foundation to build from. You should have an amazing connection that leads to the same experience.
There are many types of connections with a horse. Establishing a connection with the horse is the wonderful part of horsemanship. We take our interactions with horses for granted almost daily, but horse and rider connections are used in many types of equine therapies and accomplish amazing things for people who suffer from psychological challenges. There is a connection established between a horse and a person while working at liberty. There is a connection established as well through the seat when riding, and at the same time, a connection through the all of the rider’s aids. Let's talk about the connection from the hands to the horse’s mouth. This connection between the reins in Cowboy Dressage is called Soft Feel.
“He’s a bit playful,” she offered. As I teach horsemanship around the country, I see the struggles, with successes and failures, as riders and horses honestly try to overcome the language barrier. It is everyone’s quest for happiness and fun between the two species. Many western riders lack the necessary tools to help them refine their riding skills and bring a new level of harmony. Instead I see pulling on the reins, with horses that respond like gorillas (it is their fun gig). There is a real lack of just being able to ride a quiet, happy horse through a test, around the arena, or along the trail. Real life horse wrestling! Without a connection between horse and rider, horses have their own ideas of what needs to happen next, and riders spend too much time as passengers while riding. It is time for riders to have more fun, and provide a more active role while riding.
Dressage, the Cowboy Dressage way, is about having fun. Do you want to know the number of riders who ride with fear? Did you know that 88.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot? The point is that many riders, many, many, many riders are stuck in a mode where safety is their primary concern. Stayin’ alive is more than a song sung by the Bee Gees. Riders never get to the fun part. Horsemanship should be about having fun while training your horse. Period. That’s why I hitched my wagon to the whole Cowboy Dressage movement. Folks (and horses) need to do more square dancin' together. My riding should offer me and my horse an amazing experience. That is the foundation to build from. You should have an amazing connection that leads to the same experience.
To be as honest as I need to be, the experience of riding is coveted, because it is so rare until cultivated
Photo by Kenna Al-Sayed
Rein Photography
Carien Schippers Photography