Friday is a Quarter Horse with a downhill build and a low-set, thick neck. He came to me late last summer, overweight and completely out of shape after spending years standing around in a pasture. He had been ridden, but not recently, and not extensively. At age 15, he knew how to stop and more or less steer, but nothing else. Riding him felt like maneuvering a large boat in choppy waters. But he was sound, gentle, and seemed willing to learn. His owner was looking to re-home him. One of my students, an older, somewhat timid rider, fell in love with Friday’s teddy bear face and quiet demeanor. I liked how confident she felt riding Friday. From day one, she found him trustworthy. When in doubt about what he was supposed to do, he would just stop.
We went to work, twenty minutes at a time, a lot of it at the walk. He was happy to go, but ran out of steam quickly, like a middle-aged guy slogging through a couch-to-5k program. We focused on the basics: rhythm and a steady tempo in all three gaits, with his large body finding some degree of alignment between imaginary guard rails. He had not heard much about contact, connection, or correct bend, but, once I introduced these concepts, the lightbulb moments kept happening. Transitions became less haphazard and more fluid. Circles became rounder. His gaits became easier to sit.
Six months later, Friday is much fitter, much more balanced, and a joy to ride. He knows how to form a cohesive unit with his rider. He understands subtle aids. He moves much more gracefully now, with a smaller turning radius. He will always have that downhill conformation, but I don’t feel a downhill horse when I ride him anymore. He is figuring out lateral movements and simple lead changes. He keeps learning and progressing. My timid student, who now leases Friday, loves riding him, in the arena and on trails. He is helping her become a much less timid rider and and an overall better horsewoman.
Friday has progressed so quickly because he started from a good place. Someone, at some point in his life, had taught him a foundation of basic skills. His ground manners were excellent. What little he did know about being ridden was valid, too. He did not feel defensive about the bit, or about moving off my leg. I had no bad habits to un-teach. Even more importantly, his trust in people has never been called into question. His disposition is mellow and sweet by nature, and he never had any reason to change. He expects good things from humans. We will make sure to keep it that way for the rest of his life.
Friday’s story is a happy one. Does this mean an older, conformationally challenged, still green horse is the right choice for every amateur rider? No, definitely not. Sadly, some horses are not sound to ride and never will be. Others have mental issues, usually human-caused, that make working with them a risky proposition, even for experienced professionals. But there are many genuine diamonds in the rough out there: horses who may not look like much, horses who were slow to mature, horses who fell through the cracks at some point. They can be immensely rewarding to work with. Progress - remarkable progress - is possible at any age, for any horse.
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