How to Connect with a Lesson Horse

[@yogawithkassandra]

Thank you for this!! I've started taking lessons 3x a week and it's almost always a new horse. It can be frustrating at times but I also feel like I learn so much from riding a wide variety of horses. Sometimes it clicks so easily and other times the chemistry isn't necessarily there but I try to really see how they respond best. It's tough!!

[@higginsba]

This is one of the most challenging things - the lack of consistency. From the “lazy” horse that won’t budge, to the “hot” horse who takes off…defo adds to the challenge! 3x/wk is great, only able to go once or maybe twice some wks w work myself, and I’m sure the increased frequency is very beneficial. Will they let you put in your preferences re which horse you would like? The stable I go to says they try and honour requests, but I haven’t found it to help much (the one I fell in love w was being trialed and before they decided to keep him, he was spoken for back at his home stable 😔). As an aside - a yoga for horseback riding class would be fab! I love your channel - you helped get me through covering COVID ICUs last yr, so thank you for that.

[@Tulipsaki]

Can we get yin for equestrians then please

[@erinalmeda6936]

I began riding at age 50. I was able to develop such a connection with one of the lesson horses that I started a partial lease on him to get more riding time. I eventually bought him when I was 55 and he was 25. He is such a good boy and has responded so well to having a single owner. We just did our first ever Western Dressage show! I love the practical information you share in your videos.

[@Reggiezs]

Wow your horse must hate youu Omg!..

[@I_can_be_your_freind]

@@Reggiezswhy?

[@sl31064]

Great video! There's so few people willing to acknowledge and help people who don't have their own horses and depend on lesson horses. I'm going to try and ride more carefully and consistently- the ones at my riding school work really hard, so I always do my best to make their job easier and show them some extra love! ❤️

[@pariahmouse7794]

Can we take a moment to consider what saints lesson program horses really are? Think about everything they go through everyday, so many conflicting aids and different abilities and even styles, it is amazing to me that any of them handle it as well as they seem to, I am always trying to make things easier and more consistent for them, but at any rate they are incredible creatures, to put up with what they do! This is some very good advice, it was a video that wasn't around when I started lessons but I looked for one, I am so glad this is here now for others like me who want to help their lesson horse have the best possible experience with them, I wish everyone was as considerate to the horses!

[@beccsahasrara]

What I noticed after watching my instructor ride a lesson horse (doing a demonstration for a student) was that she was clear and assertive and that is what helped the horse want to listen. The horses need you to be a leader/partner they can trust, so they can have trust in your aids. Beginners or even different styles of riders probably create confusion about what is wanted via that inconsistency and learner errors. So when they feel 'oh this rider seems to know what they are doing because they 'speak' clearly to me' (via consistent aids), they feel safer to listen to you and do what you ask. Even if you're still learning and making mistakes, still being clear and assertive with the things you do know helps. I tried this and the horses' willingness to listen or to get what you are asking for have improved greatly. I agree also spending as much time as you reasonably can on the ground with them, just being in awareness with them, is going to be really helpful.

[@debrasteller5674]

Thank you so much. I have realized that one of my biggest problems is finding that balance between kindness and the necessary firmness and consistency. Thanks again!

[@ruthrackham2983]

totally get this.

[@bethmccain5494]

I take lessons at a barn where the horses are mainly used for therapy. Most of the videos I see are for those who already own the horse so I appreciate this video. I sometimes take it personally when a horse doesn't respond to what I'm asking. I'm new to horse riding so I often feel like I'm not doing something right. I will try to be more consistent in the beginning and remember that it may not be me but what the horse has dealt with before me.

[@katjamarialucia904]

That was interesting! Just yesterday I thought exactly about that. Is it possible for me and my lesson-horse to make a difference? So thanks for that 🙏🏻 My lesson horse (22 years old Haflinger) used to try walking to the gate during the lessons („Wanne go back to stable …“). And he was/is successfull most of the time. When I started riding him, I noticed that. So I decided that he would’nt be successfull with this behavior with me. He tried of course. And he WAS successfull the first times in my first lesson. But I took him nearer and nearer to the gate in smaller Circles and gave him rewards, when he walked along. In the second lesson he tried once … Since the third he didn‘t it again - and my trainer told me, that he still is successfull with other riders. Your video supports me to try and try and try again knowing that ist IS possible.

[@stephaniecuster8025]

I learned this this week. I lease a lesson horse he is more advanced but has been being ridden by lower intermediate riders. I realized Sunday he was very on the forehand since his rider on sat sits too forward so I made sure I sat up shoulders back and had immediate improvement

[@amandacollins9630]

Thank you so much. This is all things i know as a certified dog trainer but i guess as a student i need to be reminded.

[@ruthrackham2983]

so true, strangely I was better at training my puppy with absolute consistency than I am a lesson horse I'm riding at the time. I think it is something to do with establishing a regular connection and if you ride different horses it's really hard to feel ownership.

[@veroniqueviaudFaspasie_1957]

This video enjoyed me a lot a year ago because it was so useful to me later. Years ago we did not knew about it. Only ride and stay on the saddle. Despite I had always what I could call it a good relationship with all the horses I met, I needed to reinforce bonds with lesson horses. At a time I was even desperate not to be able to... I stopped going to one horse school, being fed up with staying in the arena and riding only tired horses. Here, within a year, and 2 falls including one bad needing a lot of time to heal, I had enough time to stay in the barn to reinforce my relationship with the sweet mare who made me fall - I should say she was never guilty ! :) - and she recognised me a few months after the fall. After 3 lessons only. Then I decided to become more close with all the horses I could meet in the barn. All have the little treats they prefer and all have this particular place where they love to be scratched. Even without any lesson I spent so wonderful times with them, alone, in the barn. I must say thank you to Callie to have teached me the good tips. Consistency requires riding but this is possible to establish a better respect with horses. I discovered that it was like teaching to pupils. You need to be " kind but enough firm " . Exactly what I did in my job for twenty years. Lol. Thank you again Callie ! 😁👍🏻💖🌹 Congratulations for your splendid performance in the Mongol race too. You are simply the best ! 😇😉✨🏆✨

[@ruthrackham2983]

This is so helpful. I wonder this every week and still struggle a bit with my confidence in asserting myself with a lesson horse. I am not sure about using the whip, when it's justified, I'm equally not comfortable to accept that they don't listen to my seat when I want them to stop and I just need to accept I'll need to pull them up short with the reins. I like them a bit too much as animals and maybe i feel concerned I'm adding their discomfort and boredom levels. But I know I have to get over that as I won't make progress in lessons if I can't gain the advantage and get them to listen to me. I should not accept them cutting corners, following other lesson horses, not stopping when I ask them to. I am just not confident yet to keep going and soon the teacher steps in and pulls them up to 'help' me. I'll get there but it's the part I find the hardest. I to get there early enough to tack up, I'm not allowed to get in there and groom them generally and when I arrive I don't always ride the same horse. pls keep posting videos for those of us that want so much to improve but lack the confidence to assert ourselves in a riding school environment.

[@cloud9_eq]

Thank you for making this video! I ride a lesson horse once a week and this video really helps.

[@krystlesantana43859]

I greet each horse I ride before I start grooming and putting their tac on. I also am aware of which horse likes certain pressures when grooming and act accordingly. I also reserve treats and affection for after the ride because I notice when I’m too nice to certain lesson horses that’s when they don’t try as hard at the lesson bc I’m “too nice”😂

[@aniab4306]

Great video! Thanks ! I always bring some carrot and apple with me to riding class and I give them to the lesson horse before and after the class.

[@astridcomerford6309]

Really enjoyed the video and will definitely try your tips on my next lesson horse. Thanks

[@joanrawski7510]

The advice on consistency made a big difference in behaviour. On a trail ride, sometimes I was letting my mare grab some grass. She would then expect to do this all the time. It got a bit dangerous, as she would pull her head down and almost pull me out of the saddle. I have stopped allowing this behaviour at all times when trail riding. Now she knows it is not allowed.

[@angieinglis7304]

Thank you! Next time I go to my lesson I will spend time to connect with Belle before even attaching the lead.

[@JJhaze]

I just adopted a rescue pony. He has problems with this skin. Very itchy, 3 summer sores. He also is pushy, he kinda drags you while on the lead line...

[@RosemarieSpurling]

Riding a lesson horse. When my horse pulled a suspensory I ride the lessons horses. My Trainer had me try to fix them. Like you said you can’t do the fix whether a learned drift or spook in one lesson. So my point don’t ask your good students to completely fix your lesson horses.❤

[@nusheenjafari4323]

Thank you for your videos. Can you touch on what would be considered a reward/reinforcement while riding a lesson horse?

[@followsfunction]

Pressure release, quick scratch on the withers or stroke down the neck with inside hand. Example for pressure release: if you use your leg to move the horse sideways stop the pressing against its belly as soon as it starts to move sideways. Or, if you squeeze the reins to transition down, give forward with the reins as soon as the horse slows. Hope that helps...

[@sisinacortez2504]

Firm but fair.

[@staufferfamily9629]

This was very helpful, thanks!

[@angelalazur]

The best video thank you! I already get connection with one horse but when i ride him its depends from his mood ot he will be as angel or devil and try to kick all horses around 🙈 so next time i know what i will do

[@Not.Claire09]

Do you think you can make I video just like this but I can’t tack her up because she’s has a bad past so all I have is time on her back

[@dba750]

Great subject

[@Lilian040210]

"Spot they like and dislike" first of all, bold of u to assume I can tell what liking and disliking looks like, second, bold of u to assume they'd let me do anything with a lesson horse 😂

[@andreawoods6277]

How can I be consistent with a lesson horse when I am still learning how to ride. She is being ridden by children during the week and I am an older adult that rides her once a week. She really likes me because she comes when I call her and likes me to pet and give her attention. I feel like I am not able to give her clear instructions because I am still learning. I feel like she is missing her original owner who has moved on to a new younger horse.

[@TheEquiClubYouTube]

💕✨

[@Reggiezs]

My horse doesn't like your tactics. It started crying and I find your ways abusive and un professional and over all barbaric.

[@lisawalls1863]

Bro what?? How is this barbaric. Its literally just a video trying to help people who don't have their own horses and depend on lesoon horses. Smh.