Railbirds can really suck the joy out of riding. MYOB.
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I do a brief cool out, hop off and loosen the girth by one notch. My mare always does a little breath-in and sigh like sheâs quite satisfied with the signal that our work session is over.
Not quite the same, but âstand and donât fidgetâ is a huge part of being a safe driving pony. I look on stopping and chatting while Mr OâPony waits as a valuable addition to that dayâs training.
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I read somewhere that the Lipizzaners at the Spanish Riding School are all trained to stand patiently by the trainer sitting on their back while he read the newspaper. When he was done with the paper, he dismounted and put the horse away. Lesson over.
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My main issue with this is more regarding arena etiquetteâIâve been taking a (paid) lesson or actively riding my horse in a crowded arena, and people who have finished riding will stand near the rail, sitting on their horses, talking, and creating an additional obstacle to have to work around (along with beginners, people on greener horses, and the jump course). Sitting on the horse outside of the arena, out of peopleâs way (or in an uncrowded arena, near a jump thatâs not being used) is a bit of a different matter. I also agree that if itâs hot, the arena is direct sunlight, and the horse has been worked hard, actively cooling the horse down ASAP should be the priority.
On the other hand, if the horse isnât overheated or been worked particularly hard, varying the routine about returning to the barn can be useful. Iâve ridden lesson ponies that have been conditioned âdone with lesson, rush back to gate to eat/graze NOWâ who get very pushy. Or just some horses who donât really understand the concept of standing and waiting at all. So I definitely agree with the importance of teaching the horse NOT to get freaked out if he isnât being asked to do something by his rider.
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