5 Elements of Equitation - Element 2 - Skills

Skills are how we bring ideas and knowledge to life. They’re the actions we take to communicate with the horse and grow as riders, trainers, and coaches.  Good balance, timing, and feel are essential for riders. Trainers need patience and the ability to understand what each horse is telling them. Coaches must connect with riders, helping them grow without overwhelming them.

Skills aren’t just about doing things right, let me say that louder for those in the back - Skills aren’t just about doing things right.  They’re about learning to listen and adapt. Every ride, lesson, or interaction should be an opportunity to improve, not just technically but emotionally too.

Learning a new skill can feel awkward at first - our timing is off, our balance isn’t quite right, and we make mistakes. But this is all part of the process. Learning from each mistake brings us closer to understanding.

To build skills, we need two important qualities:

Humility: The willingness to admit we don’t know everything and to seek help from teachers, experiences, and even the horse itself.  To take pride and ego out of the equation.

Persistence: The determination to keep practicing, even when progress feels slow or difficult. 

Learning new skills also teaches us patience. It’s not only about trying to get it right - it’s about enjoying the process and being open to the lessons along the way.  I will admit that I hate the first part of learning any new skill.  It doesn’t feel good to see just how bad you might be at something in the beginning.

A few useful skills acquired when working with horses that are simple yet powerful.

Balance: Staying steady and calm, both physically and emotionally.

Timing: Knowing when to ask the horse for something and when to wait or step back.

Observation: Noticing the small things, like changes in the horse’s behavior or mood, and understanding what they mean.

Adaptability: Being flexible and adjusting your approach based on what the horse needs.

Some of the most important skills aren’t technical - they’re personal:

Patience: Giving the horse, rider, or yourself time to process and allowing progress to unfold naturally.

Empathy: Seeing things from the horse’s or rider’s perspective and adjusting your actions to meet its needs.

Self-Awareness: Understanding how our emotions and energy affect the horse and learning to manage them.

These skills help us build trust and connection, not just with the horse but in every part of life.

Developing and honing skills isn’t necessarily about being the best rider - it’s also about personal development. Each skill challenges us to focus, stay disciplined, and be present with ourselves and our horses. 

Learning new skills also reminds us of our limits. No matter how much we improve, there will always be more to learn. This isn’t something to fear; it’s something to embrace.  The more we learn, the more we realize that riding isn’t about controlling the horse - it’s about building a deep and meaningful relationship.

The best skills aren’t about what we can make a horse do; they’re about how we can listen, respond, and grow together. This is what makes being an equestrian so much more than just a sport - it’s an art and a way of connecting with another being.

Follow along for  Element 3: “Education”

© Sarah Orloff, Still Waters Equitation 2024. All rights reserved. Sharing of this article is encouraged, provided it remains in its original form and proper credit is given to the author. Reproducing, modifying, or using this content without explicit permission is prohibited. Contact the author for permission.