What piece of horsey advice really helped you?

[Meowy Catkin]

For me it was an instructor explaining about 'setting your horse up for success'. A simple statement that really made me think about what I was doing.

 

[Pippity]

An instructor taking the time to explain how to get my pelvis properly underneath me, and showing me exercises to help. All of a sudden, my horse was lighter in the hand and more responsive. It's now the first thing I check about my position if I'm having trouble.

 

[View]

Always work with the horse you are riding right now.

 

[TheHairyOne]

Pick the people you listen to carefully.

Most people have an opinion. Doesnt mean its right, or right for now.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

If you can afford to set fire to the cash, then go buy the equine/item.

 

[meleeka]

Set yourself up for success.

 

[Patterdale]

Always aim to get off a better horse than you got on.

You don’t build confidence by scaring people/a horse.
^that one particularly. Jumping massive fences you’re not ready for, or asking the horse questions he’s not ready for/putting him in situations that make him panic, only cause more fear. Even if you do ‘win’ in the moment.

 

[Winters100]

Buy horses suitable for the rider you are, not the rider you wish to be.

 

[Lintel]

Let go of the rope.

 

[Asha]

Use a neck strap . Saved me a few times .?

 

[milliepops]

on a general note, you're always either training or untraining your horse.

one personal point, which really helped my confidence going up the levels on a non-typical competition horse, was that the people who paid 5 figures plus for their horse ought to be beating me by more than a few percent considering the natural advantage... therefore i should not feel inadequate, because we were holding our own, all things considered!

 

[Patterdale]

Buy horses suitable for the rider you are, not the rider you wish to be.

Too late ??
What about buying a horse for the rider you were ten years ago?? ????‍??‍

 

[Shay]

"Don't take it personally."

Works for so many things... the way people treat you, the well maning "advice" or the session / event / moment that didn't go as planned....

 

[Skib]

That you dont have to accept the horse as it is. You can teach it. Vital for a RS rider.

 

[oldie48]

"Every time you interact with your horse you are training it" which I am sure came from the same person that MP mentioned. It has really changed the way I handle and ride. I did go to my rc clinic yesterday and although the lesson was better than last week, it wasn't great tbh. We were doing some trot /halt transitions and I insisted the halts were square, instructor told me not to both as we weren't working on square halts, I quietly ignored her!

 

[Goldenstar]

Use a neck strap .
And the horse knows how to be a horse you are the one that has to learn .

 

[milliepops]

We were doing some trot /halt transitions and I insisted the halts were square, instructor told me not to both as we weren't working on square halts, I quietly ignored her!

Urghhhh head-desk moment there!! that one thing explains the difference that a a good trainer will make, over an average one

 

[ihatework]

Pick the people you listen to carefully.

Most people have an opinion. Doesnt mean its right, or right for now.

This is a very good and true bit of advice!

 

[Dyllymoo]

Listen to your gut.

Wish I had done this more if I'm honest. I still second guess myself a hell of a lot.

 

[dogatemysalad]

I was backing my youngster and was determined to produce a perfect horse. She was a flashy, big moving mare bred from very successful lines. I was in awe of her.
My lovely trainer said, Stop it. She's just a horse. First year of training is about fun. Make her love her job.

 

[sportsmansB]

- Every minute you spend with your horse you are contributing to their training, either positively or negatively
- Never be casual to the first 4 fences you jump in any situation
- Get off the side of the school

 

[LegOn]

Ride the horse you have on the day.

The only answer should be yes, or no but thank you!

Dont praise yourself too much give out to yourself too much!

 

[Sprat]

Stop overthinking and doing too much. I have a terrible habit of over complicating schooling. Just do less. It's helped no end, and my long suffering mare is better for it.

 

[jnb]

"Horses have no ambitions"

A lot of riders need to remember that

 

[Green Bean]

It takes a year to get to know a horse

Every horse is unique with unique sets of rules - listen, listen listen

A horse doesn't care that you aren't the rider to allow him to reach his full potential

Look up!!!

 

[BatHorse]

'where you look is where you'll end up!'

 

[MuddyMonster]

Set your horse (and you) up for success.

Give yourself permission to get off - it doesn't mean the horse has 'won'

Most recently, it was listen to your horse and not necessarily the so-called 'experts' (although there are many, many good experts, I should hasten to add). If I had a penny for everytime someone told me there was 'nothing wrong' with my horse two summers ago, when there was - it just took a lot of digging to find it. I have, not a different horse now, but the horse I always felt he could be.

 

[Baywonder]

Always be ready to learn - and never assume you know everything about horses.

 

[Carrottom]

Do what you have always done, you will get what you've always got.
This works both ways, I.e.good and bad.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Hot horses need to learn to be ridden with legs on, and lazy horses need to learn to be ridden with legs off.
This 100 times over!