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If you are like most riders who take riding lessons, youhave wondered why it can sometimes seem so difficult togo from horse to horse, and you may have wondered whyon earth you have to change horses in the first place!In most school strings, each horse has his own saddle and bridle. This is ideal for the horse, but not so ideal for the rider whohas to get used to sitting in a zillion different saddles - some ofwhich are comfortable, while others are hard as a rock. Somehave deep seats, and others have shallow, slick seats. Beyondthe saddle differences, there are the differences in the size andstride length of each animal.If you are accustomed to riding short backed ponies and youget used to the posting rhythm and canter stride of that smalleranimal, and the next week you find yourself on a long backedThoroughbred who has a completely different way of moving,it can be difficult for most riders to adjust.Now that we know why it is hard to switch mounts, let’s lookfor the positive advantages of getting used to doing this transition. By learning how to move easily from horse to horse, yourriding opportunities and options increase tremendously. As ateenager, I was a catch rider for a local stable. This meant that Irode customer horses, schooled a wide variety of differentbreeds, sizes and temperaments of horses for the show ring androde the bucks out of the school string before they were used forlessons. Professional horsemen, including trainers and jockeys,have no choice but to learn this skill as soon as possible, as theywill always be riding different mounts from week to week,month to month and year to year. Each different horse has something new and interesting to teach you, and by allowing yourselfto learn from every horse you can get your hands on, your experience level and expertise as a horseman can only benefit.So, what can you do to become more comfortable moving frommount to mount? My first recommendation is that you speak toyour riding instructor and ask to take a couple of private lessons.During those private lessons, I would recommend that they saddleup the three most different horses in the barn and work on ridingeach one for a few minutes and then switching to the next. Theselessons can be done at the walk and trot and the focus of those private lessons would be on teaching the skills necessary to be able toget comfortable on different mounts as quickly as possible. Included in these adjustment skills would be standing up in your stirrups and finding your balance in a two-point position while sinkingdown into your heels. This will help you work on getting as long aleg as possible and finding a good leg position on any horse.Another adjustment skill focuses on your seat. Once you sitdown in the saddle, scoot your seat forward. This will positionyour seat in the deepest part of the saddle, giving you thestrongest sense of security. In addition, once you have foundyour leg position in the two-point and have found a deep seatposition, I would recommend that for the first few minutes on anew horse, you ride with your shoulders slightly behind the vertical line. This will force your seat into the deepest position possible and help you feel well anchored in the saddle.Very often, the reason why a rider has trouble switchingmounts has more to do with their being nervous than it has to dowith the horses. When a rider gets nervous, it is a natural bodyreaction to tense and shorten up the large muscle groups in thebody. This means that your legs suddenly seem to be shorter thanthey were before, and it seems as though it is harder to keep yourstirrups. It also means that it is harder to stay in the saddle, andyou find yourself getting bounced around more than before. Tofix this problem, the rider needs to take a deep breath, tell themselves to relax, lean their shoulders slightly behind the vertical,push their heels down to lengthen their leg and work on controlling the environment until such time as you feel comfortableenough to move forward to the next gait or to the next jump.Controlling the environment simply means working on a longeline with your riding instructor, at a walk or trot, until you feelcomfortable. Or, it could mean riding in small circles or half circles, until you feel comfortable enough to use the entire arena. Or,it could mean working only at a walk and sitting trot, until youfeel comfortable enough to try a canter. In other words, a controlled environment simply means establishing a safe area orspeed in which you can give yourself a chance to get used to something new, before you ever do it!One final suggestion I would make is to consider buying yourown saddle if you are planning on riding a lot of different horses.In this way, you will always be in a saddle that you are comfortable in, and the stirrups will always be adjusted properly foryour size. As a catch rider, it is common practice to own yourown simple snaffle bridle and saddle that you use on everythingyou ride. This allows you to be certain that the equipment issound and comfortable. Of course, you can use the girth off ofthe school horse’s saddle because it can be difficult to buy a girththat will fit everything you will ever ride, but at least you willbe in a saddle that is comfortable for you. oChanging Horses In Midstreamby Bonnie Marlewski-Probert72 Arizona Horse Connection February, 2026Robinson RanchEquine Assisted Learning & Therapeutic Riding CenterNon-Profit 501 (c)3Changing Lives One Ride At A Time!John RobinsonExecutive Director602-268-4972 • Fax: 775-244-8049john@robinsonranchaz.org1231 E. Ardmore Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85042www.RobinsonRanch.org