Redish Equine Journal

When we’re growing up, we learn a specific way to ride depending on our trainer’s discipline. She may may be a Hunter or an Eventer. She may teach Western Dressage. She has a discipline!

Many trainers, including myself until the past few months, fall into the trap of believing that their way of teaching is the “correct” way to ride. For example, dressage riders post up and down while hunt seat riders post forward to backwards. Something this subtle can change a lot in your riding.

I feel like many trainers fail to reiterate this point.
They might say, “Your hands should always be in this certain position.”
Or, “You need to lean forward 30 degrees in front of the vertical.”
Or, “Your body needs to stay on the vertical.”
Or, “Your horses head should be long and low.”
Or, “Your horses head can be at or slightly in front of the vertical.”

These are all different types of riding for different disciplines. I believe trainers should change their language to:
“You need to lean forward 30 degrees in front of the vertical because that is the correct HUNT seat that a judge is looking for,” instead of saying it’s because it is correct. It is correct — but for hunt seat riders.

I believe it’s important to understand the history of the discipline you teach and why we ride the way that we do. How much of how we ride is connected to tradition? How much of it is connected to what’s best for the horse?

When children (that includes anyone under 17) are learning how to ride, they have zero background knowledge of their form of riding until they are taught. They should understand all elements of riding in order to become the most versatile and knowledgeable rider. Knowing the why and the where did this come from is critical in becoming a strong horseman or woman.

So just remember — your trainer is correct, but their methods are correct to a certain discipline. If you don’t know your discipline or why you have to put your hands in a certain place or post a certain way — ask your trainer!