In the equestrian or competitive horseback riding community perfection is the goal. However, I'd love to know any horse and human that is truly and genuinely perfect. It doesn't exist.
I do understand that the goal is to be as correct as possible, and seemingly "perfect" doesn't always mean correct. It takes a very trained eye to know what is very correct versus what may look pretty, or seemingly in a frame. Not to mention there have been so many disputes on how to get a horse to get into a frame.
The fact is:
A horse can only get into a frame once it has learned to relax or stretch down without rokur. It must be able to accept amounts of pressure from the bit or bitless bridle without evading the pressure while adhering to the leg/seat aids.
That is a lot to ask for in a horse and a human. Not to mention a work-out. Anyone can do it if taught correctly, but it's not a quick fix type of thing. This type of core strength and relaxation takes a long time to learn and adjust to. If done wrong, horses can form very bad habits and even form problems that cause lameness.
Now, that we've addressed that riding is difficult and getting the horse to go correctly takes years of hard work. Let us address something that we often don't get permission to talk about: The imperfect rider/horse.
There will be a horse or rider that will have flaws throughout it's riding career. They may be conformation flaws the horse was born with or perhaps developed from bad training. Perhaps the rider learned some bad habits of their own such as keeping their wrists bent while holding the reins, which therefore causes rider have reins that are too long and then to haunch over.
However, what if a rider has a disability that cannot be seen, but will be felt by the horse? I faced this. I have temporary paralysis. It can come on at anytime. It is the freakiest experience I've been forced to experience, yet I still ride better than I walk or use a wheelchair. For the longest time, I used the same equipment that I've always used. You know? The braided leather reins, the iron stirrups with rubber inserts, etc. Then, I my husband got me "Ali." Ali is a 14.2h Arabian with more go than whoa and a passion for jumping. It used to be mine too. I loved jumping in Hunters classes (with a little gusto, I might add). I lost my confidence when I learned that Ali liked a pelham bit, requiring me to use double reins and very quiet hands. My hands sometimes will go numb in the winter months and I won't be able to feel what I'm holding. I felt so bad for him when I would grab his sensitive little mouth and he would react nervous when jumping.
I had to find a solution. I had to acknowledge that I'm not "normal." I'm not correct anymore, but I need to find a way to help me become more correct without hurting him or making myself worse. About 15 years prior, I rode a 16.2h, heavy mouthed appendix and I was forced to use thick rubber reins so he wouldn't pull the reins right out of my hands. I kept wondering if the thickness would help me hold the reins, without dropping them and gripping them against his mouth in desperation to feel the reins in my hands? I was so afraid of the reins not letting me feel his mouth properly and myself pulling harder on him. Yes, he does use a pelham, but it is the only bit this sensitive boy will take without evading other bits. I always took pride in having soft hands, but I couldn't do it. I didn't have the courage to change my leather, braided reins for the rubber ones. Not that time.
While also finding a solution for my hands, I also wanted to figure out if my feet felt more secure, I wouldn't be as afraid when I couldn't feel my legs. My legs went out when they wanted to and at a horse show... well, as you know, "The show must go on." I saw the korsteel plastic/polymer stirrups, which are a bit wider and do provide a bit more support for my numb feet. To everyone, I must admit, I was embarrassed to go outside of the traditional metal stirrup irons, but I felt so much safer on Ali with the polymer stirrups and thought to myself, "If being safer means riding better, then perhaps I should try the rubber reins."
I gathered the courage to switch those beautiful traditional braided leather reins for the fat rubber ones to the Mullen bit piece. I have the rubber reins as my main contact/aids and regular flat reins for the leverage part of the bit. I couldn't believe the difference in consistency I had with him! It was so different. I had been struggling to stay traditional and just to be miserable. Ali was happier, I was happier! We were communicating better. I could feel when I was being light. I could feel when I was gripping too hard.
Admitting that I needed extra help as I've become more disabled to stay more correct was extremely difficult for me, but I'm glad Ali gave me permission to do what I needed to so he was more comfortable and so I could be a better equestrian. We're not perfect equestrians, but we should do whatever we can to be correct (and kind).
I do understand that the goal is to be as correct as possible, and seemingly "perfect" doesn't always mean correct. It takes a very trained eye to know what is very correct versus what may look pretty, or seemingly in a frame. Not to mention there have been so many disputes on how to get a horse to get into a frame.
The fact is:
A horse can only get into a frame once it has learned to relax or stretch down without rokur. It must be able to accept amounts of pressure from the bit or bitless bridle without evading the pressure while adhering to the leg/seat aids.
That is a lot to ask for in a horse and a human. Not to mention a work-out. Anyone can do it if taught correctly, but it's not a quick fix type of thing. This type of core strength and relaxation takes a long time to learn and adjust to. If done wrong, horses can form very bad habits and even form problems that cause lameness.
Now, that we've addressed that riding is difficult and getting the horse to go correctly takes years of hard work. Let us address something that we often don't get permission to talk about: The imperfect rider/horse.
There will be a horse or rider that will have flaws throughout it's riding career. They may be conformation flaws the horse was born with or perhaps developed from bad training. Perhaps the rider learned some bad habits of their own such as keeping their wrists bent while holding the reins, which therefore causes rider have reins that are too long and then to haunch over.
However, what if a rider has a disability that cannot be seen, but will be felt by the horse? I faced this. I have temporary paralysis. It can come on at anytime. It is the freakiest experience I've been forced to experience, yet I still ride better than I walk or use a wheelchair. For the longest time, I used the same equipment that I've always used. You know? The braided leather reins, the iron stirrups with rubber inserts, etc. Then, I my husband got me "Ali." Ali is a 14.2h Arabian with more go than whoa and a passion for jumping. It used to be mine too. I loved jumping in Hunters classes (with a little gusto, I might add). I lost my confidence when I learned that Ali liked a pelham bit, requiring me to use double reins and very quiet hands. My hands sometimes will go numb in the winter months and I won't be able to feel what I'm holding. I felt so bad for him when I would grab his sensitive little mouth and he would react nervous when jumping.
I had to find a solution. I had to acknowledge that I'm not "normal." I'm not correct anymore, but I need to find a way to help me become more correct without hurting him or making myself worse. About 15 years prior, I rode a 16.2h, heavy mouthed appendix and I was forced to use thick rubber reins so he wouldn't pull the reins right out of my hands. I kept wondering if the thickness would help me hold the reins, without dropping them and gripping them against his mouth in desperation to feel the reins in my hands? I was so afraid of the reins not letting me feel his mouth properly and myself pulling harder on him. Yes, he does use a pelham, but it is the only bit this sensitive boy will take without evading other bits. I always took pride in having soft hands, but I couldn't do it. I didn't have the courage to change my leather, braided reins for the rubber ones. Not that time.
While also finding a solution for my hands, I also wanted to figure out if my feet felt more secure, I wouldn't be as afraid when I couldn't feel my legs. My legs went out when they wanted to and at a horse show... well, as you know, "The show must go on." I saw the korsteel plastic/polymer stirrups, which are a bit wider and do provide a bit more support for my numb feet. To everyone, I must admit, I was embarrassed to go outside of the traditional metal stirrup irons, but I felt so much safer on Ali with the polymer stirrups and thought to myself, "If being safer means riding better, then perhaps I should try the rubber reins."
 |
| Korsteel Polymer Stirrups |
I gathered the courage to switch those beautiful traditional braided leather reins for the fat rubber ones to the Mullen bit piece. I have the rubber reins as my main contact/aids and regular flat reins for the leverage part of the bit. I couldn't believe the difference in consistency I had with him! It was so different. I had been struggling to stay traditional and just to be miserable. Ali was happier, I was happier! We were communicating better. I could feel when I was being light. I could feel when I was gripping too hard.
 |
| Stubben Rubber Reins |
Admitting that I needed extra help as I've become more disabled to stay more correct was extremely difficult for me, but I'm glad Ali gave me permission to do what I needed to so he was more comfortable and so I could be a better equestrian. We're not perfect equestrians, but we should do whatever we can to be correct (and kind).
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