Make the horse feel like a sucsess

When the lesson is done, how does your horse feel?
As most of riders have learned, positive feedback is very important for the horse`s motivation. I always praise my horse and feel proud of his attempt to do his very best when we are riding together.
But the way we are feeling is also absolutely crucial to the horse experience. I have learned from my horse that even if I praise him with all my heart for his effort, he is not really happy with the day`s work if I don`t own that feeling too. It means that I have to feel proud of myself, content with my part of the riding. And we can not camoulfage our feelings from the horse.

So if you want your horse to feel like a succsess - you must feel like a sucsess to! What a wonderful challenge.

Christine Mortensen and Fathia

This is my friend Christine on her lovely Arabian mare, Fathia, attending a dressage clinic with Dave Thind in Arendal this month. We were lucky to ride with a trainer that combines the focus from the classical training scale with the feeling within. We where all amazed by the process and the results when he took the time to let her work with her inner state as she was riding the lesson. Just beautiful.