The Making of a Brave Rider – Pick the Right Horse

Humans are wired to fear clear and present dangers. So it would be fool-hearted to place yourself in extreme danger. However, riding is classified as a dangerous sport and calculated risks are always taken.

Make yourself Brave by understanding the Risks and your Fears

It is important that the horse you ride is suitable for your needs and will not place you in unacceptable danger. It is also necessary that your mount is compatible with your present fears. Now we need to consider these two things.

A Horse Suitable for your Needs

If you are a weekend rider who can spare 2 hours a week for riding you do not need a naturally athletic horse. There are exceptions, but this horse will need more exercise than you can give. He could be sharp and explode with the amount of time you can give to riding, so basically, the weekend rider needs a quiet horse. What you need is a responsive horse who is also happy with light duties.

Identifying your Fears

It is important that your horse is not going to aggravate your fears and his personality must be one you can work with. Now we need to consider what your fears could be. Remember that fears are usually fuelled by poor previous experience and these are often associated with any of the following:

• Being bucked off
• Dangerous rearing that causes the horse to flip over
• Bolting off
• Horse falling while jumping
• Dragged by the stirrup
• Savaging through biting and kicking

Next, a look at these fears in more detail.

Bucking Fear

Some horses only buck when they are overexcited and fresh. This may be a small cheeky buck. In some cases, the bucking is more vigorous and potentially unseating.

If your fear is being bucked off you need a horse who does not like to “stand on his head” by offering a buck. There are many horses who never buck and this would be the horse for you.

As a point of interest, I once had a horse who bucked like an idiot in the field but never when ridden.

Rearing Fear

If you have had a horse go over backwards or nearly go over backwards this is a dangerous situation to be in. However, some horses will put in a small rear when excited without progressing to anything spectacular. This sort of thing typically happens when they are waiting their turn and want to get on with an enjoyable activity.

So all people should avoid horses who rear dangerously and anyone with a fear of rearing should go for horses who refrain from putting in small excited rears. This will not be a problem as the majority of horses never offer to rear.

Bolting

True bolting, where the horse is not responsive to being turned and is blindly galloping in a set direction is dangerous and these horses should be avoided. Some horses are just strong and want to get on with things and set a pace. A good rider who can set a rhythm and has good hands, suit these horses. Remember, some horses will pull in a soft snaffle but go nicely in a stronger bit. However, some horses can pull more when put in stronger bits. So this is a complicated issue.

If you are afraid of bolting, pick a quiet horse that always moves with soft mouth contact. In effect, your horse must be the type that has good breaks and does not try to take control. The sort of horse you require is one who “gives when asked” and is happy to stop.

Horse falling

Jumping horses can have a nasty fall through misjudging a stride, being over-fenced, or being ridden by an inexperienced person competing above their level of competence. However, if a horse falling is your concern go for a horse who does not like to clip his jumps.

Many bold eventing horses like to “rattle their polls”. This means that they make fine judgments when jumping. Other horses are less bold, but more careful and do not like to touch their fences. Some horses are both bold and careful.

Being Dragged

There are so many quick-release stirrups on the market that this fear is avoidable. Do your homework and pick the sort of stirrup that offers the security you need.

Being Savaged

Being savaged through biting and kicking is caused by the horse being afraid or being dominant to humans. Both issues are sortable, but these horses are not for the inexperienced rider/handler.

If you are afraid of being savaged go for a kind horse who is low in the herd pecking order. This sort of horse will not push the boundaries but do not spoil him with tip bits so that he nips you.

Picking the Horse for a Nervous Rider

Testing for Bucking, Rearing, and Bolting

This is the responsibility of the seller and you are there to observe. You are looking at the horse’s behavior in the school and also when being exercised further afield. If for some reason the vendor will not comply you should reject the horse.

In the Schooling Area

• The horse should walk, trot and canter on both reins without thinking of bucking rearing or bolting
• On both reins, the horse should jump a low jump without refusing and offering bucking, rearing, or bolting

Further afield

Observe the horse being ridden. Use these 4 scenarios to observe the horse’s behaviour for signs of rearing, bucking, and bolting:

1. Watch the horse on flat ground, in the company of another horse, and then on his own, all going towards and away from home at the walk, trot, and canter.

2. Repeat the above but now travel uphill and downhill.

3. Now have the horse’s behaviour tested when he is moving away from another horse, towards and away from home, on the flat, uphill and downhill, and all at walk trot and canter.

4. Finally test the horse’s behaviour when he is left and the other horse moves away at the walk, trot, and canter, on the flat, uphill, and downhill, and all at the walk, trot, and canter.

Testing the Horse’s Jumping Technique

It is not important to see the horse jump big fences.

• The bold and careful horse who drags his rider into a jump but judges his stride and gives his jumps space would be suitable
• The horse who takes his time and is a careful jumper would be an even better choice

Testing for Savaging

• Observe the horse with other horses in the paddock and see whether he dominates by controlling the other horses, who instinctively move away from him
• Watch him being collected from the field and led to the field
• Notice how the horse behaves with his known humans and whether they are anxious around him in the stable or treat him differently to the normal procedures for his riding establishment

Again, if you have any concerns reject this horse.