I believe there is no problem with what any friend described as laying across a horse and petting it. In fact, I do this a lot myself and consider it an excellent idea before throwing a leg over and riding. But riding a horse bareback and directing it at a time when it is completely unsure and worried about the idiot on its back, seems unnecessary and maybe even a bad idea in some instances.
The Timing Of When You Are Ready
Soft Feel or Softness?
Separation Anxiety - A Measure of Our Relationship
Separation anxiety is not a problem that needs fixing. It’s the relationship that needs fixing. It’s the trust and confidence in being with us that needs fixing. Any approach that does not include building trust and confidence in us and eventually in the horse itself is a bandaid, not a solution. Separation anxiety is an important metric we can use to gauge our relationship.
Does A Horse Need A Job?
Two Ways to Achieve Focus
In my book, The Essence of Good Horsemanship the first major section discusses the importance of a horse’s focus and how to achieve it and maintain it. That’s because focus is perhaps the most important requirement even before the teaching can begin. If a horse is not paying attention, we trainers are doing little more than talking to ourselves.