23/09/2024
Long text of my dear colleague Academic Art of Riding - Bettina Biolik, but every single word is worth it — and: it’s true, true, true!
What I try to achieve in every lesson with my students is that, in the end, eyes are sparkling and faces smiling, minds are laughing with childlike joy over a new catched insight — no matter how little or unimportant the topic seems to be. But that’s the point: no piece of insight is so unimportant that it is not worth a smile… So, being a passionate teacher means to set your students on fire, not to extinguish the flames in them. Now, let’s go out and spread our little 🔥 ….☺️
Please forgive me this honest and open post…
Lately I had a few conversations with horse professionals after which I felt completely drained and demotivated. I’m a quite optimistic person and it really made me think, especially about my students.
I meet a lot of students who are very insecure about what they can ask of their horses, and if they should ask anything at all. It’s like someone has stripped them of their capability to make decisions. I also see a lot of “deconstruction” going on in the equestrian world. Questioning everything and taking everything apart.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for re-evaluating things. Because we have to find better ways of how to train horses. We should question the amount of pressure we use, think about if our equipment is ethical, or about whether a horse is unwilling or rather in pain.
However, I’m not sure if it helps the horse when owners get more and more doubtful and downright afraid to do the wrong thing. I know of many horses who are left in the pasture because the owner is overwhelmed by all the information they read online and for fear they will harm their horse. I’ve met so many owners who don’t dare to let their horses move for fear they will fall on the forehand. Or telling me the horse can only move when they have deactivated this muscle, or when they hold that posture.
Some students come to me and say “I know nothing.” Which I know isn’t true! Sure, I’m also a never-ending student and I keep learning. And each of us has areas about which we know very little. But there is a difference in saying “I would like to learn your way of doing things” and “I know nothing”.
At the same time, I meet a lot of resigned horses. Horses who just seem to wait until their owners have made up their mind. Horses who underwent so many changes of training programs and ideas that they are very confused and demotivated as well. Who go to the French classical clinic one weekend, the famous sports trainer clinic the next, and an academic art of riding clinic after that (just to mention my own approach to make it clear that I have nothing against any of these).
I feel so lucky that I found my “red thread”. A way of training and being with horses which gives you a sense of direction and purpose. Sure, the academic art of riding is not perfect. It's not. I think no approach is. But it’s been like a lighthouse in a sea of possibilities and questions for me.
As I mentioned in the beginning, I only got a glimpse of what it might feel like when as a horse owner, you severely doubt yourself. After some talks with other horse professionals, I felt like I don’t really know anything and what I do know is wrong. Each time I actually couldn’t train for a few days. After one particular talk, I thought maybe I should give up teaching.
Please don’t stick with people who make you feel hopeless, untalented or unworthy.
Good people build you up. Good trainers do as well. They give you possibilities and a structure to follow. Yes, sometimes it’s necessary to change ways. And that’s never easy. I know because I had to do that myself. But there needs to be balance. Making someone insecure and fearful is not ok.
If this speaks to you: please change whom you are cooperating with. Choose people who lift you up and help you get better a little each training. Someone who gives you perspective and confidence. You are capable and you already bring the most important thing of all: the love for the horse.
And when you think you found something worth doing: Stick with it. Practice it for a while and really get into it. Don’t change ways because this influencer said this or that famous trainer said that. It doesn’t matter. Training systems differ. Sometimes a lot. People have different opinions. One trainer will tell you to ride your horse forward-down and another will tell you that forward down will kill your horse. And both will have the “science” to back it up.
If you and your horse feel good with something, stick with it! It’s ok that not everyone agrees with it. Sticking with something will build your skills and your confidence. It will give you a basis. Then one day you might feel like you want to venture further, but then you’ll have a background against which to judge.
Get rid of toxic people. Spend more time training, feeling, reading. You are absolutely capable of training your own horse. You got this! And if you would like support - I'm just a message away!
