Let's say, when you were younger, you were out there riding fast, taking chances, and now, well...

Things have changed.

Careful is the name of the game instead of "carefree." As a rider, the value of a calm, responsive horse is worth more than gold.

Sticky horses, spooky horses, bracey horses, naughty horses, all present challenges that, outside playful watching of our pasture pals, simply don't inspire riding.

So, if you're not as confident and your horse is not as settled as you'd like, what can you do?

Instead of a mile-long list of potential activities that professionals do to train horses and riders, I'm going to list three. I want it to be memorable. That doesn't mean there aren't more and perhaps even better solutions for you personally.

We have an entire coaching program to highlight personal growth and overcome challenges. For today, for this article, I want to highlight three activities that work generally. And by "work," I mean they are effective at training a calm horse and building a confident rider.

Exercise number 1: Hand walk for 100 miles.

This is the simplest activity, requiring little to no skill, just walking with your horse. You might only get a mile a day, but by the end of the year, your horse (and this comes from testimonials around the world) will be better in almost every way. Going that great distance helps you find harmony, and you start to see diminished reactions and a trustworthy partner. It's not until about mile 60 that the results become evident, so be patient.

Exercise number 2: Two-line driving.

If you want to simulate riding without risk of injury, driving from behind is your best friend. It causes the horse to operate with you in his blind spot, at a safe distance. It trains stopping, steering, transitions, and obstacle negotiation.

It's more difficult than leading, but those who commit to learning it advance in ways that never seem possible.

Exercise number 3: Bravery testing galore.

If you want a calm, responsive horse, you need one that doesn't jump twice. It's important to note that one spook never really harms a rider; it's the spook after that gets you because you're unseated and your horse is ready to fly. A horse that spooks in place or does one small jump is one anyone can ride and recover their balance because the horse is standing stable.

Many trainers imply a horse can be spook-free with training. That's not realistic. Not even for people who don't have the prey animal instinct. We still get surprised, even as humans. But the initial surprise can be trained to be stable and rideable for a horse, fostering trust that when things get scary, they don't escalate. This builds massive confidence in a rider and horse.

Bravery training is playful and creative. Flags, tarps, noises, moving away, moving toward, moving behind, etc. The more creative you get, the more points toward confidence you get. Change speeds, change approach angles, change sizes and shapes. Be rewarding for standing their ground, and before you know it, you have a brave horse that's ready for any rider.

As with all training, timing and feel matter, but so does creativity, persistence, and patience. The world is yours if you want it.

Cheers to your success and renewing that feeling when we were young: riding with confidence.

​Don Jessop