Are We Listening?
We listen to our trainers, our clinicians, and our barn friends. But how often do we really listen to our horses?
CONNECTION CORNER
Listening.. A word so simple, yet many people seem to miss the importance. Many riders listen with such focus to their trainers in hopes to better their careers with their horses. They listen to a clinician they watched 6 months ago, or maybe they listen to their barn friends that they’ve known for years. Where does listening to the horse come in? In my opinion the act of listening to the horse is widely overlooked. Now, I’m not going to say all horses speak, because that is simply not true, however if you have the patience and openness, from my experience, they can be quite loud. When I think of listening to the horses I work with, I break it down into two categories. Observing or “listening” to them on the ground. This includes everything from tacking up and grooming to observing the horse while it eats. Learning what they respond to, good or bad. Maybe there is a certain area they like being groomed, or maybe there is always a muscle group that is tight and sore from the exercise. Listening to the horse and knowing what is normal and what is slightly out of balance make communication to your support team such as trainers or vets, much more efficient. I find it fascinating that a majority of the people I ask the question, “where is your horses favorite scratching spot?” Don’t have an answer. It is something so simple, yet connects you with the horse in such a big way. Listening to the horse doesn't stop once we get in the saddle. In fact, I think that's where it becomes even more important.
Connecting the simplicity of listening to the riding is also extremely relevant. I feel like there is a big push for riders to have the horses perfectly suppled, energetic, and moving beautifully. Don’t get me wrong, all of that sounds wonderful, but realistically, riders are doing their best to make the horses the best athletes they can be. Some horses are more naturally gifted than others, and there is nothing wrong with either. Horses are not all the same, some bend better than others, and some have more of an engine than others. Some are stronger in the contact, while others are light as a feather. Neither one is particularly “wrong,” it's just part of what makes each horse unique. It is the riders’ and trainers’ job to take the time to listen to what the horse is giving you and understand what the horse needs to make them improve. An interesting concept that I tend to think about on a daily basis is “doing nothing.” Can you just go straight? Taking the time to listen to the horse and do something as uncomplicated as trotting around the arena and simply observing/listening to the horse underneath you, is something so simple, yet extremely telling. At the end of the day, it is about the connection. Horses aren't robots, nor are riders. The ability to adjust, to listen, and to understand what the horse is telling you is what makes the partnership so special. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for our horses is simply to slow down, listen, and let them tell us what they need.
About the author:
Kerrigan Gluch is an international Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer with over a decade of experience. After success at the youth levels, including a Young Rider European Tour, she continued in the Under 25 division, earning multiple CDIO U25 Nations Cup starts and completing an U25 European Tour. She later represented the United States at the 2023 CDIO4* Nations Cup in Rotterdam. Influenced by the Dressage4Kids program, Kerrigan is passionate about developing well-rounded horses and riders through individualized training that builds confidence, understanding, and partnership.