what’s your story?

What's Your Story?

Once upon a time, there was a woman lucky enough to own and ride horses. Her favourite sport was dressage, but she faced a recurring problem. Sometimes her horses would become distracted, spook, or become uneasy in parts of the arena. Intriguingly, when she got off and her friend took the reins, these issues seemed to vanish as if by magic.

This phenomenon puzzled the woman. Technically, she was lighter and the more skilled rider, keenly aware of each nuance in the horse’s movement, always working on improving its posture and straightness. Yet, the only variable was the rider.

She pondered, "What is it that my friend does differently?”

Her initial thought was that perhaps her friend was simply braver. But when her friend rode, the horses never really did anything that needed them to be brave!

It took a long time to unravel the mystery. The woman realised two critical things:

First, her approach while riding was intensely focused on the horse's every action. She was hyper-aware of how the horse moved, bent, and reacted to its surroundings. In her quest to perfect these aspects, she was constantly adjusting – the horse’s pace, its bend, and trying to fix any worry it had in the environment. Her friend, on the other hand, adopted a more relaxed approach, focusing broadly on the path they were taking and the overall ride, without the urge to correct every minor issue.

Second, a deeper self-evaluation revealed a surprising truth about her riding technique. Despite her experience, her seat was not as independent as she had believed. Riding without using the reins for support made her feel unstable. Her friend could do this, but she couldn't. This dependence was subtle but significant; she had been unknowingly using the horse's mouth for balance, which contributed to the horse's discomfort and anxiety.

This revelation was eye-opening. Her incessant adjustments and reliance on the reins for balance had been overwhelming the horses, leading to their nervous and reactive behaviour. They were responding to a barrage of signals and corrections. This is why they were worse some days and not others. A slight change in the weather or something else they had to deal with would tip them over the edge, and they would struggle to cope. When horses can't cope and become overwhelmed, they can become hyper-vigilant and reactive to the environment.

Determined to change, the woman shifted her focus while riding. Instead of fixating on constant corrections, she began to look ahead, concentrating on her path and giving her horse clear guidance to follow. She became aware of her need to teach the horse, to ensure the horse was confident with the basics before adding on to complexity. She also devoted herself to improving her seat, learning to ride and balance without depending on the reins.

The conflicts that once plagued their rides vanished, no longer necessitating her friend's intervention.

This was but the beginning of the woman's journey as she continued to learn, develop new skills, and grow in her understanding of horses. But she always held a special gratitude for the lesson that reshaped her approach – the realisation of her own role in influencing her horses' behaviour.