Riding is Fun!

Sometimes we forget because we are goal-oriented and hard-working. But, riding is fun! Remember that your horse, as well as you, needs a walk in the woods – or a cross country gallop, if you are capable of surviving – to make the “fun” come out! Your horse is just like you. He needs a break from the grind and the same old muscles being asked to work. Try to find a hilly pasture or trail with some diverse scenery for your spring show preparation. Start with a walk, but if your horse is fresh, a trot is actually easier to handle, because you won’t be on a loose rein and your leg will be on. That will make you less vulnerable to surprise flights by pheasants, quail and deer. When your horse sees that you like to go forward, even when there are scary things in the world, he gets more confident. So, you’re really training him for the dressage ring, even on the trail. It’s called, “submission.”