38/ MAY 2019 THE RIDER


The Science of how Horses Think & Learn Falling Off . My approach to rebuilding rider confidence. Part 1


to measure each risk and determine when and how much to progress.


Progressing sensibly: the science of “shaping”. It’s my goal in each schooling ses-


sion to slightly stretch the rider or horse with a new skill, or “shaping” a varia- tion of the skill (faster, slower, more steps, more consistency etc.) but only as they master the step before. Admit- tedly, not appealing to thrill seekers! Nevertheless, in following this system, I find I rarely have to travel back down the staircase. Anxiety rises and riders fall when they try to skip steps. Horses don’t learn when they’re stressed or confused. Either do riders. For example, we wouldn’t move


horse, similar to a coiled spring, begins with having him yield and flex to your hand as you keep the rhythm of his legs marching with your leg and seat aids. If your horse braces against the bit, feels like a board when you ask him to give to your hands, or falls out the back door into a walk when you attempt to slow his trot, you likely haven’t established connection. Step- ping up into a canter transition(without running into it through the trot), tighter, accurate turns and collecting the canter all require a measure of packaging your horse from front to back.


It’s my goal in each schooling session to slightly stretch the rider or horse with a new skill, or “shaping” a variation of


By Lindsay Grice. Horse show judge, riding coach and specialist in equine behavior. I heard some riders joking that their barn policy is


that anyone who falls off during a lesson buys their in- structor a Coke. Cute, but does reveal an underlying as- sumption: Falling off is a necessary evil of learning to ride… but is it? Memories of my early days at the local riding school include eager young equestrians dropping like flies. “It takes seven falls to make a rider!” the teacher would assert as she brushed us off and legged us back up. Falling off hurts! It can shake a rider’s confidence


so much that many choose to abandon riding altogether. When I’m judging a show, I hate to see a competi-


tor fall off. I hate to fall off myself. I believe many of the falls I witness at horse shows could be prevented. So as a coach, I do everything I can to minimize risks and systematically layer horse and rider skills-each skill thoroughly understood before progressing.


Risk Taking The process of becoming a competent rider is like


climbing a staircase. We take a risk each time we stretch beyond the comfort zone. We step into the unknown the first time we climb aboard a new horse, try new tack, jump a bigger fence, or venture off-property to the first show. We sense the caution signal of self-preservation, and push through it. As a coach and trainer it’s my job


The Fire Horse


up to the canter until the aids and rider technique was mastered at the trot. I’d never use a new bit until I’d tested it from the ground – flexing and backing the horse until he knows the language of that bit. I wouldn’t trailer a horse on a field trip to a show or clinic until the cues are working in my home arena – every time. As an airplane’s controls are methodically tested before take off, I make sure students have an un- derstanding of the “four P’s” before we fly up to the next level.


Pace, Path, Package and Position 1. Pace is the gait, stride length and cadence of your horse. Pace control is picking the rate and having the slow and go skills to adjust your horse to match it exactly. If a rider is having trouble coordinating his hands and leg aids to sit a slow trot with a steady drumbeat, he’ll be out of control at the canter. Can you adjust the stride within the


walk and trot? Transition smoothly be- tween gaits? How are your brakes? Can you stop and rein back without resist- ance? Slow a horses legs and slow his thinking. Riders like to lope! But build- ing skills at a slower pace is ultimately faster!


2.Path. As the pilot of your horse, you’re the decision maker. Are you able to guide your horse on the exact path you choose? If horse’s body is a train, path is the track, and lateral control de- scribes a rider’s ability, through use of distinct aids, to keep each car on the


the skill (faster, slower, more steps, more consistency etc.). But stretching further only as they master the step before.


track. How can you direct your 1000 lb. horse to


the center of a jump with only “head steering” in- stalled? I see so many riders jumping before they’re ready. Most “run outs” could easily have been prevented if a rider had lateral control before starting over fences. Leg yielding, bending, turns on the forehand and haunches. Tools to eliminate “bulges” toward the gate or “ducks” into the cen- tre of the arena.


3.Package While path refers to side-to-side sup- pleness, package is my “P” term for back-to-front suppleness. Packaging, connecting or rounding a


4.Position applies the rider’s form and security on the horse. A rider who isn’t firmly anchored in the tack with independent use of her hands and legs is heading for a fall if she tries to do more than she’s ready for. The principles of cen- trifugal force and inertia from high school physics class come to life in falls off the side and over the horse’s head when riders skip im- portant steps of horsemanship!


Next month: After a fall or equally scary inci- dent – what now? I have a special interest in helping riders rebuild their confidence. Knowl- edge inspires confidence. By explaining the HOWS (technical skills) and the WHYs (horse behavior and the science of learning) my stu- dents have the tools and understanding to stretch to the next level at their own pace. They enjoy the process as much as the result.


ing coach with a special interest in equine behaviour. After 25 years as a competitor and horse trainer, Lindsay enjoys teaching clinics and travelling to Ontario farms as a freelance instructor. She’s taught the science of equine behaviour and learning for horse associations, courses for University of Guelph and therapeutic riding facilities. Lindsay judges many disciplines and


breeds and serves on an EC judging com- mittee


Why do horses do what they do? “In the horse world, our traditions and evi- dence sometimes collide – I love to help rid- ers solve their horse puzzles with logic, patience and equitation science.”


When I’m judging a show, I hate to see a competitor fall off. Yet, I believe many of the falls I witness at horse shows could be prevented.


derstanding of their expected roles, and better re- lationships with their human partners. Through my classes and daily contacts, I en-


courage others to develop closer bonds, apprecia- tion and mutual trust with animals, and a respect for all life in this world. Lauren Bode


Chapter 9


The Shaman. Most tribes had a spiritual leader, a shaman,


who ranked just below the chief. The shaman gave advice, healed the sick, com- muned with nature and performed rituals to assure good harvests and good hunting. Many of these ad- visors were considered “callers” who could sum- mon game for the hunt and tell the tribe where and when to go to intercept their prey. Their wisdom was passed on to selected acolytes in a process that took many years and many trials. In the early days when the people travelled


By Lauren Bode


My mission statement. Having developed and practiced my talent


for years, I speak for animals. I willingly provide a voice for the non-


human creatures of our world, in the hope that I may assist them to obtain greater health, better un-


in single families or in small packs, probably there were many, if not all of the tribesmen, who could perform such wonders, but as tribes grew larger, specialization increased the tribes’ productivity and ensured greater survival. Some were better hunters, stalkers, gatherers, toolmakers and so on. They practiced and refined their crafts for the benefit of the whole tribe, knowing that in trade for their spe- cialty they would be able to rely on others for the things and services in which they were not profi- cient in. And so the esoteric skills were left to the best in that field too. Thus was born the shaman who preserved and performed the essential spiri- tual skills for the whole tribe. I believe that back in our own prehistory a


similar process took place. In fact, I believe that to a certain degree it is still taking place with every child born into our modern world. At birth, we are not much different from prehistoric babies. We probably have much of the same potentials. The difference is that today’s children are influenced immediately (either from conception or from birth) by the field of beliefs and information prevalent in our current social structure. (You may call this field “race mind” or “social awareness”) being totally immersed in this field of great influence, a child quickly develops a sense of limitations and what is acceptable in its immediate arena of interaction with its peers and elders, from whom it receives sustenance and protection. So today’s youngsters easily and fearlessly


accept electronics and computers, jet travel and satellites, and all other very recent wonders that we have had to struggle with, but they, just as quickly, learn what they are not supposed to be able to do: like see and feel auras, sense future stresses, see non-physical things and talk to animals. I do believe that as very young children, we


had and probably used avenues of communication that did not rely only on physically displayed signs or sounds. But even before we entered kinder- garten, we were trained to deal with the physical world in a rather sophisticated way which required our full attention and adherence to the social norm. We were taught to dress in an acceptable fashion, to behave at the dinner table, to speak only in a cer- tain way to adults. To get along with our siblings, to stay out of trouble. All of these things required training and retraining until we could get through the day without too many reprimands. Then we went to school. We learned how to sit, how to stand in line, how to be quiet when we wanted to shout,


www/lindsaygriceridingcoach.com


About Lindsay Grice. A horse show judge and certified rid-


how to hold up a hand when…how to get passable grades by feeding information back to the teacher in the way that was expected, how to please author- ity figures or at least be invisible to them. And that was only the beginning. Coupled with this social control was the in-


flexible rule that did not tolerate individuality. To be different was punishable. Creativity had no place in the education process. Conform or be scorned was the rule that was actively and pas- sively enforced. Today, pressures from the home, the workplace, social peers, government, church and almost every facet of our lives, have set rules for us that must be learned and obeyed. That we have survived and function in this environment is proof that we have mastered much and adapted to the game. It was at first not the sort of thing that one


spoke of at all. Lots of people speak with their an- imals, or do they? I personally did not know of a single person who seriously spoke to animals. No one ever asked an animal how he was feeling. Horses react to me depending on their individual situation and temperament. As I said earlier, often the horses are nervous at the start of the session. By the time I am through speaking with


them, they can exhibit unusual physical participa- tion in the conversation. One of them may nod vig- orously as information is passed, another may nudge me to express urgency, still another might paw the ground in a “let’s get on with it” attitude, and there is of course the one who always tries to give me a hug, by placing his front leg on my shoulder, others who simply stand there trance like, caught up in the feelings.


Lauren Bode All content copyrighted


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