Hot To Trot: Tips from the Catwalk in the Horse Riding Area

One of the things I love most about teaching is that there's always an opportunity for me to learn something new and, sometimes, to be surprised by it.

Even when working with the same horse and rider combination, each interaction is unique and subtly different.

New understandings can emerge, even when the content of the lesson is seemingly the same.

Recently, I've been working with a young rider and her new pony. The rider and i have been working together for the last four years, so we already have a good relationship.

She's struglling a little with her new ride. The pony is highly intelligent and doesn't respond to the way her young jockey is accustomed to riding.

It's a steep learning curve for both of them as they discover how to communicate with each other while being sensitive to their individual needs.

Of course, the greater responsibility lies with the rider.

Both are learning, both are adapting and both have something to bring to their new and developing relationship.

The pony has experienced enormous changes. A new home, new friends, a new owner, different surroundings and a completely new routine. That's quite a lot to deal with.

And her rider has her own learning to do.

She and i have talked about stepping up her riding skills as well as observing professional riders, who she admires and considers what she might learn from them.

I've also given her a beautiful book on the art of classical riding and associated techniques full og glossy photographs to help with understanding.

But we've also talked about seeing things from her pony's perpective.

Because developing a partnership is simply about becoming a better rider, It's about communicating in a way that has meaning for both of you and through that you can develop a special bond.

Sometimes that means changing our expectations, our approach and simply allowing time for understanding and trust to develop.

One of my talents which has been identified through Gallup is Individualisation. (Gallup is an organisation which researches human behaviour and what makes us tick. It identifies our natural talents (as opposed to learned ones) and the different ways we think, learn and approach life.

Individualisation is the ability to recognise what an individual needs in the moment and finding a way to communicate which makes sense to them.

Sometimes a different explanation or an unexpected anaology is all that is needed to encourage a fresh perspective and a different approach.

I've come to realise how naturally I use this in my teaching. And, its not just about the rider, the pony is very much part of the equation too.

A flash of inspiration had me suggest to my young rider that she lift her hips in rhythm with of the walk, as if she were a model sahaying down a catwalk and to encourage her pony forwards without using her legs.

Bingo!

An instant response! The pony went willingly forward. Mission accomplished.

And, my little rider was so happy!

Not surprisingly she loved the idea of emulating a model on the catwalk. So what had been a problem and a struggle suddenly became fun!

I know these two will grow together, developing that special bond btween them, while still having fun and discovering what they can achieve together.

Not because they need to fit a certain mould but because they're learning to understand each other.

And perhaps that's why I love teaching so much and find it rewarding.

Its about helping and witnessing two individuals discover their own way of communicating and in a way that feels good for both of them.