One horse, two very different riders

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Steorra

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I've recently started riding a horse that has been ridden almost exclusively by one person for the past 5 years. The other lady who rides her (let's call her P) has been absolutely lovely to me, and the horse is lots of fun to ride.

The thing is that P has a VERY different riding style to me, and I'm wondering whether the horse will be able to adapt enough to work the way I think is correct, without 'spoiling' her for P. P is a beautiful rider in many ways: she has a balanced seat and is very competent when the horse is being sharp (which she frequently is).

However, P's approach to the contact is very different to mine. She likes to feel a strong hold on the reins, with the horse's head definitely tucked in, and regularly rides in draw reins. I'm not passing judgement on her riding at all - she rides a difficult horse well and I'm not yet sure whether I can do any better!

BUT I come from a very different 'school of riding' - I'm always hesitant to use gadgets, and having a horse working with tension across the back and behind the vertical feels very wrong to me. I'm not vehemently anti draw reins etc but feel that they have been used to create a false outline with this horse, rather than for control or to 'show the way'. I've been working on getting the horse to stretch across her back and reach down for the contact rather than tucking her nose in to evade it, then asking her to come up into a soft novice shape.

Sooo...are we destined to clash at some point, or do you think that the horse will just adapt to being ridden by someone else? Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you deal with it? Please help!
 
the horse should adapt to both of you riding. everyone does everything different but it doesnt mean to say that it is wrong. we have horses in work that are regulary ridden and schooled by several different people and they still go well for everyone and win in the ring. I wouldnt worry about it too much
 
this problem arises quite often for us when new livery horses arrive and myself and the grooms begin riding the horses, often in different manor to what they are used to.

I would say continue what you are doing and see what happens. It may be that the owner rides her in this style due to a slight confidence thing as to what she feels the mare maybe capable of if she is difficult.

In experience I have found the worst thing is when people make comments to the owner in regard to the horses way of going with different riders. The horse obviously belongs to P, so I would say try not to "help" the owner in how she rides the horse, and if she asks you what you are doing differently try to be positive!

As for the horse, she should cope so I dont think you should give that side too much thought!
 
To be honest I dont think it is your place to try and reschool the horse, if it myself and my horse in this postion id be very annoyed at you and give the choice you either ride my way or not atall.

this said.. maybe talk to the owner about your way of riding and what you would like to achiecve, maybe ask her to watch you ride. it could be she is open to ideas and would be very happy to work with you.

my 1st responce is not ment to be harsh just my opinion.:)
 
Should not be a problem if anything may actually improve the horse. My horse evades carrying himself if he can get you to carry him, but will go in a lovely outline when you make it clear he can't cheat. Most of the time he goes fab with just with gentle reminding.

However I will use draw reins when he goes through sharp gobby phases, snatching and ripping my reins out of my hands (this is not overstated he can tear skin off your fingers). I prefer to use draw reins and keep him in a simple copper roller rather than start using harsh bits. He will also go through occasional stuffy phases where he tries to go behind the tack in which case we massively increase the long and low work pushing him forward. I therefore do not see a problem doing both, in a way it is a good all round education.
 
Smac and Mrogers - thank you for sharing your experiences. It's reassuring to hear that horses can adapt well to different styles of riding.

I wouldn't dream of telling P how she should be riding, and I don't want to change the way the horse goes for her. I'm hoping that the horse will be able to go correctly in my opinion when I ride her, and correctly in P's opinion when she rides.

Jhoward - don't worry about sounding harsh, the reason I brought this up is because I'm not sure whether i'm being reasonable or not.

To clarify, the horse does not belong to P. We have a loan agreement with a mostly absent owner: costs, days, and responsibilty for day-to-day management are split evenly between us. As the newbie I'm happy to be the junior partner in the arrangement. Howver, I do have some dearly held maxims about riding and training that I don't want to impose on anyone else but won't just drop either.

Thank you for reading my waffle, all thoughts welcome :)
 
my own mare used to adapt very easily between me not so correct happy hacker and rider who competed her at BE events and was always in the top 5 for the dressage so don't worry to much.
 
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