Today we are going to take a few minutes to answer a question from one of our readers. The question is:
How do you know when a horse and rider don’t fit? And what to do next?
This is a tough question and is going to have a different answer for each individual situation. Here are some things to take into consideration:
The rider is unsafe with the horse. This is the biggest one. Sadly I have seen too many riders get injured or become discouraged and give up because they have a horse that is too much for them to handle. This could be because the horse lacks training, the rider lacks experience, the horse is too high energy, too nervous, or maybe it’s even aggressive. Whatever the cause if the horse is a danger to the rider then that is not a good fit. Of course accidents can happen when working with a large animal but you should not have to constantly worry about your safety when you are around your horse. You should not have to be on guard all the time just waiting for the next spook or bolt or rear. Sometimes these issues can be solved by working with an experienced professional but it often takes a huge amount of time and effort and for many riders this is not possible. Most of my clients ride horses as a hobby. They have full time jobs and lives outside of the barn. Many have families. They don’t have the time or ability to tackle serious issues and they can’t jeopardize their health and safety. Working with their horse should be a fun, enjoyable experience for them, not something that cause stress and fear. Life is too short to get injured from riding a horse that is too much for you, so often in these cases the best answer is to find a more experienced rider for that horse. It’s very important to find a horse that fits your ability level.
Sometimes riders have certain goals in mind for a horse. Perhaps it’s dressage or jumping or working cattle or trail riding. Different horses excel at different disciplines. The horse that loves to jump may hate trail riding and vice versa. Some horses are physically only capable of doing certain things. A injury could mean a horse can never jump again but maybe he could live a great life as a dressage horse. If your horse doesn’t enjoy or isn’t capable of doing the kind of work that you want then you have a decision to make. I have known people who have completely changed disciplines in order to do what their horse enjoys. But for others this is not possible so finding a more fitting home for the horse might be a better option.
You also want to find a horse who’s personality fits with yours. Some riders are fast paced, some slower paced, some are high energy, some are quiet and soft. Some horses do best with a soft rider, some need a firmer rider. If you try to ride a sensitive horse too strongly things won’t go well. Some horses excel with a stronger rider and won’t do well with one who is too quiet. If your personalities and riding styles don’t match then you are going to struggle to get along so that is something to consider when deciding if a horse is right for you.
It can be challenging to decide what to do if you and your horse aren’t a good fit. Many people become very emotionally attached to their horses. This is an additional factor to consider. Are you attached enough to put in the time and effort to make things work with your horse? Are you willing and able to make the needed changes? It is up to us to change ourselves. We cannot force our horses to change for us. What you decide to do is a very personal decision and will be different for everyone.
I highly recommend working with an experienced professional to determine if your horse is a good fit for you. This is especially important when buying a horse as you can save many headaches later on by doing your homework and ensuring that the horse you purchase is a good fit for you. Good profesionals can help you analyze your abilities, goals, and personality and find a horse that will be a good fit for you. Do your research, take your time, get help, and avoid impulse buys and you will have a much better chance of finding a horse that is a good fit for you.
Do you have a question about horse care, training, riding, or behavior? Comment with it below and we may feature your question in one of our future posts!
