses for trail and pleasure
riding and push their abilities all the way up the
ladder through competitive sports such as racing
or jumping. All of these sports find a human
placed on the horses back.
Imagine how unnatural this is for this
animal. It is like a lion jumping on the back of a
water buffalo and saying giddy up. Humans are a
predatory animal, and a horse is a prey animal.
Everything in them says this is not right. That is
why breaking a horse to ride can be an explosive
rejection of the idea by the horse.
It takes a certain kind of person to break a
horse. I can not say I even like the term
“breaking” because it sounds so negative. When
we break something we have destroyed it.
Something that is broken has usually lost its use.
But in the case of a horse it is the way it gains its
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -159-use. It takes a very special person to do this
correctly , unfortunately that isn't always the case.
If you ever have the opportunity to watch a
horse being broken it would be a highly
educational experience. If you want to really get to
know a horse and what it goes through in a
lifetime make the effort to watch it being broken.
The experience of being broken is a snapshot of
the way a horse is viewed and treated by a human
being.
In most places a horse is more like an
object, than a living, breathing, intelligent being.
They are thought of as a possession and its value
is directly attached to the monetary dollar amount
the animal is worth. High dollar horses are
treated as more important objects to people. But
the animals monetary value has nothing to do
with the horses actual value. A horse that cost
$100.00 thinks and feels the same as a horse that
has a value of $10,000.00. To me both horses, no
matter what their price tags should be treated the
same, with respect to keeping them in a fair
humane environment that they can live healthy
well adjusted lives.
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -160-That is the human way of thinking, the
more “value” an object has the better it is cared
for. I want you to treat your horse regardless of
what you paid for it, like it is worth a million
dollars. It is funny that you can take a really high
dollar horse and treat it poorly and it will soon
look and perform no better than your average
horse. But if you take an average horse and treat
him as if you have the most expensive horse in the
world, he will start to act the part.
After the horse has the initial edge taken
off of having a human being sitting atop its back it
will go through a series of training steps to
produce a dependable animal that the average
person can ride with pleasure.
The term “green broke” is a trainers way of
saying this horse has had a human on its back and
it is on its way to being a riding horse but isn't
truly finished.
Green broke horses are not for beginners.
A green broke horse is just starting out. He still
needs to learn a lot and he needs to learn it
correctly from an experienced rider or trainer.
Some people think that the best way to get
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -161-a horse to ride is to get one from a baby, raise it,
break it, and ride it. This is more of a fantasy than
something truly attainable. Beginners need a
horse that they can learn from, an older more
seasoned horse will teach the new rider the skills
they need to further their riding ability. The most
important thing the more seasoned horse will
provide the rider with is confidence. Because a
horse that has been there and done that is far less
likely to do something that will scare the new
rider.
So lets talk about riding. Riding on a horse
can be a wonderful, relaxing experience. It is a
time of leading your horse into new areas of your
relationship. It is the perfect time to strengthen
that natural bond we have been trying to build.
Working a horse on the ground will allow
you to start the foundation but riding that horse
will help you finish the foundation. You can not
spend too much time in the saddle. Let me say
that again, you can not spend too much time
in the saddle. Every single chance you get to ride, you should take it.
Ride your horse as often as you possibly
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -162-can. Ride your friends horses. Ride your
neighbors horses. Ride every horse you possibly
can and start to feel the differences and
similarities in all of them. The more you ride, the
better you will become.
You can read a book about painting, but
reading the book doesn't make you an artist. The
same with horse back riding, it takes getting in the
saddle to develop your skills. There are thousands
of books out there about riding. There are books
to help you find your independent seat, how to
develop your balance, how to sit correctly, how to
deliver direction from the saddle, how to compete,
in shows, there are books and dvd's, and
everything in between.
I am a firm believer in reading as much as
you can about every aspect of the horse. I think
you should always feed your mind information
because you should work smarter not harder.
But I think the very best thing you can do
to build your own abilities is to get a very
comfortable horse and just try it out. What I mean
by a comfortable horse is find a horse that is on
your level. I will talk more in depth about this in
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -163-the next chapter, but you need to find a horse you
feel really comfortable with. Put that horse in an
area you feel safe in, like a round pen or a riding
arena and then I just want you to play with that
horse in every way possible.
This is how my own children have learned
to ride. I got them a good horse, who was going to
be a safe starter horse and then I just let them
have free reign with the horse. We went over the
basics of course. They were taught how to saddle a
horse, how to control a horse with reigns, how to
make the horse move forwards, backwards, left
and right. I instructed them on how to sit straight
in the saddle, and where to place their hands on
the reigns and how to pull them correctly to have
the most effect. They were also educated on safe
horse handling. And then I just let them go.
I let them learn everything they need to be
great riders by feeling it out for themselves. I sat
watching everything they were doing, I did add
my two cents worth when I felt they could use it,
but I didn't sit and criticize or dominate their
learning experience. I have seen riding instructors
rip to shreds the enthusiasm of their students.
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -164-Enthusiasm to learn something new is to
be admired. It takes a lot of courage to get up on
such a large animal. Anytime someone is brave
enough to do it, I think they have what it takes to
follow it through. I want them to learn at their
own pace and find their own success, while still
retaining that initial amazement of the animal.
My daughter still loves to ride even though
she has spent hours and hours learning about it. I
know other children that have to be made to ride
because they have been so criticized in their
techniques it has turned into work. It should
never feel like work. It should be something you
look forward too each and every time.
Get in that saddle and keep only a few
things in mind, make sure you are sitting up
straight, keep your feet in the proper position, and
then just relax and go at your own pace. Walking
around slowly and learning how it feels will adjust
your balance. You have to have balance to stay on,
if you don't you may fall off, and if you fall off
learn from the experience and don't repeat it.
After awhile just walking around will feel
comfortable, you will want to start to trot, not
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -165-because you are forced too but just because you
are progressing naturally. And all the while you
are learning, and feeling, and growing. You start
to recognize the way the horses body moves along
with yours, you find that when you are in tune
with its rhythm your ride feels smoother more
comfortable. You start to find that “groove” more
naturally, more instinctively.
Soon you start to move faster, more
naturally you can glide through the gallop. You
don't have all of those things in your head you
might have when in a traditional riding school. No
one is looming over your shoulder telling you to
do this or that. If you are riding incorrectly you
will figure it out, it will be bumpy and you will fall.
I think people have over examined riding
and made it a technical and confusing activity. I
don't think it is so complicated. It is and should
remain as natural and free flowing as possible. It
really isn't that hard. Everyone has their opinions
and techniques and I think it has been picked
apart until it has killed the intuition out of it.
It is wonderful to explore new techniques,
and try other peoples suggestions. But I stand
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -166-behind the belief that great riders are not that way
because of other peoples input. I believe they
develop a really natural and free flowing seat
because of the time they have in the saddle and
nothing else.
It is like dancing, a great dancer has a
graceful attachment to the music. The dancers
body flows with the beat. This is something that
flows from the inside out. They connect with the
music and let it flow through them and their body
moves intuitively almost instinctively in tune to
the sounds. Riding a horse should be the same. It
has too stay natural and graceful. You need to let
the horses rhythm move through you, not be
absorbed into you. It needs to come into you and
move through you in a smooth and instinctive
way. You need to move together, as one unit, one
being. No one can “tell” you how to do this. It is
something you need to learn on your own, in your
own way by riding as much as you possibly can.
Now for the person who is reading this and
saying to themselves, well that is all good for the
beginner rider but I have been riding 15 years I
want to learn something new. Well I want you to
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -167-examine your own riding skills.
Have you forgotten that feeling of sitting
on a horse for the first time? Do you remember
that awe you had for the animal in the beginning?
Has it turned more into work or sport than
pleasure? Is it more about ribbons and trophies
and one upping your rival riders? Have you
forgotten that enthusiasm you held for riding?
Are you so in tune to your horse that you feel like
their is no saddle between you, do you feel like
you are one with the horse? Do you know what
your horse is going to do before he does it?
There are few things to remember when
one wants to be a good rider. I use an acronym to
help myself remember them.
It is as follows, and you can use it too. If
you learn the following list of what is needed to be
a great rider you can do anything you want on the
back of a horse.
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -168-R.I.D.E.R
R = Relax
No matter what is going on when you go to
mount your horse you need to let it all go. Getting
on the horses back is just like being on the
ground. The horse will be picking up signals from
you and your body. If you are afraid the horse will
become afraid. Even worse he could sense your
fear and take it as weakness and not listen to you.
You need to be relaxed mentally and physically. A
body that is afraid is tense. A body that is tense
will not be free flowing, it will be bumpy and the
ride will be rough. Loosen up all the way from the
inside out. Take a deep breath and just relax.
I = Imagine
Imagine the rider you want to be and
visualize yourself riding just like that.
Visualization through your imagination will help
you to achieve whatever goal you are trying to
attain. Imagine yourself running through a field
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -169-unafraid. Imagine yourself in the winners circle.
Imagine yourself taking Grand Champion this
show season. Imagine yourself running a 16
second barrel pattern. Imagine and focus on that
mental picture. Imagine it, and you can do it.
Focus on seeing yourself doing that what you
want to do most.
D = Determination
Be determined in all that you do with your
horse. Determination is just mental focus applied
physically. Don't let anything stop you from
reaching your personal best. Be determined to be
physically fit. Be determined to put in the work to
reach your goals. Let nothing sway you from
them. If you have a bad day, wipe it off, and start
fresh tomorrow. Never let it get you down. Just
keep moving forward. You will be a stronger,
better rider because of any bad experiences. Learn
from them and keep pushing forward with pit bull
tenacity.
E = Education
Never think you know it all. No one knows
it all. Read, watch, study & try everything you can
to be a better rider. Learn new things and styles,
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -170-try them to see if they work for you. If you
normally ride Western, try riding English. Borrow
an Australian saddle and see how you like it. Go to
horse shows, watch what others are doing. Don't
be afraid to ask questions. Sign up for a clinic, or a
class for the weekend. Ride as many horses as you
can. RIDE, RIDE, RIDE. Learn about the horses
body, its health. Learn about equine nutrition,
learn as much as you can and experience as much
as you can. NEVER think you know it all. Listen
when other people offer advice and learn from
more experienced people you admire. It is nice to
work smarter, not harder. It saves a lot of
personal energy for yourself, and your horse.
There is no need to let pride force you to reinvent
the wheel so to speak in your journey to be a good
horseman. Your attitude will determine your
altitude. Open your mind and your ears, listen
respectively to anyone who will help you along the
way.
R = Responsibility
Take the responsibility of horse ownership
seriously. Understand you are responsible for the
horses physical and mental needs. You are
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -171-responsible for feeding, watering, and providing
exercise for your horse. You are responsible for
stimulating his mind and keeping him mentally
fit. You are responsible for your horses actions, so
the better behaved he is the better off you are.
Take that responsibility and stretch it out into the
world. You are responsible for being a spokes
model to the rest of the horse community. Be
responsible and set an example for others to be
proud to follow. And know you are responsible for
what you teach your horse to do. You are leaving a
hand-print on his life, he will act as you have
trained him too for years and years to come. Be
responsible and do not create problems for other
people to deal with.
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -172-
Bareback Is Best
If you really want to be a great rider consider
losing the saddle and getting back to basics. The best
way to connect with your horse and learn about how a
horses body moves is to ride bareback.
Simple exercises while performed out of the
saddle and on the bare back of a horse take on a whole
new meaning. You must learn true balance to stay on
the horse without the aid and security of the saddle
seat, horn, and stirrups.
Spend as much time as you can riding
bareback. Try to push yourself to perform all gaits
without the saddle. Feel how the horses body moves
with you. Bareback riding is a great way to adjust your
looseness. Riding rigid and stiff while bareback won't
work. You have to be loose and relaxed.
Being bareback fine tunes your balance and
also gives you a fresh perspective on the rhythm that a
horses body naturally produces when moving. It gives
you the opportunity to get into that rhythm. I suggest
ride as much as you can without the saddle to increase
your riding ability.
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -173-Chapter 8
Buying The Right Horse
Nothing you do will be more important
than purchasing the right horse if you are truly
interested in developing your horsemanship
skills. It is the single most important decision you
will be making and probably one of the most
expensive. So take some educated considerations
before you start out on this fundamental task.
And it will be a task. You need to look at a
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -174-lot of horses before settling on one so get ready for
some serious leg work, lots of driving, and
unfortunately lots of disappointment.
But before you grab the paper and start
making the phone calls lets talk about what you
need versus what you want.
We can start out by finding a breed that
suits us best, and then refine our wishes amongst
the breed. Lets look at what a breed means. The
horse was a basic animal of survival. He needed
to survive, and thus he was equipped with a body
and markings that allowed him to survive more
easily. His coat blended into his environment, his
nostrils were shaped to allow him to breath most
efficiently in his environment, and so forth. He
was built solely for survival.
Then man entered his world and we started
fooling with the genetics a bit. We started refining
the breeding to produce animals for aesthetic and
pleasure purposes. We started breeding for mass
and muscle like in the drafts we now see. We bred
for entertainment purposes and that is how we
have brought forth all the variations in the species
of the equine.
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -175-We now have spotted ones, red ones, black
ones, tall ones, little ones, shaggy ones, sleek ones
and aside from the physical appearance of the
animal, we have also bred them for temperament
and use. And our breeding programs have been so
successful you can pick out an entire breed that
best suits your needs.
That is not to say every Arabian is a certain
way, or every Quarter Horse is a certain way, but
they do have a certain quality that makes them
more apt to act, look, and behave a certain way.
We did that. We have engineered each breed to
meet a certain use. Now within that breed each
horse may have a different personality and
temperament based on its own individuality and
experiences.
Do a lot of research and find a couple
breeds that interest you most and would fit your
level of experience and own needs. Lets say you
have aspirations of becoming a barrel racer, you
would look more to the Quarter Horse than to the
Clydesdale. You are going to need a horse with a
certain physical size, shape, and ability to perform
the task at hand.
Human Equine Relationship Development
H.E.R.D -176-If you are looking for a riding horse for
pleasure riding alone, then