The world is full of great riders, equestrians, dedicated horse owners and handlers, who are still eluded great success due to a lack of horsemanship skills. How many fabulously fast racehorses never win a race because no one can get them into the starting gate? There’s little good in having the best showjumper in the world if you can’t get him on the horse-float and to the show. Or the best reining horse that won’t let you put his sliding shoes on.
We have come across many, many talented and dedicated people who work so hard on their sport just to have a horsemanship principle let them down. If only they’d put half as much time into their horsemanship as they do into their sport, life would be so much the better for them and their horse.
Safety also, is another casualty of lack of horsemanship. Everyday, people are getting seriously hurt or killed around horses due to a lack of horsemanship skills. A great percentage of horse related accidents need never occur, if only people were educated in good horsemanship skills and principles. According to a leading university study, more people get seriously hurt while float-loading their horse, or mounting and dismounting than at any other time. Basic Level 1 procedures may well reduce the number of injuries on these occasions. The most commonly broken bone in riding incidences is the collar-bone. Level 2 impulsion programmes could well address this issue.
If you have a sport you are interested in competing in or a particular pursuit you wish to indulge, we encourage you to take the time to get your horsemanship skills up first. It will save you a lot of time, money and frustration … let alone injury and disappointment if you do.
At Quantum Savvy, our team is dedicated to reaching as many people as possible, to educate them in making better decisions, in keeping themselves safe and to not only survive the journey but have a great time while doing it. We encourage you to work on your horsemanship first, be true to your principles and then get out there in your chosen field and have a great time.
Read More Road To Horsemanship articles.
- By Meredith Ransley, Quantum Savvy.