Horses are happiest when…
They clearly understand what we want from them.
– Ty Brazeal
I am not an equine communicator or body language expert, however what I have noticed as a horse person and a bio-mechanics enthusiast is that the art of horse riding is in the simplest terms all about effective communication between the horse and the rider.
An experienced rider and a novice rider can ride the same horse and have totally different outcomes. The main difference is the experienced rider has better communication skills when compared to the novice rider. The experienced rider can communicate clearly with correct timing.
Often, we think we are giving clear signals; however, we may not notice our legs or heels are moving, or hands bumping, or weight imbalanced, or upper body is behind or in front of the horses centre of gravity, or how often you look at your hands. We think we are using the correct aids, when in fact it is like having a whispered conversation at a music concert – you may hear the odd word, but then must make up the rest of the sentence!
Spending time off the horse to correct your own postural imbalances and to improve your body awareness is important if you wish to improve your communication with your horse. A soft rider is a rider who is balanced, supple, stable, and aware not only of their own body, but also of their horses’ body without having to think about it. Yes, it takes time, there are always improvements to be made, however I am sure a happy horse is worth the effort.
