08/04/2026
“Just get on and ride” is not always the answer.
I’m going to say something that seems to offend people far more than it should…
Not every horse needs to be ridden. And more importantly, not every horse is ready to be ridden.
I’m seeing far too many situations where the answer is still “just get on and ride,” even when the horse is clearly lacking strength, unable to lift through the back, or showing behavioural signs that something isn’t right. Riding is being treated as the solution, when in many cases it simply isn’t.
If a horse cannot organise its body without a rider, what exactly do we think happens when we add weight on top? The compensation doesn’t disappear, it gets reinforced. The tension doesn’t 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, there’s resistance, or behaviour begins to show up more clearly. But these aren’t isolated issues. They’re signs that the horse doesn’t yet have the strength or coordination to carry what’s 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 doesn’t make it less valuable, and it certainly doesn’t make it wrong. In many cases, it’s 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 don’t. 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 don’t need to justify groundwork. You don’t need to rush back into the saddle. And you certainly don’t need to follow advice that ignores what the horse in front of you is telling you.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about what we want to do. It’s about what the horse is actually capable of doing comfortably, correctly, and without compensation.
