What I can do is to share with you our journey, as happy amateurs on an island with no riding instructors, on untrained horses, how we connected under saddle.
I think it is only nice to ride a horse if the horse would like to ride with you. Here are some videos how we started our horses under saddle. This has been a beautiful journey and it has worked well with three of my horses. One thing is to start a horse under saddle, another thing is to train the horse to carry a rider and perhaps most important is to train the rider. Becoming a good rider is not easy and takes a lot of guided practice.
The rider needs great balance, focus, body awareness, patience, strength and flexibility. If you like to be a good ride for your horse, it’s important that you take the time and dicipline to get fitfor it.
Here are some videos from our journey connecting under saddle – you are welcome join us for the next chapters.
Kind regards Stina
Chapter 1 – Visualization
Chapter 5 – From the beginning with Elena
Chapter 7 – Preparing to Sit Up
Chapter 11 – Balance with Elena
Chapter 12 – Game with Elena
Chapter 14 – Starting Jack
Chapter 21 – Trail Training Elena
Chapter 25 – Elena’s first Trail Ride
Chapter 27 – Trail Training Jack
Chapter 28 – Trail Training Darling
Chapter 30 – Another Kind of Ride
Chapter 31 – in the making…..
Yurumein Horse School (St. Vincent) 
I have found that it’s difficult to find a riding school where you learn the “natural” methods from the start. The “natural horsemanship” is usually only offered as lessons to experienced riders (at least in Poland and the Netherlands, where I checked), and I think it’s a shame…
Yes it is still quite new to have schools that offer another way of starting to ride, by first building the relationship. But if you were here, i guess i could teach you how to ride….
Much sunshine!
Stina
Absolutely true that it is only a true pleasure when the horse wants to ride with you as well. A lovely post!
Hello Sophie, thanks. Yes it is so nice when the partnership is mutual!
Thanks for checking in!