Ah, yes, the much aligned school horse, at least where fine riding is desired.
I started riding school horses only over a decade ago. I have learned SO MUCH from these noble horses.
They ALL had problems with contact. Most of them had no true idea that a leg aid could mean more than one thing–depending on the stride and circumstances. I was clearly told by the horse that their top speed at a walk was 2 MPH and that 2 1/2 MPH was an extreme extension of their stride. Their normal school trots had all the impulsion found in a dead, dead, dead to the leg WP horse.
However problems arose when I asked the horse for any impulse (feeling the push of the hind leg into my seat bone). “Impulse? WTF HELL do you mean by impulse. MY legs are not for pushing, my legs are for slooooowly going around the riding ring. Sheesh lady.”
Since these were hunt seat horses they had the basic idea of contact, thank goodness. They even had a rudimentary knowledge of how combined hand and leg aids worked, well most of them did. But I went through a lot of bits (now residing in my overflowing bit box) to find the one that the horse preferred IN MY HANDS. My hypothesis is that with all my balance problems and all my neurological problems if a horse accepts a bit I try on it that other riders should be able to have decent, non-abusive control while riding the horse.
But stopping? STOPPING, halt, stand still, stop fidgeting, that is another matter. “Why stop when I know that you WILL be demanding that I start moving again before I even get to take a full breath. WHY should I stop? WHY do you want me to stop there, the view from here is so much better? Make up your mind woman!”
So I get to work on all the training these horses missed out on because they were quiet enough for beginning riders. At thirty minutes a week over weeks and months I transform these horses, at least for when I ride them. They become more responsive to the leg AND they understand that the meaning of my leg aid depends on where their feet are. I train these horse to slow down when I apply my leg aid at a certain moment, to yield their forehands or hind quarters, or to lengthen their stride.
Their backs also improve. With regular breathing the back muscles relax enough so the rider feels the push of the hind leg in their seatbone. Then the back starts “swinging” and it all starts to coordinate, and you and the lowly lesson horse you ride go dancing off into the sunset as your riding teacher smiles.
This is when contact problems can truly be addressed. They are addressed by your LIGHT hands, hands light enough that they feel what the horse’s tongue is doing. They are addressed by ADVANCING THE HAND &/or relaxing your fingers. They are addressed by never blocking the push of the hind leg even when it is not convenient for you.
Getting an excellent ride out of a working school horse is proof positive to me that you really know how to RIDE a horse.
