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Horses have their own unique personalities. When we stop thinking, “I’m the human, I know best!” and instead think, “Wow, I have so much to learn!”, then entirely new doors open, leading to exciting experiences and important lessons learned together with our horses.
READ ALSO: 10 tips: How to work with and train your youngster and be succesful
Have you ever considered your horse's unique personality and what it teaches you? Our horses shouldn't be forced to conform to our training; instead, our training should adapt to them.
At one point, I had a student who, after her own riding lesson, sat down to watch another rider’s lesson. The next day, the student came to me and said she noticed that there were many things that were repeated in the lessons, especially regarding how they both should sit on the horse. However, she was puzzled as to why I spent so much time teaching her to get her horse to stretch forward and downward, while I didn’t mention it even once for the other rider. On the contrary, I was teaching that rider to get her horse to ride more upward and forward.
I explained to her that it's because I adapt the training to the horse, not the other way around. Her horse tended to tense up, shorten its frame, and lose mobility over the topline. Therefore, I wanted to teach her to ride the horse in a longer and more relaxed frame. On the other hand, the other horse tended to get a bit long and disconnected, so it needed to "squat" a bit more in the frame. She agreed that this made good sense.
The one-size-fits-all approach is a thing of the past. In the beginning, I also believed that horses should adapt to us, our methods, and our ideas. However, I've learned so much from being curious and allowing my horses to guide me. Ultimately, horses are our greatest teachers.
I am the lucky breeder, owner, and rider of Hamza. He is a beautiful, intelligent, and very sensitive fellow. A few years ago, it was time for Hamza to learn to change leads. Objectively, he was ready. He could perform all LA exercises very nicely, so the next step had to be medium level. Being very sensitive, Hamza found new and unfamiliar things very challenging. He started getting a sore back, became strong in the front and tried to run away from me. I was advised to use a running martingale on him. But no, I didn’t want that; I had never ridden with one before. What about a sharper bit? No, I didn’t want that either because he was normally very sensitive in the front.
It might have "helped" me control him (and impliedly continue to push him), but it wouldn't have solved the real problem, which was that he was incredibly stressed, pressured, and tense in his body. At the same time, I had a guilty conscience. I had become heavier, and I knew the saddle wasn't quite optimal for him. It probably fit my bottom, but it was too big for his small, fine withers.
To make a long story short, I went home and stopped training changes. I started doing groundwork with him, while I had a saddle fitted that suited him, and then I lost 20 kg!
I spent a long time focusing on creating the best environment for him and understanding him better. It didn’t happen overnight, and I know some people thought I was slow and exaggerated. But I’m proud I did it because he eventually learned to change leads—without back pain, without a running martingale, without a sharp bit, or anything like that—just a year later. I’m practicing being curious about what he does "on his own," which shows how he really feels and what he needs, more than what I can get him to do!
This is not how I have been trained to ride throughout my life with horses. In equestrian sports, we have a strong focus on what we can get the horse to do and what they should and should not do. We learn much more about controlling the horse than about having a sense of connection with ourselves and the horse, along with an essential ingredient: patience.
I’m well aware that there’s no quick way to achieve this. My strategy isn’t a quick fix. It requires openness, curiosity, awareness, and, let’s not forget, practice, practice, practice - practice in observing, feeling, listening, and sensing more. So, I’m curious about what he does and shows on his own, and from there, I plan my training based on what I can, know, and feel is right in the given situation. What’s important here is to remain curious: What feedback do I get from my horse when I do what I do best?
If it feels good, we’re on the right path. If it feels difficult, doesn’t flow, or there’s some resistance, then I need to be willing to adjust and not just become stubborn, a know-it-all, and press even more. Sometimes, you have to take a few steps "back," sometimes reach out for help, or sometimes just pause and reflect.
In the long run, this will always benefit the process and create a much stronger and healthier foundation for you and your horse.
READ ALSO: 6 useful groundwork exercises
My name is Camilla Borregaard (b. 1990).
I have been involved in equestrian sports my entire life, both as an ambitious competitive rider when I was younger, as a dressage judge and instructor, alongside studying law and participating in politics. Since 2008, together with my parents, I've been running our own place, Stald Borregaard, near Hadsten, north of Aarhus. For many years, I've been deeply focused on daily training, the relationship with the horses, and the interaction with people. That's why I've also trained in animal telepathy, Human Design, and as a Clearing Master™.
I've always felt a special connection with horses and seen each horse as an individual. Over the years, with my many experiences, it's become clear to me that horses are as diverse as humans and that there isn't one true path. Instead, I'm curious about getting better at understanding each horse and the interaction with each person.
I want to inspire, create reflection, and increase awareness among riders for a deeper relationship with their horses. I've created Min Hestedagbog as a tool for just that.
