"...because of the imbalance in the rider. So, it
stands to reason that if you try to perfect your equitation, the
ability of your horse to perform to its potential is no longer hindered by the
riders contribution..."
There is another factor involved.
The problem is that not everyone learns the same
way, or wants the same thing for a recreational pursuit.
I considered myself to be terminally clumsy for
the first 25 years of my life. I do not learn physical skills easily by
being told what to do. Telling students what to do is the basis for most
athletic instruction in the USA. It was only after riding for 5 years or
so with no formal instruction, that I realized that I was not
clumsy.
If endurance riding had required judging of
"horsemanship" and/or a formal graded program like Australia, I would have never
done my first ride. I don't think that I am unique in that
respect.
Yes, I know that physical skills can be taught on
a non-verbal level. The Japanese do this all of the time, but Americans
seldom do. One of the results is that children who need this type of
instruction, often decide they can never learn to do any athletic activity that
seems to require lots of instruction for participation.
Could I now benefit from some Equitation
instruction? Sure. On the other hand if some organization, rule or
governmental body ordered me to take lessons, I would surely explain to them
that they should do an anatomically impossible obscene act as I left to find
something else to do as a hobby. I just do not find lessons to be fun,
period end of story.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
