Comments on: Balance Your Lesson Horse

By: TheRidingInstructor

TheRidingInstructor — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 23:06:30 +0000

In reply to Roger Hanington. Roger, I certainly agree with you about the regression. I'm afraid that we see some sort of mix with roots before Caprilli as opposed to just seeing people who misunderstood. And your voice crying in the wilderness has stimulated me to deeper thought on more than one occasion.And need I remind you that you have a mare who has a most considerate rider? Barbara

By: Roger Hanington

Roger Hanington — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 13:59:58 +0000

Catherine Hunter echoes my thoughts. I have seen a regression over the last 40 or 50 years towards an earlier way of riding. It is difficult to learn a system from books without a knowledgeable instructor but I an confident that I succeeded in acquiring Caprilli’s method. (With some reading guidance from Barbara/Chamberlin I might say). I have tried to influence others but find that I am a voice crying in the wilderness.

By: TheRidingInstructor

TheRidingInstructor — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 02:47:22 +0000

In reply to Catherine Hunter. Hi Catherine, Thanks for your great comment and encouragement. I believe forward riding is super for most horses and it provides a great way to enjoy riding. You might enjoy some of the discussion at USHorsemanship.com too. Let us know when your book comes out! Thanks for reading The Riding Instructor. Barbara

By: Catherine Hunter

Catherine Hunter — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 01:23:12 +0000

Bravo! Bravo! I am so delighted to see people understanding horses’ balance and movement again. I was blessed to grow up on Littauer’s principles (my mother was a a student of Clayton Bailey – one of Littauer’s students.) Consequently I was fox hunting at age 8 and jumping 4’9″ at age 10.

I began studying Forward Riding and Littauer in the early 1960’s. As riding shifted from cavalry, fox hunting and cross-country to the show rings, I watched our riding change. Instructors lost connection to the old wisdom of a secure seat and non-interfering way of riding. I saw martingales and harsh bits become more and more popular as riders became more and more insecure and jumps became lower and lower. Cross-country riding became a thing of the past and people were afraid to ride their out-of-control horses outside of a ring.

The worst of it was watching the horses suffer. since the late 1970’s I’ve seen a tremendous increase in soreness and lameness problem we never saw as I was growing up.

I commend you for this wonderful post! keep up the good work! For so many years as I was trying to teach Forward Riding, I felt like a lone voice in the wilderness. I believe if we work together, we can bring horses and riders back from the frustration so many are experiencing to being able to enjoy each other again.

What if we held a conference to bring together like minded instructors and riders? We could share information, explore how to bring some of this old wisdom back into today’s equestrian world and discover ways the old wisdom applies in modern riding. I would be happy to host such a wonderful event, but would need some help to organize. Anyone interested?

By: TheRidingInstructor

TheRidingInstructor — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:27:05 +0000

In reply to Kelly Snyder. Kelly thanks for the encouragement. It sounds like you enjoy your horses and riding! Let me know when Catherine Hunter's book is out. I'd like to take a look. Barbara

By: Kelly Snyder

Kelly Snyder — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:39:46 +0000

Love It!!!! I’m 40 years old and was blessed to have a riding instructor who taught Littauer… my 11 year old daughter doesn’t know how to ride any other way. All my horses can be safely ridden on the buckle and with voice commands, even outside the arena and on hills, which living in the mountains of Western NC, there are a lot of! This riding instructor, Catherine Hunter,actually has a book coming out soon called, ‘Divine Riding’. So glad to know there are other instructors out there still teaching this stuff… you and instructors like you are hard to come by

By: TheRidingInstructor

TheRidingInstructor — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 02:22:38 +0000

In reply to Bob Wood. Dear Bob, Thank you so much. I really appreciate your encouragement. Barbara

By: TheRidingInstructor

TheRidingInstructor — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 02:20:37 +0000

In reply to Roger Hanington. Dear Roger, Thank you so much for your kind comment. It made my day! Barbara

By: Bob Wood

Bob Wood — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:37:25 +0000

Fantastic piece. Incredibly through. Should be required reading for every backyard trainer who hangs out a shingle and gives lessons. Here in America we do not have the equivalent of the British Horse Society or the German National Equestrian Federation, and as a result we have a free for all of lesson barns without standards. This piece is a standard. Wonderful. Thanks.

By: Roger Hanington

Roger Hanington — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 07:25:33 +0000

Excellent stuff from you. Those who learn from you are very fortunate. RH