In addition to learning by applying my own methods, a lot of my experience has been gleaned from others. I have been particularly influenced by the trainers I have worked with and by the books I have read. However, I am very conscious that this is a fraction of the knowledge that could be available to me.
To try to rectify this and to gain a broader, more balanced spectrum of views on riding and training, I created a questionnaire and sent it to a cross-section of well-known trainers, judges and riders. I also contacted various international federations and organisations in the hope that their members could assist me.
You can find the questions in the appendix. Why not take half an hour and write down your response to my questions? Don’t think too hard. Write down what is in your mind…what you would say if asked the questions in an impromptu interview.
I contacted over 300 individuals and organisations. 28 were keen to help and went on to provide me with a completed written response or the opportunity to cover the questions in an interview. This relatively poor overall response rate masks some huge variations across the sample. Almost 40% of trainers and 20% of British Dressage judges (Lists 1 and 2) did respond. I am incredibly grateful to these individuals, a number of who continue to help me with this project.
I had hoped that perhaps I would gain a statistically significant sample of responses that I could go on to analyse overall findings and implications. This has not been possible given the limited response. Instead I have used quotes from the survey to illustrate the range of opinions on different topics. Some day I hope that an equine organisation will properly fund and support a project like this to enable us all to benefit.
How to use this book
First of all you must read it. This is no coffee table book. And you must experiment and try out the ideas I am presenting. See if they work for you. Ask yourself - am I convinced this is worth a try? If it is then try it out.
Have no expectations. See what happens. Think about why it happened. Have another go.
Tell your horse about it. He’ll help you out.
Buy yourself an exercise book or a large diary with a page per day. At the end of each day, or the morning after, write down what you think happened and what you learnt. In this way you will write your own book of riding.
I want this book to really make you think. There are questions for you to answer all the way through. You will only receive the full benefit if you use them.
I want to encourage you to never regard any word as sacrosanct, whether written or spoken. Seek the truth, ask questions, challenge, experiment… take responsibility for your own learning…and start to do it now. The world will never be the same again. Trust me and try it. Read on and become a Learning Rider…