This is a horse I am familiar with – his motivation level is very low. Because of an unusual upbringing on “the reservation,” he has been desensitized to almost everything. That includes gunshots, fireworks, and less fortuitously his rider’s legs. Read More

Let me begin by saying stuff like what you describe is a reason people go to recognized shows with recognized judges and a mandated adherence to the rules so that what you describe doesn’t happen. And at recognized shows the procedure for tie breaking is as follows. If the total points are equal, the Collectives at the bottom are added up separately. The higher overall Collective score breaks the tie. If the Collectives on both tests add up to the same (whether one is straight sixes and the other is eights and fours), then the tests remain tied, and two ribbons are given out for that placing whether it’s for first or sixth. Read More

This is a tough one. Unequivocal, irrevocable trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. Once lost, it’s even harder to gain back. Having said that, we need to stop and define exactly what we’re looking for from our horses. I am the first to admit that, while I believe I relate well to the horses I work with, none of them are about to jump off the Steel Pier at Atlantic City with me nor am I about to go galloping (or even walking down the road) with them with no bridle or halter and lead rope for control. A few people can do that with their horses and more power to them, but that’s not particularly my interest, and I’m happily frying other fish. Read More

My first reaction to the notion of more tests is “Puleeze! Stop this endless “give everybody a chance to win something whether they ought to or not!” But that’s just me and being old. Somewhere along the way the notion that the only way to justify yourself (or be motivated) is to dangle the possibility of some prize in front of you seems kind of shallow. Read More

The answer to this is simple. Ask yourself these two things: Would the clinician want to teach you? And are you going to get anything out of it? And a corollary to the second question: is what you are going to get out of it worth the amount of money the particular clinician is charging? Read More

BILL– If you only want your instructor to say “yes,” then you probably don’t really want an instructor. Giving you affirmation is, in fact, part of a teacher’s job description. But a teacher has larger responsibilities as well. Foremost is to protect the horses he or she works with from rider behaviors which result from flawed reasoning or, in some cases, lack of reasoning. Read More

If you’re happy just being “a rider,” (no condescension implied) it isn’t any big deal at all. If you’re trying to follow the path of Dressage Righteousness, it begins to matter. Read More

“No” is a delicate subject because it’s so bound up in trust and secondarily in ego. Too wrong a move on either the instructor’s or the student’s part and an otherwise promising relationship can take a hit it may never recover from. Read More

BILL– Calm down, people. This “poll the highest point” thing is making everyone crazy! The short answer is that, yes, if we’re talking about the show arena, that’s where it ought to be. And if it isn’t, your judge will probably take note and plaster you with a deservedly low score. Read More

BILL– “Lazy” is a state of mind intrinsic to some horses, a quality which may or may not be alterable but within limits can be tolerated and worked with. “Behind the leg” is a state of training–often transient–measuring the horse’s belief in and responsiveness to the aids. Read More