Co-dependency as a rider

Co-dependency –Though this term is most often used to describe relationships between people, it also can describe relationships between a rider and her/his mount. Codependency is being overly “helpful,” or another way of putting it is “doing someone’s work for them.” I think this is what we often do, as riders. Here’s how: instead of expecting the horse to ante up and step under his body in order to gain the balance to do a movement, we use all our muscles, our core strength, our arms, our legs, to “help” him balance. This results in a horse that can’t do it on its own. I am reminded of the Native American saying . .  . something like, “If you do something for someone that they can do themselves, you make them weak.” Ponder that!