What are 'the basics' in your opinion?

[Polar Bear9]

That when it goes wrong, it is NEVER the horses fault. It was drummed into me as a child that problems are most likely rider/carer error (or potentially medical)

Yes, there are cases where previous management/ inborn tendencies/ other factors play a role but I see far to many people now who just blame the horse for their own inadequacys and don't bother to try and work out the problem. These are the people you see beating a horse which is clearly unhappy jumping over large fences or blaming their pony when they stride a fence wrong and have it down.

 

[windand rain]

what each individual is like when happy and healthy and to recognised the fact that they are not. Biggest bug bear for me is the number of people who don't understand that their horse is sick and in some cases could be fatally so.
So for me recognising good health and understand the means on how to keep them that way.
which of course includes feeding, weight, tack fitting, rugging and working.

 

[GoldenHours]

Interesting thread! I've just been emailed details of this course and posted it in new riders. https://www.coursera.org/course/thehorsecourse It's a free, flexible online course.
Might not be totally relevant to this country but it's a start for those who need it.