More is not always better.
Extremely low or high neck positions rarely lead to harmony or long-term soundness.
Riding forward is good, but hurrying is not.
Regular, consistent work is good, but relentless drilling and boredom are counterproductive.
Stronger aids don’t usually lead to better communication.
More repetitions of the same exercise don’t always make the exercise better.
Asking for too much of something can mean losing progress already made.
Trying harder can lead to diminishing returns.
Good horsemanship means doing the right thing at the right time, for the right duration. Good horsemanship rarely involves absolutes or extremes. It’s about doing just enough of something, not more of it.
Instead of giving a stronger half-halt, we may need to give a lighter one and give it back a little sooner.
Instead of asking for maximum crossover in the leg yield and losing forward energy, we need to ask for just as much as the horse is capable of right now.
Instead of practicing a movement or exercise until we’re satisfied with it, we may need to reward a tiny bit of effort or understanding, then quit for the day.
Good horsemanship means finding the middle ground between too much and too little. If we hang around them for long enough, horses will teach us the underappreciated art of moderation.
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