by Stargazer, age 12

- Really sweet though sometimes a pain, you love them to death anyway. You find yourself imagining they are yours, and refer to them that way until the next girl comes along for her lesson on “your” horse. You grudgingly hand “your” horse over and resign yourself to wishing that it was actually your horse.

Lesson horses. As much as we love them, they can be a pain. They work all day, carrying student after student, and by the time you get there to ride they are tired and frustrated and can be the most stubborn creatures on Earth. Well, as much as you might want to just get off and throw the reins down, there is a way to get through your ride without blowing a fuse.

When you are having a problem with your lesson horse, a good thing to remember is to be understanding. You have to understand that your horse is probably not misbehaving because he doesn’t like you, but is probably just tired. Think about it. If the horse you ride is a popular choice at the farm where you ride, then he may have had quite a few rides before you. Even if there aren’t many people who ride your lesson horse, he may have had a hard workout earlier that day. Know that there is a reason for any behavior you get from your horse, and don’t get upset.

Although your horse is probably tired, that doesn’t mean you should let him get away with any bad behavior. Remember that everything you do is training. If you allow him to get away with misbehavior at any point, then he will remember it and continue to do it. Don’t let your lesson horse get into those habits. This can be hard, since other riders could let the horse get away with these things, but be consistent and firm. Be sure he knows that when you ride him or care for him, that misbehavior will not be tolerated. Not only will this help you get him behaving nicely, but it will help you establish your alpha mare standing.

If your ride just happens to go bad, no matter what you do, don’t get all worked up. After you ride, think about what you and your horse did wrong and what you need to work on. Note your horse’s behavior and think about what could have caused it. Were you unintentionally pulling on his mouth, causing him to throw his head up? Were you accidentally squeezing his sides, causing him to go faster? Think about these things, and when you come up with something, ask your instructor what you can do to fix it. If your instructor is a good one, he or she can help you with it and the problem can be eliminated. Then you can forget about it and move on.

Lesson horses are a great chance to learn and ride, though they can be a pain. Remember, be understanding, firm, and get help from your trainer if you need to. Keep pushing through and you’ll make it. It will help you be a better rider in the long run.