1.  Be consistent – when asking your horse to do something consider carefully the best way to ask in order to get the response you want, then consistently ask the same way and consistently reward your horse in the same way when they do what you ask.

2.  Look forward between your horses ears when you are riding – this will automatically have you sitting in a better position that will communicate where you are wanting to go more effectively to your horse.

3.  Ride without stirrups from time to time – this will cause you to sit better in the saddle and will help improve your balance.

4.  If you feel unsafe on a horse then don’t ride it – if you feel unsafe, you will communicate this to the horse and this creates a recipe for disaster.  Know when a horse is not the right match for you and find a new home that is right for that horse.

5.  Start your ride with something both you and your horse enjoy and always finish on a good note – even if this means finishing sooner than you had intended, or riding for a bit longer than you had planned.

6.  If something goes wrong – start by asking yourself what action of yours resulted in the response you received from your horse and how you can modify your own behavior in order to get the desired response in future.

7.  When something isn’t working at the canter, try it at the trot, when it isn’t working at the trot, try it at the walk.

8.  Invest in ground work – the time you spend working with your horse and building relationship on the ground will benefit your ridden work.

9.  Be patient with your horse – allow them the time they need in learning something new.  Remember that some horses catch on faster than others and some methods of training work better for some horses than others.

10.  Always be willing to ask questions and get help – we are all learning.   Riding and working with horses is not a destination, it’s a wonderful journey.