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• TopLine coaches ensure that riding is a safe sport at all times. Coaches respect boundaries and will only ever positively encourage riders to achieve their full potential.

 

• Coaches will only use correct terminology to ensure the horse’s welfare is always a priority. 

• E.g: Riders will never be told to ‘kick’, ‘pull’ or ‘hit’ the horses.         

         Instead they will be asked to ‘squeeze’ or ‘nudge’ with their legs     

         etc. to keep both horses and riders comfortable.

 

• Horses will always be described fairly and kindly and coaches will never label horses in a negative way nor will this be tolerated from our riders. A horse will never be described as ‘naughty’ or ‘lazy’ etc. and instead coaches and riders will try to resolve the issue by investigating what could be causing the horse to act in a different manner to how we expect.

 

Following on from this, coaches will look for gaps in both horse and rider training. We respect that there are always 3 reasons as to why a horse doesn't do what we ask:

• Confusion: This could be due to a miscommunication between horse and rider either due to previous training/ lack of training regarding the horse or due to the rider not knowing how to ask the horse correctly.

• Pain: Horses aren’t lucky enough to talk like humans and will struggle to communicate that they are in pain on a certain day. Although we regularly have professionals e.g saddle fitter, physio, farrier, dentist etc. out to ensure our horses are in top condition, there can be times where our horses need to tell us that they aren’t happy and this could be shown through not engaging with their work in the same manner that they normally do. Horses may also sometimes have physical difficulties e.g needing more muscle, not having even amounts of muscle, lack of suppleness/strength etc. (due to previous/lack of training) making it difficult for them to carry out certain tasks in their sessions. Coaches will educate riders about this and show riders how we can help resolve these issues over time and riders will be able to take part in this during their lessons e.g building up a horse's muscle over some raised poles.

• Fear: Again, horses can’t speak to us and tell us when they are nervous about something therefore they have to show us with their manners and actions. Coaches will help riders to recognise when a horse is showing signs of fear and help both the horse and the rider to work through the issue.

 

• Our horses regularly have the physio out to keep them happy and show us where any tightness/tension is in the horses. Our physio gives us focus points for the horses and exercises we can do to help them e.g some horses may need to focus more on leg yielding/ polework so coaches will use these focus points in lessons to help keep the horses comfortable and in the best condition they can be in.

 

• TopLine doesn’t hide any weakness/lameness in horses and instead will treat the horse appropriately and will use the issue to educate riders and involve our clients in the rehab processes to help get them in top form again.

 

• We encourage our clients to ask as many questions about our horses' care/training plans, staff are happy to educate about individual horses and relate this to the work they are doing in their lessons. We also encourage riders to be as involved in the care of horses as possible before and after their session e.g grooming, tacking up, untacking, sponging off. 

 

• TopLine is open about tack changes to horses, we want our horses to be as comfortable as possible so will take feedback from our riders openly and will be honest about plans of action. Our horses regularly have the saddle fitter out to make sure that their saddles are always comfortable so they can perform at their happiest.

 

• Coaches may use the lunge whip in lessons however we are open about how to use it and will use this as an extension of our hand in the manner it is made to be used in. We will never chase our horses or create any sense of fear to the rider or horse and instead will encourage the horse more from the ground as they will be familiar with from their groundwork training e.g lunging. 

 

• Riders may use a whip in their lessons however coaches will always explain how to use the whip/why we may use the whip. E.g we use the whip on shoulder or hindquarter to help push the horse in instances like lateral work, or we can use it behind the leg to encourage the horse forwards or to maintain the horse's attention.

 

• Coaches use scales to base training for both horses and riders. All riders are trainers to the horses that they ride and coaches always expect riders to respect horses at all times. Horses should be given praise with gentle scratching/patting. Horses and Riders will also be given rest breaks during lessons. Scales of training (shown below) are used in sessions regularly to show riders where they and their horses are working currently and where they are working towards and they will be given correct exercises and advice to reach these targets. Each level will be explained and riders will know what they need to do to reach the next level and they will learn why it is important to progress through each level.

 

Scales of Training

 

Connection

Suppleness

Rhythm/Willingness

Relaxation

 

Rider Scale of Training

 

Coordination of aids

Giving aids                             

Adjusting to movement

Suppleness

Balance

 

Shaping Scale of training:

 

Proof - Horse under stimulus. Rider/Handler has control anywhere anytime.

Contact - Horse maintains contact.

Straightness - Horse maintains direction and straightness.

Rhythm - Horse maintains rhythm and tempo.   

Obedience - Horse offers immediate response.

Basic Attempt - Horse offers an attempt.

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Through application of these scales we have developed our progressive rider pathway and  ensure that our riders are able to achieve their potential and enjoy lifelong learning!