19/01/2024
Whenever we say, “Well, I was taught to________!” while debating technique with other riders, I think it is wise to remember that times change, that science and animal welfare has evolved and maybe, just maybe, the people who taught us so long ago weren’t necessarily 100% right.
I’ll also concede that maybe, just maybe, they were.
The thing we must always remember is that good people made mistakes in the old days, too. It’s just a thought. I happen to understand the conflicting emotions that arise whenever we are forced to rethink our mentors’ methods. Our loyalty to the very people who shaped us often feels under attack, should anyone question what we do, or how we were taught.
Trust me, I sift through these same emotions, every single day!
I am guessing that most of us want happy, healthy horses, working comfortably in a way that will build their wellness and longevity. The term for this is ‘biomechanically correct’ movement, which can be magical in its healing, both for horses and their people.
How we get to this place is up to each one of us. Like going to Rome, I choose to believe that there are many good roads to that place. The proof is in the pudding, or on the backs of the horses we ride. Are they happy? Are they well? Are they growing ever more beautiful and confident, with each passing year?
If not, we may be nearing a fork in the road in what we believe. I am finding that the more I know, the less I know for sure!
It’s okay to wonder if we should introduce more LOVE into our horsemanship; it’s okay to wonder if we should introduce more consistency with our RULES... aka boundaries, if that word is a more comfortable fit.
It’s healthy to wonder just how we’re going to find and adjust our balance, as together, we make this journey with The Horse.
Photo: Mike McLean.