Week Ten: Foundations Are Not Basic
There’s a misconception in riding (or really in anything learned) that foundations are something you outgrow. That once you’re winning, once you’re moving fast enough or jumping big enough, you can skip the quiet parts and get straight to what looks impressive and ‘fun’. The best horsemen never abandon the basics—because they understand exactly where things unravel when pressure shows up. Now that the extreme cold has started to lift here - I think we are going to reach 32° once this coming week, we are quietly getting back in the tack and checking in with our horses and returning to details. The Ride Starts on the Ground Many accidents with horses don’t happen over fences or at speed. They happen while mounting. T hat should tell us something. This isn’t a formality—it’s information. It tells you whether the horse is settled or braced, attentive or distracted. It also tells you where you are mentally. If you’re rushing, the horse will answer that question ...
