Horses are no different than ourselves in many ways...If you wonder what your horse feels...think of you in that situation..

So often, I hear new horse owners being bombarded with information immediately upon entering into the world of "Horse Ownership". They become overwhelmed pretty quickly. Barn owners, trainers, equine professionals of all sorts, and opinionated fellow horse loving people all have the Be All End All answers to everything you are experiencing with your horse...given generically in every situation. Answers repeated endlessly from text books written 10 years ago that lists and ailment and a treatment outdated and often ineffective. Very few people stop and assess the situation at hand and make an educated judgement based on their exploration and understanding of the situation at hand.

...And here is just a beautiful video of Jesse's Girl learning to jump. She is a Polo Pony Rescue.

My personal method is to always listen to all opinions and think them over... gauging the likelihood of  the suggested advice helping to improve my horse or my horse's situation. There is something so bizarre about the equine culture. In some ways it can be so stagnant and steeped in "Traditional"  practices it is barbaric in some cases, the pain of a bit against gum tissue in inexperienced hands, spurs that dig in and say nothing to a inadequately negotiated with horse. Does your horse want to be with you in what you are doing with him. I like to call this "High Class Horse Abuse". Jess (The above horse) is from this world. Polo is a fancy, high class, "Sport of Kings. Many of these horses, and many horses in all equine sport disciplines experience an abuse that is painful to them but somewhat ignorable to the humans involved. 

I recall going to the Equine Affair in Pomona California in 2007 or so...I needed to charge my phone so I snuck into the back of a lecture hall of 500 or so people... the speaker was a late in life cowboy of limited scope...he said "Horses do not have emotions"...I literally spit by accident into laughter. Anyone that loves their horse knows that they for sure have emotions...and dramatic ones at that.

"What is good for the horse, is rarely convenient for the human"- Inge Halliday

In conclusion, you will ultimately have to be the one to decide what is best for your equine friend. Basically all you have to do to figure out how your horse feels; is to think of yourself in the same situation. It's that simple. You want freedom. You want Love. You want understanding. You want food. You want water. You want somewhere nice to sleep. You want fun. You want friends. You want peace....and sometimes yer in a shitty mood...if there a difference between horses and humans?

Frustrated kids at fancy hunter jumper barns-what happened to just having fun with your horse? oh it doesn't make money...ah yes

I must write this now! This is such a common story, at least here in SoCal. Kid loves horses, kid starts riding, kid goes into full training, kid loses love of horses... What the Fuh? If you don't understand something-follow the money and the ego trail. I just had a concerned father call me and say that his son has been in full training at a hunter jumper barn and they are basically abusive to them telling them their horse is not good enough and that they must buy a $30,000-$50,000 horse.

Be a kid forever-me n my friend bein kids:)

Riding should be fun for you and for the horse. Not just push push push. Win ribbons. Not just for something to brag about to the other parents. Like my kid is a bla bla bla! First and foremost is your kid actually happy with their horse experience. All the kids I've seen here in Malibu with overachieving parents who NEED there kids to be Jumping by month two of their riding whether it's safe for them or not, end up either having injured children or kids that never want to ride again after they were pushed so hard through their formative years. This is something meant to be enjoyed. A relationship between horse and human. Curb the social climbing egotistical chatter and let your kid grow and enjoy horses at his or her own pace.

You don't need a super expensive horse to go far-you have to take the time to really learn to ride. That just takes time and actually just being on the horse.

For instance look at this horse

http://www.horsestarshalloffame.org/inductees/82/snowman.aspx

He was $80

Learn to ride by riding-riding alot -riding bareback-riding different horses-training in the arena-enjoying exploring the trails-try different trainers(I hate the oh no I don't want to cheat on my trainer thing-don't let anyone limit you)-watch videos-use your own judgement-learn from your decisions

When you think your horse is maybe unhappy or lame and your trainer says no keep going you might ask if the trainer gets something out of ignoring that horse's pain. If your kid is unhappy you might ask yoursef what is more important; creating happy memories and experiences or collecting $3 ribbons that will collect dust later.