Horses Can Be Responsive to the Aids Without Being Afraid of Them
During times of stress, like the blustery March days that likely lay ahead, I often wonder about the trigger stacking that can occur when horses are afraid of the rider's aids and then the natural environment exacerbates their fear response. So many times responsiveness to aids is created through FEAR of the rider's aids. I want to ride a horse that is RESPONSIVE and UNAFRAID of me. This can become a matter of life and death when it comes to horses facing fearful environments and elements beyond our control. You see if horses are already triggered stacked because they are afraid of the leg, hand, whip etc. they are so much more likely to lack the impulse control that often keeps a positively reinforcement trained horse calm and safe in the face of things that would normally spook other horses and send them whirling and running in fear with rider's hanging on for dear life. So many times responsiveness to aids is created through fear of the rider's aids, both natural (legs and hands) and artificial (whips and spurs). I don't know about you but I would like to ride a horse with a calm mind and pleasant emotional state. I like a horse who is unafraid and also motivated to respond to my request and engaged in what we are doing. This means that the horse must be focused on what I am asking without being afraid of how I am going to ask. The picture above is an example of just that. An FEI horse who was once terrified of the aids always performed with tension and reacted to the slightest external stimulus, now enjoys his time under saddle listening, responding and performing while remaining calm and soft.
PHOTO: I just came across this pic taken in 22 mile an hour winds while we were schooling 3rd level. Tousled by the March winds, but not deterred. It is such a gift to be on a calm well-adjusted mount. This rock star is positively motivated while being calm and centered. A perfect balance for a dressage horse or any horse in my book!
P.S. The thinking equestrian may ask: But what about the tail movement in the pic? Great question! I prefer a horse to feel like it has the freedom to move his tail whenever he likes for whatever reason rather than be so intimidated and shut down that he is afraid to express himself for any reason, fly, discomfort or otherwise. This horse came with a wicked tail wringing canter transition, which has gradually faded over time. What you are seeing here maybe a remnant of that, a response too strong of an aid by the rider or simply him expressing his feeling about the saddle he is wearing as a trial. No way to know. While the tail movement is certainly exacerbated by the wind on this blustery day, it’s not something to ignore if it occurs repeatedly and not something to stress about if it is a rare occurrence. Either way, the countenance of the horse was stellar during the challenging weather and I made a mental note to watch for the tail on the next transition, but the behavior wasn’t repeated.
