background source: Ch. Lange, "Was tun, wenn", publ. BLV Verlag 2003
Horse riding is a sport in which everybody who systematically appears in the stable: riders, instructors, coaches, horses' owners or grooms creates one big family. Each one of them is completely different, but they are connected by their common passion.
But if you would consider it for a moment, it is possible to differentiate certain groups that differ in their approach towards horses, their riding goals, or their ways of achieving them. For example, there is a certain kind of rider, who is especially exhausting if you meet him on the stable corridor, and you try to avoid him or her at all costs. Other can command respect, sympathy, or even envy.
So, we decided to present you with types of riders, which are the most characteristic in the stable environment, and whose approach towards the horse is significantly different. Maybe you will find some of the features in your behaviour ;) Please, take this article with a pinch of salt ;)
1. Expert
Smart-Alec and "know-it-all" will give you his or her advice even if you did not ask for it. They know the answers to all your questions and will be glad to correct you. Usually when you meet them, they are speaking to their audience: other riders, who are not yet aware who they met. They brag about their successes = wonderful solutions of issues with their horses, but also about how their great methods proved helpful with their friends' horses. The "expert" often observes how other riders train and comment it from behind the fence. What is interesting, the "expert" always has some audience, who gladly listen to all his or her words. However, they never praise anybody, as there is always something requiring adjustments, in their opinion. Nay! They even know what to do to perform it absolutely perfectly!
The "expert" is the most exhausting type of rider to teach, because he or she always knows better than his or her instructor and coach. They cannot take constructive remarks and effectively argue with their riding teachers. Which is why they avoid cooperation with anybody, training on their own.
Note! The "experts" could rarely be seen in saddles - they avoid testing their skills while other riders can watch them. Such confrontation might prove disastrous for their "indisputable" riding reputation. If you are lucky enough to catch them training, please, do not be surprised that their "abilities" and "methods" do not work with horses. Nay! They even make the yet existing problems even worse...
source: Ch. Lange, "Was tun, wenn", publ. BLV Verlag 2003
2. Natural
No, no, we do not talk about people who can wholly comprehend Pat Parelli's or Monty Roberts' teaching. They know these names very well, but frankly speaking, they have never read anything of them... However, they fully agree with what is, allegedly, written there! The "natural" preaches his or her own truths, repulsing the riding society. Why? Because those truths are their own, not backed with experience, or knowledge, not even familiarising themselves with what those "natural methods" towards horses actually are.
Rule no.1: horse cannot walk in a bit, because that is atrocity and everybody who uses such heresy is a sadist! Whip and stirrups are pure evil! And the horse? If you want to teach him anything, you cannot force him! He does not want to canter? It is a sign that he is having a bad day. He jerks and attacks other horses? Well, apparently he has his reasons! He rears? Maybe the poor thing got scares. He pulls towards a pasture? He walks over a human while coming out of his stall? He bit a friend? Nothing happened...
The "natural" raises and teaches a horse, who would never respect him or her. Lack of respect for the rider usually makes the horse dangerous. It might be compared to a situation of a spoiled child, who was raised "stress-free."
The "natural" is as unpleasant as the "expert" because he or she always comment how bad everybody treats their horses. For somebody who meets the "natural" for the first time it might be a very nasty experience...
3. Whisperer
Your horse runs away from everybody on the pasture but from them. They have something that lures all the animals. You reluctantly ask them for help, because they are not able to give you any advice - they just do it. The most problematic horse in the stable, who causes even the most experienced riders fear, is as gentle as a lamb with the "whisperer" - obedient, keen to cooperate and interested in his rider.
How do they do it? Nobody knows. Which is why their make us so jealous. However, they are the people you can always count on them in crisis, so it is worth having the best possible relations with the "whisperers"! :)
source: Ch. Lange, "Was tun, wenn", publ. BLV Verlag 2003
4. Owner
Nobody has ever seen them in saddle, but rumour has it that they used to ride. They are famous from being just owners. They appear rarely, but when they do, everybody has to listen about their "extraordinary" steed's lineage, who was very expensive (it might be the most important feature of their horse). All in all, you have never seen them entering their "wonder on four hooves'" stall, because all they do is stroke him through the grid, most probably just to show off.
The "owner" is mainly somebody who is a socialite and an owner. They are harmless due to their lack of equestrian knowledge and will to spread it. In the long term, they might be tiring, but like we mentioned before - they rarely visit stables and when they come, they come with their audience (friends, family), who applauds their purchase and will "swallow" every story.
The thing that may be the most disturbing is their lack of interest towards the pet, apart from their visitations with their audience. The "owner" does not agree on anybody riding on his horse, or taking care of the horse. Brushing or taking care of decaying hooves is not desirable...
5. Most fashionable
They spent even an hour on cleaning and backing up. The "most fashionable" knows what appears in the latest collections of equestrian brands and shows on the manege only in colour matching outfits. Nay! They even dress in a way that matches their horses! Fleece wrappers in the summer? Why not! Of course, it they match the fly hat and saddle pad!
The "most fashionable" is not harmless. Frankly, they might even be useful - they would be the best equipment testers and a walking catalogue, all in one :D
6. Frightened
Honestly, everybody wonder why do they even ride? If that applies to a young person or a child - the situation is pretty clear: they are afraid of horses, but being forced by someone (for example, their parents' ambitions). However, when it comes to adult women or men, the situation is pretty much unexplainable.
The "frightened" still has an irrational fear towards furry giants with hooves that weight several hundreds of pounds. It does not matter that they learn to ride for many years. The "frightened" is always surprised by the horse's movements - each tail's wag, stumble, or snort causes the rider to tremble. They do not improve, because they are always tense in the saddle, and they allow the fear to take control. Such rider on a fearful horse is the worst possible combination, as the horse and the rider make each other tick. But very often the "frightened" does not have his or her own horse, so instructors give them experienced school horses, who would rather fall asleep on the manege than plan a sudden and unexpected canter. Unfortunately, horses who are "troupers" quickly find out who they have on their backs and will use the situation: they eat grass during training, make stops at the fence, especially in the manege's corners, they would move only at a walk as the main and only gait, and they would plan their own route on the training arena.
The "frightened" usually is a very nice and open person, who can listen to advice and stories about each stable frequenters' horses with genuine fascination. When it comes to contact with horses, their fear paralyses them, which is why we do not recommend watching their training (you will exhaust yourself along with the "frightened" from mere watching). While you share arena with the "frightened," mind your surroundings as they often cannot control their route ;)
source: Ch. Lange, "Was tun, wenn", publ. BLV Verlag 2003
7. Caring Mom
Her horse never goes on the pasture "naked." Boots, wellies, mosquito net on head and anti-insect rug in the summer, plus spray! In the winter, necessarily thick fleece rug (for unshaved horse) and obviously set of boots, halter only with fur (preferably on each element). If she could, she would pad the pasture with mattresses, and put her pet's companions in quilted jackets (especially their hooves!). Her horse is always sick - he has alarming symptoms! Look at his eyes! I don't think he wants to ride today.
Her steed spends most time on a pasture, in the stable corridor during his "mom's" care treatments or on walking in hand. Sometimes he is being lunged, but he rarely walks under a saddle because his "mom" does not want to tire him :) For a ride he always is fully dressed up - wellies on all four legs, obligatory lining (obligatory even if not obligatory). Pretty funny view in the summer - the horse looks like one huge mosquito net that smells like all fly specifics available on the market. Her horse walked 10 minutes on lunge? A little rubbing never hurt anybody! First warming, the next day cooling. Being in stall? only in rug and boots!
Top topic (and the only topic) with the "mom" is her horse. Lectures about his humour, health, behaviour during riding, or diet are everyday things :) The "mom" constantly talks to her horse, and her tone reminds slobbering over a few-months-old child :)
The "caring mom" calls her veterinarian all the time, which is why you can always ask her for a good vet's or a smith's number. The "mommy" would not allow for poor shoeing or her horse's illness! :) Who knows such people? :)
source: Ch. Lange, "Was tun, wenn", publ. BLV Verlag 2003
8. Tough guy
There is no horse that cannot be controlled during one ride! He rears? Shies? It does not matter, he has a solution to everything! Sharper bit, stirrups and whips in both hands + the "tough guy" in saddle will "solve" every situation and "control" every horse. The end justifies the means, and there has to be order! The "tough guy" sees patience as a feature of wimps and he is on the opposite side of values presented by Monty Roberts. He is a slightly "polished" sadist and "Conan the Barbarian," who has found his place in a civilised equestrian centre. The "tough guy's" hobby is collecting equestrian gadgets - he is keen on buying new weymouth bits, pelhams, whips (unfortunately they break frequently) and stirrups (slightly sharper, as the current ones do not work good enough).
We do not have to add anything, right...?
9. Cowboy
Dressage? Contact? Aid? It is not for him. He prefers alcohol on a bonfire, Kulbaka (equestrian area in Polish mountains) and long fields. The horse has four legs and that would be it when it comes to his knowledge about horses. The most important is to have fun, and that might be obtained by horse riding. Helmet? Real cowboys wear only western-ish hat! But stirrups can spice up his look. The "cowboy" usually has his own brave horse - good old mare with collapsed back. He buys bridle and saddle from his friend. Do they fit? They fit the friend's horse so what would not fit!
The "cowboy" is a cheerful person, but his hot blood might drive you crazy. Cantering from a stall, or mixing walk with a wild canter in field might get you across. The "cowboy" is as he is and you have to let him be, he does not imposing his ways on anybody and will gladly invite you to a bonfire :)
10. Winner
Riding for pleasure? Horse riding makes sense only during competitions! They still have not achieved anything, but it is only a matter of the horse. Now the "winner" has a horse that is not good enough, but he or she will find "the one" and show everybody! Trainings on an obstacle of 60 cm? No kidding! Whole parkour on a 130 cm. The horse is not yet ready? But the "winner" is!
The "winner" is an ambitious person, who usually cannot admit to making mistakes and he or she lacks humbleness. They blame their horses for all their failures, so they often change their four-legged partners. The "winner" expect quick effects and it is extremely hard to satisfy them.
If you do not know who will participate in the next competition - you might be sure they will be there :)
source: Ch. Lange, "Was tun, wenn", publ. BLV Verlag 2003
11. Everything for the horse
You always see them in the same clothes. It used to seem that they just happen to have several same outfits, but since they ripped their breeches, and the T-shirt became bleached, you stopped believing that. They often sleep in their cars next to the stable, and you cannot help but wonder - how do their cars still drive?
And the horse? The horse has everything - properly chosen fodder, vet, supplements, systematic visits from the best smith and the highest-quality equipment. Sometimes you become jealous looking at their horse. However, you still wonder if you are ready to sacrifice that much for your horse to have that all.
12. Freak
They always talk about horses with endless fascination and devotional respect. They do not ride at all, but they are very keen to just be in the stable. You will usually find him in the horse's stall. Which? Each, because every horse has to be stroked. Sometimes they surprise you, because you can find them, completely unaware, in the wildest stallion's stall. Reaction? The horse, like an angels, stands still and listens to what the "freak" says.
The "freak" is a lovely and warm person, who, regardless of the age, always reminds you of an elderly man, who has a huge sentiment towards horses. They usually come with somebody, who rides frequently - with a grandson, daughter, wife, sister, or a friend, because the "freaks" are usually men ;)
source: Ch. Lange, "Was tun, wenn", publ. BLV Verlag 2003
And what kind of riders do you know? Maybe you found a little of yourself in some of the above examples? :)
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