EquiTeam’s coach Liz Daniels looks at riding other horses and whether it can help to improve your riding.
Not everyone is in a position to own more than one horse, but before you switch off hear us out!
When it is going well, riding just one horse on a regular basis has some advantages. It allows us to build confidence, push and improve our riding, build a real bond, achieve, and map our progress.
But riding just one horse can be quite limiting, and when it isn’t quite going to plan it can be damaging to our confidence and self-belief.
Let’s use the example of a professional rider. They might ride five (or more) horses a day. If they have one ‘not so good ride’, and four positive rides, the rider finishes the day feeling good – taking forwards the four good rides.
As single horse owners, if we ride once and it doesn’t go to plan then it can really influence not just the rest of our day, but how we feel about getting on our horse the next time.
But it’s not just when things don’t got to plan that riding other horses, even occasionally is so useful – it’s part of a bigger educational picture.
At Pony Club Camp, where it is safe, we do ‘pony swapping’. Not for the kids to zoom around on, but as a really valuable educational tool. Even from a young age I ask them to think about what they like about their own ponies, what they think is good and what areas can be improved upon. They then swap to another pony, have a few minutes to ride them and do the same constructive appraisal.
I would LOVE to do this at our adult camps – but as adults, not everyone is completely open to the idea!
By experiencing what other horses feel like it can help you to understand what you need to work on with your own horse, what areas you need to focus on yourself and even more importantly – what you like about your own horse!
In flatwork it can also help you understand and refine the aids for movements when you are moving up a level in dressage – especially if you and your horse are learning together.
When it comes to jumping – having a lesson on a schoolmaster can be invaluable for giving you feel and confidence and I am a full supporter of finding a reputable riding school with suitable horses and coaches, and booking some lessons.
In a nutshell riding other horses develops your own feel, ability and experience levels.
Recently Lou, Liz and I went to Summerhouse Equestrian for a dressage lesson on a schoolmaster and it was brilliant. Over the years I have been lucky enough to ride thousands of horses in my roles as both a groom and a coach, and although I am not always a stylish rider, I am quite effective and have developed a strong feel… to a level.
But having recently moved up a level in dressage I am now riding movements that I ‘think’ I know what I’m asking for, but when we don’t get it right I immediately think it’s my fault, rather than asking my own horse for a bit more, something that I’m sure many people can relate to this.
On arrival I was asked what I would like to work on and I was lucky enough to ride one of Jonty Evan’s ex-advanced event horses and was put through my paces.
I came away buzzing having got the clarity I needed on a lot of lateral work. It gave me the opportunity to feel what it was like when it was good, but also what it was like when I didn’t ask properly – or prepare properly.
I was able to run through a few higher level movements, which although we won’t be doing for a while, was a brilliant opportunity to be thinking ahead to the next level.
The coach was brilliant and my take home message was I can ride but stop trying to make it look pretty and ask for more – something I have heard before on my own horses!
But for me, most importantly I came away inspired and with a deepened appreciation for my own horse, what I really like about her, a reminder of the bits we need to work on and excited about our journey together.
Although we are currently no where near at that level; her basic paces, feel, suppleness and cadence are so much ‘more’ than the lovely schoolmaster – which gives me greater confidence that by continuing to work hard we will keep progressing together. What an amazing thing to take home.
If you ever get an offer to ride other suitable horses then take the opportunity with both hands because it is one of the most useful exercises you can do.
Liz x
