Autumn is upon us, and with it the harvest. It seems as if every field contains one or two horses, a cart, and a group of people gathering potatoes. The potato plants have been cut down and carted off, and the crop is being gathered by hoeing or ploughing. Mounds of light brown potatoes stand in contrast against the rich dark earth. On the roads, carts creak by, loaded with sacks of produce. Other carts pass loaded with firewood. It is a time both of labour and of reward.
I've just sent out a two-week ride. A group of fortunate riders are enjoying warm, sunny weather, and splendid views too in the soft, golden Autumn light. It is a lovely time to be riding.
As usual, Diane and I briefed the riders on the Sunday evening before departure. We explain what we expect of riders, and explain the various details that they need to know. Things like riding balanced with a loose rein, like leaning forward to attain balance when ascending a steep hill, leaning back a little when descending steeply, and do on. More widely travelled riders tell me that each outfitter gives them different instructions. Some instruct riders to lean back when going downhill, others (surprisingly) to lean forward. Some insist that riders take their weight out of their seats when cantering, and others insist on a deep, seated canter. Some require that a guide dismounts and holds a stirrup whenever a rider needs to dismount or mount (such as a rest stop in the woods).
Some of these requirements spring from taking every possible step to avoid risk of litigation. If a guide doesn't hold the horse when a client dismounts, and he or she slips and falls, that could mean a court case in some countries. That's a sad state to be in, both for the operator who is at risk of losing his livelihood to another's greed, and for the rider whose first thought is "what can I make from this?" It also makes such a charade out of a rest stop that some riders will be embarrassed to ask. Next thing, less assertive riders aren't drinking enough water, and problems with dehydration begin.
I've commented before on the way in which rising insurance premiums are putting up the cost of riding. There is a certain level of risk inherent in any activity. We can reduce risk by riding carefully, using safety equipment, having sensible horses, travelling on trails that are in good condition, not extending riders beyond their ability. However, even after taking due care, it is riskier to trot or canter than to walk. So do we restrict rides to the walk? It is riskier to traverse hill terrain than flat. So do we stay on level ground? One hears about frankly boring rides where risk levels are about as low as attainable whilst still on horseback. Others tell of fast, crazy, risky rides in places where it is difficult to sue in the event of an accident. The latter seem surprisingly popular, indeed worryingly so, and perhaps this is a reaction against the boredom of so much modern riding? I try to reduce unnecessary risks, those hazards caused by carelessness and impatience, laziness and ignorance, unsuitable horses and improperly prepared clients. However I try to make the riding interesting too, traversing a variety of terrain and travelling at varied pace. I believe that, taken as a whole, my way represents a justifiable compromise.
Other requirements seem odd. Leaning forward even when going downhill is very odd. A good way to "go over the handlebars", one would have thought. Sitting to the canter, irrespective of how the horse moves, does not seem right either. Some of my horses (the larger ones, in particular) are quite comfortable seated at the canter, whilst others are more comfortable with something of a forward seat and one's bottom out of the saddle.
It makes sense that there is a "best" or "optimum" technique to cross the landscape on horseback. There ought to be an optimal balance ascending or descending slopes. Either one leans forward going up hill, or one doesn't. If one does, one may keep one's body vertical, or lean forward further than that. (I plan to assess in more detail how Diane and I ride by having us filmed riding up and down slopes.) One adopts a loose rein, or maintains a contact. One sits all the time, or adapts one's seat to assist the horse. One has a very tight girth, or only a moderately tight girth. And so on. Style may vary, details of application too, however there ought to be a broadly optimum technique.
Diane and I do ask for good riding etiquette too. It appears that the concept of etiquette is dying out in Britain. When the guide dismounts to open a gate, the ride passes through the gate and stands still until the guide has closed the gate, mounted, and is ready to ride off. However, many riders nowadays simply ride off whilst the guide is still on the ground, unaware or not caring that the guide's horse won't want to stand still for mounting. Last week Diane faced a group (including a Pony Club instructor) who seemingly were unaware of this basic strand of good riding etiquette. If the Pony Club has forgotten good manners, how are young riders in Britain going to learn to become civilised riders? Not riding in standing crops, including hay meadows, represents another element of basic good manners. The evidence is that not all British riders understand this today either. Recently we encountered a group who took off across an uncut hay meadow, despite being told very clearly not to (though they should have known without being told!), leading to a problem with a farmer en-route. All were foxhunters, however I refuse to believe that most hunts tolerate such behaviour. Nor will Diane and I. Diane was guiding the group that trampled the hay meadow, so they survived to ride another day. I might have sent them home in disgrace. In fact, I think that I would have done so.
