The Choices We Make When We Ride

How much does your horse understand about your intentions? Horses are remarkably perceptive, responding to our energy, emotions and the subtle signals we communicate, sometimes without even realising it ourselves. They learn what to expect from us, recognise our consistency and develop an understanding of what we're asking them to do.

Thinking about intention opens up an interesting perspective on the choices we make when we ride. What does our horse understand about our plans? How do they experience the things we're asking them to do? And how can our decisions contribute to a partnership built on trust, patience, fairness and the pleasure of spending time together?

Making Choices Our Horses Can Appreciate

Take an exercise such as leg yield. We understand the movement we're hoping to achieve, the aids we're using and the benefits of developing our horse's suppleness, balance and coordination. Our horse experiences the exercise rather differently, responding to our requests, discovering how to organise their body and learning what earns our appreciation.

Horses recognise praise and encouragement, and the shared sense that things are going well. They feel when a movement becomes easier and more comfortable and may even offer the exercise when they think it's what we're looking for. They appreciate our amusement and enjoyment too, and when a rider responds to a misunderstanding with patience, calmly resets and asks a clearer question, horses will usually be happy to try again.

The choices we make about how we introduce an exercise, how much we ask for and when we recognise a good effort contribute to our horse's confidence and enjoyment of learning. Patience and empathy have a valuable part to play, particularly when our horse is working something out for themselves.

What Does Intention Feel Like to the Horse?

A pigeon suddenly flapping out of the hedge can be quite a surprise, especially when you react to it before your horse! Your instinctive reaction, a change in your breathing or a moment of tension can communicate more than you intended. Your horse is paying attention to you, just as you're paying attention to them.

Horses are remarkably sensitive to our behaviour and learn a great deal about what to expect from us. Our consistency, fairness and the way we respond when something unexpected happens all contribute to their experience of being ridden. They become familiar with our reactions, our expectations and the ways we communicate.

Trust develops in the everyday experiences we share. The way we respond to a mistake, recognise an effort or reassure our horse when something concerns them influences their willingness to work with us. Our intentions are expressed in these moments, sometimes more clearly than in the plans we've made for the ride.

Having a Plan and Being Willing to Change It

Our intentions influence the choices we make about our horse's education, fitness and enjoyment. Schooling, hacking, purposeful fitness work and time spent enjoying each other's company can all contribute to a longer-term plan. Knowing what we'd like to achieve gives us direction, and understanding our horse helps us decide how to approach it. Being adaptable, patient and resilient allows us to respond to what happens, appreciate progress and make thoughtful decisions about what comes next.

What Do Your Choices Tell Your Horse?

Every thoughtful decision contributes to the understanding we develop with our horses. Consistency helps them recognise what we're asking, clarity makes our intentions easier to understand, and patience allows them time to respond and learn. These are the qualities that make riding with intention so rewarding for horse and rider.

Continue thinking about the choices you make when you ride and explore what they mean for you and your horse Inside Achieve Dressage, where you will find extra guidance and time for reflection.