TheWayForward

The way forward
It is a great experience to see a couple, horse and rider playing their arts on the field, if the two come well and "correctly" prepared for the game. Both clearly "relaxed, focused and enjoying", and due to good preparation, the task is right at hand,.....the rider helps the horse to find a good balance and the right speed in the gait and can thus "show off".
It is precisely this "preparation" that "horsemanship" is all about, but the "field" can be a ring field or a grass bank by the river,.....or a soft/firm dirt path to the mountains.
What does it take?
“Be your horse

Healthy and in good physical/mental condition
Strong enough
Sufficiently elastic and soft
Satisfied with you as a mentor and leader
Understand you and all your tips and guidance
.... know the task and the way to get there
...feels "fun"
With these points fulfilled, it gives you all the best it has to offer. Remember that your horse is proud and he likes to "show off",....as much as he can,.....but no more.
How do I get there?
When building,......house,.....athlete,.....riding horse/competition horse,..... a good foundation is first laid on which to build.
House builders all know what is meant,....environment and conditions adapted to the project, replaced with earth materials, everything compacted and adjusted "horizontally/vertically", infrastructure put in place and a strong and correct foundation built for the house.
Athletes, football/handball/basketball player, freestyler, gymnast or artistic dancer are aware of the need for a good "base", the High Jumper does not spend all the training time trying to improve some record, that would end up with injuries and....anxiety. Instead, he strengthens his body with physical exercise, he increases endurance with running and he increases elasticity and flexibility with floor exercises..........then he works with the jumping technique and.....at the tournament he improves he owns a record. His foundation is:

Be strong enough
Be sufficiently elastic and soft
Have the will, the ambition and the joy
Know your limits and ......do better.
The horseman has to consider two things,.....the rider and the horse. Both need to be well prepared in order to "maximize" their results.
Horsemanship
Horsemanship can be "varied", that is to say, people's requirements and goals are different "highly" The horse also awaits different possibilities. Good horsemanship is when man and horse feel good together, regardless of what the tasks are. Although a horse likes to brag,...he is

not addicted to it. The main thing is that the task does not cause him discomfort and that he is not tired too much,....taking into account him and his physical condition.
Horse competition is of a different nature than riding and tourism, but due to the demands made on the quality of gaits, lightness and release, precision in transitions and beauty of movements, it requires knowledge and organization. The training must be well thought out and planned.
The foundation needs constant attention and all progress needs to be well and carefully prepared. Rider and horse are in a process of progress together and should enjoy each step together.
The system
Today, the taming of most horses begins when they are still foals. The man introduces himself to this new person and on certain occasions the foal is only used to the idea that the man is friendly to them. In the upbringing, these contact processes that belong to the care of stallions foals are presented further. More and more people have realized that these care sessions, deworming, hoof trims and visits to the stable are very valuable in terms of encounters. It is essential to always treat the cub foal with respect and to take the time to make each "meeting" more valuable by considering the meetings as part of the taming and education of the foal and part of its training.
When the foal has reached the "training age" and is taken to a stable together with other more trained horses, then his actual direct education begins. The horse is taught the basics, it is shown how good company the man is, it is taught to see the man as a leader and friend,....trust and respect are created.
For some trainers, training a horse is an essential part of the process....as the young horse is put in a position where he gets to participate in the riding horse's life and thus get some idea of what is around the corner.
Riding aids
Aids can be from the rider's seat, everything the rider does with the seat the horse senses and reacts to.
A rider needs to know - Sitting vertically, Rider's heels, hip angle and shoulders form a straight vertical line Sitting semi-light Slight forward straight back around hips, Light Contact with the saddle, rider's weight on knees and stirrups. Sitting lightly The rider leans forward through the hips, back "somewhat" straight, weight all on the knees and stirrups.
Teaching aids
Horses are taught all suggestions through the same system, that is contact/pressure and then concession or pressure is removed if the horse has reacted correctly. It is said that when a horse has experienced a cue three times correctly, it has learned how to best respond to "that stimulus"
Using aids
With Seat cues, leg cues and rein cues, the rider can control where the horse is, in which direction it is going, at what gait and speed, and how it is "aligned", that is, whether it is straight or bent. Also the rider decides the mood and or the "tension/energy level" and the length of the "top line”.
On the Rein
The term “on the rein" is precisely about the mental/physical setting/position of a horse. On the rein is created when a horse is interested in and agrees to go at the speed, in the direction and in the mood that the rider expects. Then the horse walks briskly and decisively in a long stride to the rein, accepts the rein relationship and walks with medium height in a soft/arched top line/yield. The rider sits "in the movement" which is a message to the horse that he is fulfilling the rider's wishes and an encouragement to "continue"
The term "on the rein" can be used by a horse to fill in walk, trot, canter and ground-tölt /slow tölt.
Daily training of a horse
As these words are written, the month of November has just begun and the "winter season" of equestrianism has begun. Many people ponder the question: how should I organize my training this winter, what should be the focus, ....what is urgent?
In the undersigned's opinion, training throughout the year should be planned with the foundation/prerequisites at the top of the list and taking the most time. The horseman knows that if the foundation is solid and good, those "magic moments" that are used when a competition is being ridden or simply showing off are always there to work with when needed.
If the foundation is given the desired attention, that is, varied training "on the rein", it takes up approximately 70% of the time used for training. The variety can be, for example,...
Walk on the reins on riding routes, curves or...right/left/in the middle of the riding path Short leg/half halt to prepare transitions Exercises to the right and left Transitions into slow trot Transitions into basic tölt (schrölt) transitions into walk, transitions from basic tölt into slow tölt Transitions from slow tölt into basic tölt Transitions from slow tölt into intermediate tölt and back Transitions from slow trot into a left or right gallop on rein Transitions from a gallop into a slow trot Planning/routine is essential for both rider and horse due to mental balance and well- being. Organization/routine creates respect and trust and....practice makes perfect.
It tests the patience of a horseman when he realizes that the training should be based mostly on strengthening the assumptions or the foundation. It is imperative that a horseman realizes the importance of the horse's "mental" balance, or how the horse feels about life with the leader. Is a horse satisfied with its role or not. If a horse is abused, it causes anxiety and flight reactions
I repeat:
"May your horse be Healthy and in good physical/mental condition Sufficiently strong, Sufficiently supple and Comfortable with you as a mentor and leader, Understands you and all
your suggestions and guidance ....knows the task and the way to get there ...feels " fun” With these points fulfilled, he gives you all the best he has to offer. Remember that your horse is proud and he likes to "show off",....as much as he can,.....but no more.
Written on 12.11.2024 Trausti Thor