Stand outside any swimming pool and ask the people coming out with wet hair what they have been doing. Invariably they will look at you a little funny and say “swimming”. But this single word masks a whole spectrum of skills and motivations. For some their swimming is a social activity; for others it is for physical well-being (health and fitness); for others it is because they have been told that they should swim.
Watch the swimmers in the pool. Many of these swimmers aren’t really swimming; they are simply managing to stay afloat between two points. They are content with this definition of swimming or perhaps they believe that’s all there is. Either way they have no interest in improving their swimming; in really knowing swimming.
It is the same in the riding arena. If you are happy with the effectiveness of your riding then this book is not for you. This book is for people who are seeking to progress their riding and realise their potential. Perhaps you are struggling to find the right way forward…or a top competitor looking for new ideas and inspiration.
It follows that this book is not about “learning how to stay on a horse” and therefore it is not for absolute beginners. I subscribe to the school that says that absolute beginners are better to throw away the books and let the horse teach them to feel what it is like to ride.
All riders (including beginners) are horse trainers. This is because when we are with a horse we are training him whether we like it or not. Good riders know this, bad riders either don’t think or don’t care.
Good riders also know that training is a two-way process. The horse trains us just as much as we train him. He trains us in the art of self control. He can bring out the best or the worst in us. Choose to let him bring out the best and what you will learn will benefit you in all walks of life.