Giving to Pressure

by Grace Lambert

There are a variety of reasons a horse should be trained to give to the pressure they would feel when tied hard and fast to a hitching post, even if you never elect to tie them. One reason is that they do learn to give to that pressure, and not fight against it. If they fight against it, there is bound to be trouble, as you can see from this image of a horse resisting the pressure of a tight lead rope. A horse can hurt itself or its handler, or at the very least, be seriously traumatized by pulling back against pressure without finding any relief.

What Happens When We Don't Stay Fit?

 by Grace Lambert

We've been hearing a lot about fitness from Mary for good reason. She encourages riders to be fit because she has experienced changes in her own body as she becomes more fit, felt the difference in her riding, and has observed how it positively impacts the horses she rides. She's also noticed the changes in her students who are becoming more fit, and she notices changes in the lesson horses these students ride. I'm writing this article in support of all Mary says, but I am coming at it from a slightly different angle - and that is to describe (and show you images of) what can happen when we don't stay fit (or even get fit in the first place). These issues are not theoretical; they are based on facts gathered over decades about how inactivity can cause a host of problems.