07/04/2026
So many steps before we get to this stageš
āJust get on and rideā is not always the answer.
Iām going to say something that seems to offend people far more than it shouldā¦
Not every horse needs to be ridden. And more importantly, not every horse is ready to be ridden.
Iām seeing far too many situations where the answer is still ājust get on and ride,ā even when the horse is clearly lacking strength, unable to lift through the back, or showing behavioural signs that something isnāt right. Riding is being treated as the solution, when in many cases it simply isnāt.
If a horse cannot organise its body without a rider, what exactly do we think happens when we add weight on top? The compensation doesnāt disappear, it gets reinforced. The tension doesnāt resolve, it either gets masked or it escalates.
This is often where people start to notice problems under saddle. The canter feels difficult, the horse feels heavy, thereās resistance, or behaviour begins to show up more clearly. But these arenāt isolated issues. Theyāre signs that the horse doesnāt yet have the strength or coordination to carry whatās being asked of it.
Strength, coordination, and correct function have to come first. And yes, a huge amount of that can be developed from the ground. That doesnāt make it less valuable, and it certainly doesnāt make it wrong. In many cases, itās the most appropriate place to start.
What I find frustrating is not that people choose to ride, but that others feel the need to question or criticise those who donāt. If someone chooses to take the time to build their horse properly, to listen, and to develop strength before adding load, why is that controversial?
You donāt need to justify groundwork. You donāt need to rush back into the saddle. And you certainly donāt need to follow advice that ignores what the horse in front of you is telling you.
Because at the end of the day, this isnāt about what we want to do. Itās about what the horse is actually capable of doing comfortably, correctly, and without compensation.
