Spring Horse Training Tips to Build Confidence. Asking the right questions before you get in the saddle.
- Dennis Cappel
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Clear Mental Horsemanship with Dennis Cappel
Spring is here and with it comes fresh energy. Warmer weather, longer days, and horses that are finally starting to feel good again. When horses feel good, they often want to express more energy than we might be ready for.
This creates a very real situation that most equestrians face every year: a time when things can quickly become unpredictable if we’re not prepared.
This is where confidence and safety really begin.
Not with bravery, but with honesty.
Your Best Tool: For horse and rider connection
One of the most important things you can do as a rider is ask yourself the right questions and answer them honestly.
Not what you hope is true. Not what usually works. But what is consistently there, every time you ride.
Because your answers will determine the outcome of your ride.
Start on the Ground
Before you ever step into the saddle, take a moment to evaluate your groundwork.
Is what you’re doing actually effective?
Or has your horse simply become comfortable with a routine?
There’s a difference.
A horse that is truly responsive to groundwork fundamentals is preparing you for a better ride. A horse that is just going through the motions may not be as ready as you think.
Now Ask Yourself These Questions
When you get in the saddle, you should have clear, honest answers to the following:
Do I have control of the feet without resistance?
Can I soften the neck easily?
Can I move the shoulders when I ask?
Can I move the hips freely?
Will my horse go forward willingly and without hesitation?
These are not advanced skills; they are foundational. When they're not there, confidence will be hard to maintain.
Why These Questions Matter
Confidence doesn’t come from hoping your horse behaves; it comes from knowing you can influence and direct their movement.
*When you have control of the feet, you have control of the situation.
*When you can move the body parts, you can prevent problems before they start.
Without that, you’re reacting instead of riding.
Spring Is Not the Time to Assume
Early spring is one of the most common times for riders to get into trouble, not because they lack ability, but because they assume everything is still where they left it.
But horses change.
Energy levels change.
When we don’t adjust, we can find ourselves in a situation we didn’t plan for.
Final Thought
Confidence isn’t something you turn on; it’s something you build.
Start by asking the right questions and being honest with the answers.
Because at the end of the day, your preparation will always show up in your ride.
The more honest you are with yourself, the safer and more confident you’ll be in the saddle.
Mindful Riding,
Dennis Cappel
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