Remember; the horse is a living member of God’s creation; let us respect this fact in all that Do with our horses. We should understand that discipline is not force; it is something, which we all need if we are to Live useful, constructive lives. Just as our children thrive through fair, disciplined guidelines, so Do horses.

We ourselves need discipline if we are to be able, sensitive riders. This involves discipline of the mind as well as the body. We owe it to our horses to be as balanced, centered and disciplined as Possible when we ride. Abuse to horses is not always intentional; it can happen as a result of uninformed thinking and uninformed riding. We should be prepared to go on learning all our lives, as there is never enough time in anyone’s life to learn all there is know.

We should strive to think positively and look for the best in everything around us. We owe it to Our horses to be in a positive frame of mind when we ride. If ever we feel angry, frustrated, pent-up, or even very tired, we would do better to go for a hack, rather than to try to train or school.

Let us never be too proud to say sorry to our horse and to start again. We can all make mistakes so can he, so can we. Let us also forgive him when he has done wrong. It may well be that he Did not understand.

Punishment should only be administered if a horse actually threatens us in some way. A horse That has reared or bitten should be immediately punished; he should not be punished when he Refuses to do something because he is fearful unfit or simply does not understand.

Remember that the only way we can tell him he has done something correctly is to reward him. Touching the neck, praising in a low, kind voice, means a lot to horses. This can be done Several times in a training session and will reap its own reward. It had nothing to do with Sentimentality. All the great masters from time immemorial dealt in rewards in order to train better.

The training path of every horse should be done step by step - systematically and logically. We should never have to undo anything we teach our horses. Training slowly in this way builds muscles, mobilizes joints and gives the horse time to develop physically and mentally. It also Builds trust.

The proof of the classically trained horse is that he will grow more beautiful. The rider too will Become centered in every sense of the word. Classical riding is more than an art; it is a Philosophy, a way of life.

If you have read up to this point you may be making comparisons between your training style and the classical method. Part of realizing the potential for growth and development between you and your horse is constantly striving to become balanced and centered together so that more and more rider and horse become centered as one unit. If the rider is not centered or balanced it will also effect the horses balance and vice versa. In realizing this balance I feel it is quintessential to pursue measures that along with classical training promotes centeredness and balance. I routinely have body work done on me and my horses by massage practitioner and therapist Hope O'toole. She is a master of sensing energy and versed in many therapies that facilitate its balanced flow in horse and between horse and rider. I also in some cases recommend seeing an equine chiropractor and acupuncturist. Dr. Maurice Casey in Marshall Virginia is my choice in this area. He was recommended to me by Dr. Allen Schoen who is President of The Cornell Vet School of Alternative Therapies and noted author and teacher of equine chiropractic and acupuncture.

The classical rider is always mindful of anything that promotes balance or takes away from balance with this principle constantly in mind, good luck with your pursuit of Classical Riding Excellence.

Remember that the only way we can tell him he has done something correctly is to reward him.