Where I come from we didn't have daily turn-out for the horses. We rode them Monday - Friday like most normal jobs and they had the weekend off and remained in their stalls. And it was amazing, come Monday morning, the horses were mostly calm when we took them out to ride. You might ask, How is this possible?

It was possible because the horses were in a 5 day training program, followed a consistent routine and educated to be good athletes. It all starts with the balance and understanding the horse's bio-mechanical and locomotive systems. I mean a permanent balance that the horse does not need to be reminded of continually (i.e. using half-halts). The horse learns to move lighter on his feet, not pushing the bit and not on the forehand with true and free forward movement. Straightness, thoroughness, and forwardness demand guiding the horse's brain toward the body's coordination optimizing the horse's talent. Balance creates coordination and the result of both of these creates self-carriage.

When the body is comfortable the mind will become comfortable. The horse will move with power and grace and enjoy his work, moving in harmony with the rider. We must never mistake true forward movement with speed, for they are not the same by any means. The more the horse moves in balance, the lighter the contact. Riding a horse in lightness is one of the most enjoyable activities in my life.

It is my purpose to teach riders how to ride in lightness in this way, to understand how the horse's mechanisms work and to help the horses live a longer, healthier life in soundness.