11/17/2025
Riding is a sport that demands constant awareness and humility. Every horse, every course, every moment in the saddle is a new opportunity to learn. Even the most seasoned professionals, Teall argues, benefit from revisiting the basics, asking questions, and seeking feedback from others who see what they can’t.
Teall writes that “riders of all ages and all levels need instruction throughout their careers.” That principle may seem obvious to a beginner struggling through their first lessons, but it’s just as true for the riders walking into the Grand Prix ring. With horses, there’s no such thing as mastery, only improvement. “When it comes to horses,” Teall continues, “no one will ever know it all.”
The very nature of riding keeps us humble. Horses change, trends evolve, and what worked for one partnership might not work for the next. A good rider adapts constantly, adjusting to each new challenge rather than assuming the old answers still apply. The only way to maintain that adaptability is through instruction.
The amount and type of instruction a rider needs changes over time. Teall explains that “your need for instruction declines proportionately as you gain expertise.” A beginner requires constant supervision, not just for safety but for correct muscle memory and position. Every ride is a lesson in survival and repetition.
As the rider’s skills develop, however, the balance shifts. Lessons become more focused, feedback more specific. Advanced riders might take fewer lessons, but they take them more intentionally. Instead of being told every move, they engage in conversation with their instructor to exchange insights rather than a one-way lecture.
At this stage, instruction becomes refinement: adjusting the details, checking the foundation, sharpening focus. Great riders don’t need to be told what to do every moment; they need someone to help them see the things they’ve stopped noticing.
Formal lessons are just one part of Teall’s definition of instruction. “Your skills will improve,” he writes, “from reading books, taking lessons, talking to your peers, conducting or participating in clinics, or judging horse shows.” In other words, the entire riding life can be a classroom if you approach it that way.
Reading offers the chance to absorb theory and perspective from others who’ve spent lifetimes in the sport. Clinics and judging experiences expand understanding by offering fresh ways to observe horses and riders in motion. Even casual conversations with peers like discussing courses, tack, or training challenges, can trigger moments of insight that reshape how we ride.
The key, Teall suggests, is to stay teachable. Riders who think they have nothing left to learn often find themselves stuck or frustrated, while those who stay curious continue to evolve.
📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/11/13/why-even-the-most-experienced-riders-still-need-lessons/
📸 © The Plaid Horse
