Green Horse: Developing Quality in Movement

When working with a green horse, progress is not always consistent. The horse will plateau as he becomes confident in performing what he has been taught. The amount of progress we expect from the horse, and his physical and mental ability to handle increased expectations for performance, will be major factors in how quickly he improves. There are times when the horse can scare himself by doing something he did not fully understand. Movement can become bigger or faster than the horse is capable of handling with his current level of training. His own power can get away from him and send him out of control. Compare it to learning how to drive a grand prix race car; an uneducated driver will not know how to handle the speed and sensitivity of the car, and will likely be out of control.

Riding a green horse should not be taken lightly. It is very easy to get beyond comfort level of both horse and rider. Patience and preparation are very important to ensure every ride is successful. Success is a relative thing and should not yet be measured by correctness or performance. Success is building confidence and encouraging the effort to perform. Improvement is inevitable with effort, support and patience.

In practical terms, when working a green horse from the ground I am preparing him for what I will ask of him later when riding in the lesson. I try not to jump too far ahead and teach maneuvers which he does not have the tools to perform successfully every time. For example, if the horse has been ridden only a few times, I am still working at the walk. Eventually I want a comfortable canter. By concentrating only on the canter and overlooking more fundamental skills,