These thoughts and observations are presented in no particular order and are offered so that readers can reflect upon them and form their own thoughts on the subject matter...
Have you ever been frustrated when trying to have a conversation with someone who did not speak the same language as you did or tried to converse with someone in their language using only a few words of that language that you learned a long time ago?
Riding is not supposed to be a ‘fighting’ activity between horse and rider, but many times it is or becomes one. Riding is supposed to be an activity of cooperation and tact, but, in most cases, it is not. It is well to remember that the horse is an independent, living, emotional, decision-making, caring being with species-specific behaviors and needs....
What we all are trying to make, I think and hope, is a more balanced, obedient, and willing horse and also to affect him psychologically to where he is more willing to take instruction and follow directions or, at least, be “willing to allow himself to be trained”...
In the movie The WIZARD of OZ, when instructed by the Fairy Princess.”… To follow the yellow brick road”, Dorothy asked “... but where do I begin?” The Fairy Princess replied: “It is always best when beginning to begin at the beginning.” And so it is with the education of the horse.
The FIRST thing you need, if the horse is to be your student, is: HIS ATTENTION (first, last, and always)...
OBSERVE, REFLECT, AND COMPARE, MAKE THE RIGHT THING EASY AND THE WRONG THINGS DIFFICULT...
ALWAYS STOP FIRST BEFORE YOU TURN (do not make rounded turns), STOP STRAIGHT...
Think about your back being connected to the reins while maintaining your upper body erect in the shape of a “D” rather than a “C” with your Ischia bones centered over the 14th/15th thoracic vertebrae...
FOREMOST, YOU MUST GET AND HOLD THE HORSE’S ATTENTION. IF IT WANDERS YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY GET IT BACK, BECAUSE WHERE THE HORSE LOOKS IS WHERE HIS MIND IS AND HE WANTS TO HAVE HIS FEET CATCH UP TO HIS MIND...