02/05/2026
I have often heard a rider say to their horse," we have been past that corner 20 times and you are still spooking at it Get over it. "
Your horse is never going to " get over it ". The horse is convinced that it has survived that corner 20 times because it spooked. It is now reinforcing that it needs to spook in that corner every time to avoid certain death. You as the rider have to change it's perspective. Its your job to help it think oh I stayed on the aids in that corner, the aids kept me safe. How does a rider do that. By adding a point of focus; it could be a downward transition, and immediately upward transition again, a suppling exercise, step of leg yield, a shoulder in , a couple of steps of collection or any request that changes the focus to the rider, not the corner, so the horses perspective now shifts to believe the aids, the rider and the partnership kept them safe and no longer needs to spook.
