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How long have you been dreaming of horseback riding?

Have you been considering taking horseback riding lessons?

There's an old saying:

I guess for some, it's easy to fall into the comfort zone rut of ring riding, but a well-rounded horse and rider, should be able to handle a variety of riding environments. I've seen fantastic "show hunters" perform on the buckle in a ring, yet outside of their "training bubble" fall to pieces when presented with the challenge of working in a wide open field alone or with others. I've witnessed great hackers, crumble when presented the challenge of true collection and hind quarter engagement in a dressage ring. Have you ever caught yourself asking the following?

"Uh oh, what's gonna happen when that tractor passes, or that dog runs past us, or that cow in the field next door walks by, or the donkey or miniature from the barn across the way walks past, or heaven forbid.... a horse or pony carriage passes by?"

Okay, what this all really translates to is that some of us riders like to take the easy way out. We like to stick with what we are comfortable doing and not risk "rocking the boat" or more specifically "hitting the dirt!" What we are guilty of doing is creating dumb horses... dumb horses and dumber riders! We don't challenge our minds or our horses minds because we stick to the same ole easy routine...We don't ask our horses to think!

Clinton Anderson refers to the horse as having two minds:
1. Mind #1=The everyday ho hum routine mindless mind. (what is familiar)
2. Mind #2=The Oh crap what is that? It's time to run! (The Flight/Prey instinct)

So what's the secret to getting started?

There are books specifically for the new or first-time rider. The goal is to teach most of the basics at home, before you take formal lessons. It saves you time and money in the process - and when you do go to the stable to start formal lessons you'll sound like an experienced rider 'cause you know the lingo.

There's lots of background material, understanding of horses, breeds, gaits, styles, etc. that is good to learn and that will help you get ready for horse riding lessons when you're ready. There's no reason to pay someone lots of money to teach you those things when you can learn a whole bunch of it by yourself.

If the horse is at home when the decision is make, it is kindest to the horse to put it down there (e.g. have a veterinarian come out and give a lethal injection). If the horse is severely injured or ill, transport to another location adds to its suffering. Furthermore, unfamiliar surroundings may cause it distress (particularly if taken to a slaughterhouse, where the horse may panic in response to the smell of blood). The main obstacle to this approach is the difficulty of transporting the body afterwards, so prior to putting a horse down one needs to consider whether it is necessary to first move it to a more practical location.

For personal safety, if the horse is standing up, one needs to either lie it down prior to euthanasia or be careful that nobody becomes trapped under the horse if it falls while being euthanized. Professionals (e.g. a veterinarian) should have the experience and sufficient detachment to consider such practicalities.

Unless one personally knows and trusts the person performing the euthanasia, one should remain with the horse until the end, to ensure that your wishes in this regard are properly carried out. For example, it has been known for professional slaughter staff to transport horses to the location which is most convenient for them, even though it meant additional suffering for the animal. Staying with your horse allows you to ensure that your horse ends its life with minimum distress