At Ross Dhu Equestrian, we have had many customers over the years who we have helped to make both their riding experience and the horses experience and performance an enjoyable one rather than a battle of wills. The basics of riding a horse is to understand how a horse moves and what makes them relaxed, enthusiastic and eager to learn. Ross Dhu Equestrian teaches a method of riding called ‘Equido’ which is beneficial to the horse and compassionate to the well-being of these beautiful animals who can work for us because they want to, not because they have to.
More and more we find that the ‘fashionable’ method of riding today in competition dressage is causing horses to be unable to perform, due to pain caused from unnecessary force, confused messages and poor sitting positions of the horse’s rider.
One recent exampled involved a lady I’ve had the pleasure of teaching previously. She is a very competent competition dressage rider, and I knew that she had a beautiful position, well balanced and central.
She brought her wonderful horse to our yard and we went to our covered area where we could work out of the rain. As I observed him I could immediate see that he was a little sharp and switched on, so I let her walk him round to give him time to relax and us time to understand what her problems were. She explained that she was having difficulty engaging her horse in trot and that he was tense with no swing through his quarters and back.
Once both the horse and rider were relaxed and I understood her concerns, I asked her to demonstrate her riding him. Can you imagine my shock, as I watched her going round and noticed she was not sitting in her beautiful position but was leaning back, collapsing her pelvis with her knee in the knee roll and her lower leg almost touching her horse’s elbow? Her horse was hollowing his back and flexing in a “false” outline with his back legs totally disconnected from the rest of his body. I made a few minor adjustments to the lady’s position, putting her back into her original seat, moving her leg into a correct alignment and ensuring her pelvis was not driving downwards onto the horse’s back. The transformation on the horse was instantaneous. He lifted his back, engaged his quarters and powered around the arena with an absolutely fabulous extended trot. Needless to say the rider was delighted with the results.
The difference made in less than one hour to both horse and rider was astounding, he was relaxed enthusiastic, eager to move forwards with power that the rider had never felt before and she was delighted as all she had to do was sit quietly and balanced.
As riders we cannot and should not be going with the ‘in thing’ and then blame our horses for not performing or for not being cooperative. We as the riders must take responsibility to ensure we use common sense and skill that doesn’t involve pain or mistreatment of our lovely animals.
Ross Dhu Equestrian are proud to have designed and developed the ‘Equido’ training methodology based on Natural Horsemanship philosophy. Our system is regulated by LANTRA Awards (Government Run Qualification Authority).
Please feel free to call Morag on 01698 886 492 or email on contact@scottishhorsehelp.com if you would like any further information.