Читать книгу Geoff Teall on Riding Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation - Geoff Teall - Страница 13

There is an art to riding the horse. The art is in doing just enough with the training and doing just enough when you ride. A great rider is subtle in his movements. To any onlooker, it is not obvious what the rider is doing to make the horse respond. The point, in the end, is invisible aids.

Much riding today is nothing more than “Hollywood on horseback.” It is concerned with whether or not the riders are wearing the latest apparel. It is obsessed with how the horses look. It is all about long tails and current fashion. But, these surface aspects are not the foundation of good riding.

2.3 Equitation as a discipline doesn’t exist because it makes the rider look pretty on the horse. Instead, the rider looks good because a correct position allows the horse to move to the best of his ability.

As a rider and competitor, I want my horse to be in top shape and well groomed. Beyond that, however, cosmetics are unimportant. I am much more interested in my horse’s performance—and my own. Great performances come from great position.