If you were to teach as a career, what would you teach?

Riding Coach

"Keep your head up and watch where you are going." I demonstrate the proper position, hoping he will follow. "Good. Your horse will go where you are looking, because your body naturally leans where you want to go, and so your horse will adjust to follow."

I give my mare, Missy, a gentle nudge and she plods forward at a lazy walk. "Keep your hands in front of your saddle horn. You can steer from there, but most of your cues will come from your weight, legs, and voice. That's why we're riding bareback, so you can feel your horse shift as you do."

The young man I'm teaching, Evan, follows suit, but he leans too far forward, coaxing his horse to pick up pace and pass me.

"Now, with Pleasure, you need to keep your gate calm, collected. You're showing the judge that you are in complete control of your horse. Western Pleasure is supposed to be flowing, easy, gentle. You and your horse are one."

He nods and leans back, as I've taught him. But he leans too far and his horse stops. I love that his horse is picking up on the cues he's giving him immediately. It's a sign that he's teachable and willing to listen to the cues.

"Do you know what happened there?" I ask as I catch up to where Evan and his horse stands.

"No, not exactly. I leaned back and he stopped."

"Correct. Because that's the cue you gave him. You leaned back and rounded your back to keep balance, thus indicating you wanted him to stop." I motion toward his horse in the stopped position. "That was very good on both your parts. The key to slowing your horse, is to stay in upright, yet relaxed position. Your horse will feel if you're tense, because your body will naturally tighten, thus alerting the horse that it needs to be on guard. You see, being a prey animal, horses use every cue from you to sense danger in their surroundings. That's why you must always be calm and relaxed."

He rubs his head. I know I've told him all this before, but a little refresher doesn't hurt.

"Let's try again. This time I will just watch." I move Missy to the center of the arena and watch as Evan does a few circles. He's sitting up straight, relaxed, and his gelding has responded accordingly. He's at a slow walk, but still too fast for my liking. We'll work on that later, for now, posture.

"Keep your shoulders back. Your left one is moving forward. Heels down, toes in, which I know is hard without stirrups, but it will strengthen your legs."

He adjusts his body, looking much better.

"Excellent. Let's pick it up to a trot."

He does a wonderful job at transitioning into the next gate and I applaud him. His posture is still great, but he's bouncing in his seat more than I'd like.

"Go ahead and feel your horse under you. Instead of fighting against his movements, go with them, even if they feel uncomfortable at first. Your muscles will be sore tomorrow, because we're building new ones with these new movements, but they will help you keep your balance and enable you to flow with your horse."

He rounds his back a touch and allows his body to flow with his horse's stride. At first I can see the pain on his face. The trot is the hardest gate to have a smooth ride with, but if he masters this, he will be able to master any other.

After a few more circles around the arena, I ask him to reverse and lope. He does a wonderful job, and his bottom is staying in rhythm with the horse. It's a beautiful thing, seeing horse and rider in symmetry.

"Go ahead and slow him down some. His natural lope is much faster than a pleasure gallop."

Evan adjusts his reins and seat, leaning back, and his horse begins to break into a trot. But Evan urges him on, getting him back into a lope. It takes a few more rounds, but he eventually gets his horse to a slow, easy gallop. His horse's head is low and his gate reflects his ease.

"Let's stop and have you come to the center."

Evan brings his horse up next to mine. "How did I do?"

"Very well. I think with some more practice, you'll be running circles around me."

"I already am." He counters.

I laugh. "Almost. Let's work on your flying lead changes next. I believe it will be a good change without the saddle. Maybe he will feel your cues and transition from one lead to the next easier."

"Sounds good."

"Go ahead and walk him for a bit first, maybe practice some side-passing or tracking to let his breathing get back to even. I don't want him too tired and unable to concentrate on his lead changes."

Evan side passes away from me. He's showing off now.

I pretend to ignore him, but I'm quite impressed. He's been working hard. It shows.
His horse is amazing at the technical things like side passing, spinning, and even sliding stops. In fact, for being only a three year old, his flying lead changes are beautiful. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the ones teaching me someday. It's a wonderful thing, watching the student surpass the teacher, and I look forward to that day.