Equestrian
TRAINING HORSES
with Robert Booth BHSI
Many of my clients have individual
lessons, which are good for working
on specific movements or problems,
or working up to a competition where
the one-to-one experience can be more
intense and specialized.
In a private lesson, I can concentrate more on the
horse and rider as a package and be more specific as
to what we are trying to achieve - and of course I get
to know the horse and rider quicker and better.
Although I think you would maybe learn more
with a private lesson, there are benefits to both
individual and group lessons. For many years now I
have been taking group lessons for the Vectis Riding
Club, flatwork and jumping and also group jumping
evenings at Froghill and they have been very popular.
A group lesson is a little more relaxed and sociable
and I would work more on the fundamentals, such as
position and control. One of the things you learn in a
group is how horses change behaviour around other
horses, and how to read them and control them. The
riders have to work together and think about others
whilst riding in formation and controlling their horse
so his pace matches that of someone else.
Riders learn from watching others’ mistakes and
quite often I can make a comment to one rider such
as ‘try and keep your hands still’ and I find everybody
is reacting. Groups are less intense and not such hard
work and when we have breaks and individual turns
- especially when jumping - it is a chance to have a
breather and a chat with friends and a discussion
about what we are working on, which is a bit more
interactive. A mixture of both private and group
lessons can be very beneficial to both horse and rider.
Robert Booth is an Equine trainer for Rodgebrook
Horses. Telephone: 01983 521870 or visit
www.rodgebrookhorses.co.uk.
Useful tips on training
your horse: Groups
Introducing a horse to a group of horses is an important
part of his education. Some can find it very exciting or scary.
A good way to start is a group lesson where all horses are
under control, or otherwise, ask some friends to help.
Start by riding on your own and slowly drip feed some other
horses into the situation: don’t make it exciting, just wandering
about until he accepts the others being there. When going to a
show for the first time, get there early, pick a quiet time in the
warm-up area and let people slowly join you. Take your time,
it’s important that he gets used to others around him.
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