[Red roan rider1]

Okay so there is this new gal at the barn with a three year old green broke horse. The gal is pretty green herself. (by her own admission) She rode with me and was asking what kind of things she should be working on with her horse. She is not really planning to show and just likes to pleasure ride. She has a couple of teen kids who also like to ride the horse. We went for a ride down the trail. Her horse is pretty level headed and very quiet. It was WINDY out and he didn't seem to be bothered by much. He went up and down hills, through a creek and pretty much everywhere with no problems. And she rode him pretty good. Nice balanced seat and steady quiet hands.

So I started asking her questions to see what she knows. Pretty much nill. She knows nothing about collection, gaits, or even leads. I didn't know quite where to start with her. Since this horse is not going to be in the show pen any time soon (if ever) I'm not sure if she needs to know all the finer points of how to train a WP horse. But to have a nice pleasurable horse to ride down the trail she needs some guidance. Her horse is very hollow & not using himself nicely at all. ( he is 14.2 right now and cow bred..looks like he COULD be very athletic) She would have a much more comfortable ride if she worked on movement a bit. I started showing her what Cash can do and she was totally in awe. But she was lost and most of what I was saying went right over her head. I know she had somebody start the horse. I think they did a pretty good job of that. But he has no buttons at all. She has no idea what to do. And I would love to help her but I'm not sure I know how. LOL. Any ideas?? So my question is.... How much Information is too much?? How much is not enough??

[spurjangleokie]

Personaly I think it depends on how much time you want to spend teaching someone. If the person is willing to learn and apply what is taught then I say start with the basics and just go from there. I wouldn't get into to much advanced movements with her. You could very much be what this person needs to get her and her children totally involved in horse training.

[Bruce Wiley]

Hello Redroanrider1.

Its like anything else, where there would be a need to start out with creating the basic foundation, having the proper upper & lower body postions along with teaching her about focusing on her seat, legs, hands with her understanding those unique functions which should aid and effects her sitting balance plus steering and when to apply such aids in order to be able to communicate her intentions, so the horse can understand on when and how to respond to her requests.

Theres no point to it all with filling her head up with riding methods such as collection etc and this could be view and understood as purchasing a book for the purpose of reading and trying to find out who, when, where, how and what going on but the indivdual only went thru with reading the last chapter.
So yes, what you have maybe already mention could be too much at this point and time.
As her teacher don't concern yourself with things that don't apply.

I also want to add this same situation would apply to someone, which only has a year or abit more of just causal riding experiences. All of that information can or could cause frustration and it would be due to the uncertainity along with some other possible confusion.

If you're going to become her teacher, you must first be prepared with understanding your student shouldn't and can't help with the structure and order of your lessons.
Look at your lesson plan, and consider what must be the first few things taught, where you must stay and dwell on, until she is able to master and move to the next phase, in which that phase must be already be prepare so theres no need to have to create it on the fly.
Effective teachers will have their road map of teaching all laid out, so they will already know when and where to dwell on and with their teaching intentions.
They are much aware of how not doing so could and can effect their own performances, likewise the student development.

Best of luck and I hope this insight helps.

[Red roan rider1]

Bruce. I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Your advice helps greatly. I can train and show my own horse successfully, but I just don't think I have the patience or ability to train somebody else to do it.....Can I send her to you. LOL.

[tabinmaine]

Teach her how to do the "one rein stop" if she is going to be out on trails with a 3yr old horse. Could be one of the most important things she ever learns !!

Maybe also how to ask for softness, flexion and giving...teach her pressure and how to get the horse to move away from it .... she can incorporate that on the ground and in the saddle...