“The choice of a horse must first be a love affair” Nuno Oliveira

Nuno Oliveira on Levante in Piaffe

Every thinking, feeling rider has experienced those moments in his riding when he knows he is creating art. They may be fleeting but surely that’s what keeps us coming back day after day to work with our horses. Horses have rapid reflexes and enormous sensitivity. They are quick to feel and understand the rider’s moods and cannot be fooled.

Working with a horse you truly love, to help him develop his innate beauty, both physical and mental, is endlessly rewarding. A rapport forms between horse and rider that is there for ever. Horses never forget. They always remember their first habits, which is why it is so important who starts out the young horse and how he is introduced to work.

In choosing a horse I first like to see if his general appearance, his beauty and the expression in his eye is appealing to me. I look at him from a distance and get a picture of the whole horse – is he harmonious? Is his demeanor pleasant? I look at his back and decide if it forms a good bridge from his hind quarters to his forehand and if he is built a little uphill.

Then I watch his gaits. I’m not into “model” showing, and although I certainly appreciate good conformation, it is much more important to me that the horse looks beautiful in movement than standing still. Of particular importance is his state of mind as he is moving without being driven or excited.

After this initial impression I will look in more detail at the overall conformation, and finally, carefully, at the legs and feet. I am not looking for any particular breed or color. There are good and bad horses in every breed though some breeds may have more horses suited to a particular discipline than another, and the old saying “a good horse is never a bad color” has some truth to it but color tends to be a personal preference.

As a rider and trainer it is vital to know that horses have truly amazing memories. They never forget anything. They will remember your aids, your voice, your rewards – and even if you are separated for years and then reunited, they will know you immediately. The same holds true for any abuse or severe punishment they suffer. They will become nervous and lack confidence and never forget who frightened or hurt them. Violence or severe methods of punishment should have no place in the training or handling of a horse.

“Bad horses” are very rare. If you encounter one it is likely that their problems were caused by insensitive, thoughtless, inexperienced or unkind riders or trainers. Of course the horse must understand and accept without resistance whatever you ask him to do but you must reward him each time he responds correctly and never ask more than he is capable of giving. This type of training and riding will make your horse your friend and not your slave.

Every horse is different. All the trainers I have ever met will say this but often they do not remember it when working with their horses. Every horse should be worked according to Classical Principles but the exact same system of training cannot always be used the same for each horse you work.

Correct dressage training should change a horse. It should make him more beautiful, give him a different balance and outline as his muscles develop, and give him a confidence and freedom that can be quite surprising.

This is where the joy and the art lie in riding. The feeling that you are completely “one” with the horse; that you envision the ballet that you perform together and the horse exhibits your vision!