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HORSELOGS.COM - Feature Article from Lindsay Grice...
Feature Article from Lindsay Grice, August 2005

Q. I have a 12 year old niece who is an intermediate rider and I would like her to be able to take lessons on my horse (which I show in amateur events) and possibly work toward showing him in some novice classes this year herself. My trainer doesn't like the idea, claiming it will "mess him up" for me. Could it really make that much difference?

A. It's a great thing that you are willing to share your horse with your niece. Spending time together at the barn and the shows is a great way to build your relationship as you work towards a goal. The character qualities young people can develop in the activity of riding will make this opportunity a gift you can give to her and her family. Giving a gift however always costs the giver something. Your trainer has a point in having a concern that by riding your horse your niece may take something away from his training and your own performance. As long as you understand what's happening from your horse's point of view, when a novice rides your horse, you have the information to make your decision. Every time someone works with a horse, they are either making a withdrawal or a deposit to the horse's training, similar to a bank account. Training, in simple terms, is really a language of yes and no. For example, I'll ask the horse "Move your hip this way," " Yield to the bit on this side", "Lengthen your stride." Depending on his response, I will give him either a "yes" (freedom) or a "no" (resistance) Knowing the appropriate timing and intensity of the yes and no is something that comes with experience. A novice rider might use too harsh a cue and surprise the horse, or so slight a cue that it goes unheeded. An unheeded cue that doesn't get reinforced by a stronger cue can soon become a bad or even dangerous habit. For instance, when a horse balks in response to his rider's cue to go forward and it is not smartly sent forward, it can turn into a habit of rearing. When a horse leaks his hip to the outside in response to the rider's request for a canter departure, it needs to be contained by the rider's outside leg or it can be the root of picking up the wrong lead, kicking out or bucking. A novice rider might not notice when a horse loses rhythm in the canter, "bulges" out toward the barn, or hollows his back. Suddenly the horse realizes that there is an escape route that never occurred to him before! An inexperienced rider is in the process of learning to keep her hands and legs steady and working independently of one another. This makes her language "chattery" as she attempts to communicate with the horse and he will respond either by becoming oblivious to the rider, or by over reacting. Consistent repetition (saying "yes" and "no" in the same way every time) is a vital key in training and maintaining the training of a horse. A novice rider is unable to deliver that consistency and it can be confusing to a horse.

Now that you know the possible negatives of having your niece ride your horse, take a look at the big picture and ask yourself with regard to your horse hobby - "Why am I doing this anyway?" If your main purpose is to win an award or a title and your goals are very specific, you need to cut out anything that might hinder that goal. In such a case maybe you could tell your niece that for this season, she can stick to learning on a school horse. I know of some amateur competitors who have gone to the extreme of buying a practise horse to put their miles on in order to leave their good show horse exclusively to their trainer so that he performs practically on "auto pilot." However if, like many riders, the process of learning is just as important as the result, and you value sharing this experience with your niece, your trainer will have to work on a plan to keep putting training deposits back into your horse's account. If your horse is older and more experienced, he will tend to be more tolerant of mistakes and the responsiveness should return pretty quickly as soon as an experienced rider gets on and reminds him of the boundaries. If your horse is more green and impressionable, I would recommend that as soon as you see him pushing any limits with your niece, you or your trainer get on to nip this in the bud in order to maintain his sharpness.

Q. How can I achieve that floaty, extended trot that I see some horses do in Hunter Under Saddle classes? My horse seems to trot faster and often breaks into a canter. Could this be because she's just not naturally long strided enough?

A. In order for a horse to lengthen, rather than quicken his stride he needs to understand a few things first. He must know how to go forward promptly and obediently in response to his rider squeezing with both legs He must be able to move his head, neck, shoulders and hip laterally , yielding to the rider's cues. He must also be calm, with a soft and relaxed back. A horse that is fresh or edgy is too tense to give you a long, swinging trot. Keep in mind that your horse is going to trot to the tempo of your posting rather than you posting to the tempo of his trot. Keep counting rhythmically and slowly like a metronome and squeeze the horse forward with your legs in the sitting phase of your posting trot. When you feel him "squirt" forward in response to your squeeze, lower your heel to give him a reward for a few strides before you ask again. Nagging a horse by squeezing every stride with your legs will only desensitize him. Your horse will lengthen his frame - let him reach and fill up the frame without letting your reins go slack ( a common mistake). You will need to maintain some contact in order to keep him straight and maintain the rhythm.
Who Is
Lindsay Grice? lgrice.com
Lindsay Grice is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association's Professional Horseman Association and an Equine Canada Certified Level 2 Coach. She teaches horsemanship clinics in the United States and Canada and writes articles for several equine publications. She has made appearances on television and radio, speaking about horse related issues.

Lindsay has often been Ontario's top ranked Jr. Hunter Under Saddle rider, and in recent years has ridden several horses to AQHA's national high point year end status. Lindsay has a reputation for successfully training clients horses for new events - including Western Riding, Horsemanship, Equitation and classes over fences. She strives to create thinking horseman of her students by clearly communicating the how's and why's of riding.