Sometimes I love looking back, and think about all the types of horses I have had the fortune of meeting in the last 8 years after starting Bridle & Ride. And think of the very large array of riders that have crossed my path.
What once started as mere curiousity from my part, grew into a passion. And I admit a small obsession.
The love of horses has been a part of me from a very young age… So I too travelled the rocky, winding road to where I am now.
It has hit me many times how the older I get, (ok I’m not ancient yet people, but just mature) the more I can put thing in perspective and have respect for every different kind of rider, and the place they are on their road down the horsey-journey…
Does this mean I agree with everything? No! But it does mean I respect the fact some people just need to experience more before they can wrap their heads around why certain things perhaps are of lesser importance when riding, and others are the centre of basic equitation.
Yes, I was one of those youngsters hobbling across the field on a table-top-backed pony, halter with rope tied to it as look-a-like-reins, kicking my heels in and clenching the manes with a pray to not get thrown of by the spicy po-pony who really just wanted to eat grass and be left alone… And moving was clearly a short sprint at the speed of light with a short stop and swift turn with a downward swooping head… yep, the best way to get rid of the human on it’s back … then after he could get back to said grass-chomping.
The times I thumped on the ground, rolled over and chased that darned po-pony around the field… I couldn’t even begin to count.
And how we could fall ! Never breaking anything… bruises didn’t hurt much, and I can’t remember getting out of bed the next day feeling like I had been run over by a train… Nooooo, that delightful feeling came much later, when in my teens.
Yep, I didn’t sit still at that age, had a basic to no coordination at that age, didn’t even know what those hands and legs were doing… and if I was sitting straight or not? Nooo frigging idea either! Staying on was (to be honest) the largest achievement possible… But that changed.
Yes, later we got a rock-hard saddle to sit on, stirrup leather twisted around the stirrup for the short legs. Flap, flapping to get the pony moving.
The hard-hat or cap looked far too big for the head… and even though it only had a silly elastic strap that had no-chance-in-hell of keeping it on my head if I were to get catapulted off… I had one on never the less.
At that age, you look up (literally) to the big horses and riders… and everyone seems to be doing a TOP job. You enjoy looking at every ride !
Watch how they ride, how they react, and like a good little copy-cat… you try to use the same techniques you have seen done by others.
Not abnormal as we always want to be like the riders you look up to, right?
But I have noticed… the older I am becoming, the smaller and smaller the group of riders is becoming I enjoy seeing.
Now it has switched to no longer looking up to those who are better (I mean, ride higher level)
But I look up to those who do it RIGHT, in the RIGHT way.
But what is that exactly, RIGHT?
For every rider it has a different meaning. For me it has nothing to do with the level you ride… or the ’sport’ you do with your horse. But it is all about how you react and respect the horse. … And riding for the love of the horse and the feeling of being a team.
I guess that’s the reason why the pillars of my work are always … First and foremost I look for something comfy for the horse. Therefor they will relax more easily and of course react better… Making it automatically a nicer feeling for the rider.
Second pillar make sure there is an improvement in the use of the body. That tells me even more than the horses obvious reaction.
And lastly… Throughout the proces I always want the horse to have a nice experience when I visit them. So they are happy to see me coming again if need be !
For every type of rider you have to adapt yourself and try to put yourself in their situation.
Try to look further than just the problem at hand, and look at the bigger picture. For some it needs to be a 2 step plan and for other you can do that in one big jump. IT all depends on so many pieces of the puzzle.
The wonder of helping our horses and riders and seeing the change happen in front of your eyes is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.
But the back side of the medal is of course… in some cases you just can’t solve it, because the problem is not the bit or the bridle. In that case we can just give the horse as much comfort as possible…
For a rider it is very complicated to always be true to themselves. The equestrian world is a hard one in many aspects and the internet has made it far more complex.
But let me come to an end of my little day-dream by thinking back of the po-pony filled days of hobbling around. Jumping 20cm fences and thinking you were a hot-shot pro-jumper. Those were the days !
