Five biggest mistakes riders make
By Sara Shalda

Limited knowledge.

Riders do not take enough riding lessons to fully learn the principles of equine/human communication and relationship dynamics.

This includes different lessons from different instructors that specialize in different areas.

In most cases people only require one or two lessons to really gain a useful amount of knowledge from that instructor, the exception being if the student is hauling for a national or world title…then every single lesson they get with that instructor is critical and should not be taken too lightly.

I see all too often quality riders that could be so much better if they would just expand their horizons just a bit.

Most people have no idea what their options really truly are out there.

Almost every rider I meet also could be a lot closer bonded to their horse spiritually, but that’s a whole nuther book.

2. Bad horse purchases.

They buy a horse that already has problematic issues.

The majority of these owners never are able to resolve these issues because the horse still connects them to the previous owner never allowing the new owner into the troubled place their spirit suffers with the trauma.

If the new owner has the knowledge to communicate with the horse on a spiritual level…the issue will quickly be resolved.

If the new owner does not have this ability, the issue will not only… never be resolved, but almost certainly transcend into a much more destructive and even violent disruption between horse and owner.

Most always, this leads to the horse being sold to another poor person who has no idea what they are getting into.

The one who ultimately suffers the most however is the horse.

If they are lucky, they find their way to a compassionate and sensitive trainer like me who quickly and completely identifies their painful history and explains it in detail to their new owner.

3. Attention to detail.

Riders don’t pay attention to the little things that have a big effect on how their horse behaves.

This includes things such as the things their horse eats…or does not eat.

Diet has a dramatic and immediate effect on a horse’s behavior, much more than most people realize.

Some horses are allergic to things.

Some horses are more sensitive to chemicals more than others are.

Some horses have genetic digestive issues and suffer terribly in silence until someone like me asks them about it.

Having a bad and even painful event looming in the near future can make any horse crabby and lash out at feeding time.

Most horse owner’s lash back and the fight is on.

Never knowing the horse is only frustrated because every time they eat they suffer terrible cramps and horrible intestinal discomfort.

They do not want to hurt people; they just relate the two because every time they get sick the person is right there.

Negativity + negativity = a nightmare

There are so many more examples I could share with you.

4. Dropping shoulders and hips.

Not being aware of what your horse is really doing underneath you. ….also the biggest reason for missed leads.

If preparing for competition…..they ride in an arena…on the rail…always on the rail… way too much and the horse never learns good guidance or self-confidence or proper self-carriage.

At every show I see horses dropping their shoulder and sloshing thru corners……both fast and slow horses.

The corners are not banked and your horse should not lean or be heavy to the inside thru them.

If the rider does not tell the horse to shift its weight… they should not. Period. At any time…..

5. Not listening closely enough to their horse…

99% of the horse I come across are depressed and frustrated because because …they feel trapped in a nightmare, most have issues their rider is unaware of.

Their voices are not heard and they suffer every day, this is especially true with show horses.

Every breed has their own unique way of torturing horses to get them to win.

In the first half of my life, I too fell victim to the pressure to getting to the top and in the process hurt my horses.

To read more see my website
Sincerely
Sara Shalda
www.sarashaldaperformancehorses.com