A conversation I often have with my students is that a forward or eager-moving horse is not necessarily a happy horse, but maybe one that is out of balance. "Fast" and "forward" are not the same. Imagine sitting in a car with only an accelerator, no brakes, and no steering. That's what it's like to ride a horse that's rushing. What you might perceive as forward-going could actually be a nervous horse rushing and losing balance. A horse that moves forward quickly with hurried steps might not necessarily be truly forward-going. If we judge a horse's forwardness solely by how easily they move, we risk missing cues. A truly forward-going horse is relaxed and adjustable within the gait. Learning to evenly balance and use all parts takes time and is sometimes more challenging for some horses than others. Once the horse is stable in balance, it is often at ease in its mind, confident, and comfortable. #HorseTraining #BalancedHorse #ConfidentHorse #CalmHorse