Are you ready for anything?

For me, the best way to describe a horse that is on the aids is this: the horse is ready to do anything. They can move forward, backwards, and sideways. They can lengthen, shorten, move left, move right, and even move separate body parts left and right. They are going neither too fast nor too slow, but doing just as you ask. They are staying right with you, listening to your seat as the primary aid, a graceful and happy dance partner. This also means they are relaxed enough to listen and stay with you. A horse with tension might be ready to leave the situation, but they likely aren’t ready to stay with you. Athletic readiness is without any additional tension, like a volleyball player waiting for the ball or a soccer goalie ready for a kick.

For an advanced horse, this means that basically every movement or way of going in their repertoire is available to them within a few moments. Yet regardless of the horse’s level of training and strength, this feeling of readiness can be available and is a helpful goal. Where are the sticking points? What would need to happen for the horse to be more ready?

I also find this helps to figure out my own training goals for the day. What feels challenging or less available? Would it be difficult to take bigger steps or smaller steps? Would it be easy to canter or halt? What about going left or right? What areas of your horse and riding feel less ready? Asking these hypothetical questions can help you figure out the next right thing to do.

One last note - try to be honest in your assessment. It is easy to compensate for your horse when you’re working on something challenging because we want to be helpful. But just like you aren’t being a help to your friend when you do their math homework for them, you aren’t being helpful for your horse when you consistently lower your expectations for their readiness. Help your friend learn so they feel confident on their own and help your horse learn so they can be ready for whatever comes next.