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When a horse resists, hesitates, or suddenly feels different, the instinct is often to correct the behavior quickly. But Cricket Stone urges riders to pause before reacting. In her experience, effective horsemen don’t start by asking how to fix the performance—they start by asking what the horse might be trying to communicate.
“Horses don’t wake up trying to be bad,” Stone said. “They’re telling you something.”
After 40 years in the horse industry, Stone has seen how easily discomfort can be misinterpreted as disobedience. Many problems, she believes, escalate not because the horse is unwilling, but because the human response is too fast and too narrow.
Assumption Shapes Outcome
Stone explained that when something goes wrong, the assumption a rider makes matters. If the first assumption is that the horse is being difficult, the response tends to be forceful. If the assumption is that the horse may be uncomfortable or confused, the response becomes investigative.
“The assumption should be that something isn’t comfortable,” she said. “Let’s figure out what that is.”
That mindset, she noted, is something she has observed among experienced horsemen. Rather than pushing through resistance, they assess what might be contributing to the issue. Is the tack fitting correctly? Has the footing changed? Is the horse fatigued? Even subtle factors can influence how a horse responds.
Stone emphasized that this approach isn’t about avoiding standards or making excuses—it’s about accuracy. Understanding why a horse reacts the way it does is more productive than correcting the reaction itself.
Fix the Problem, Not the Symptom
One of the risks of reacting too quickly is that riders address symptoms instead of causes. A horse that rushes, backs off a fence, or refuses is often signaling something specific. If that signal is ignored, the behavior may continue or intensify.
“Good horsemen listen first,” Stone said. “They don’t just make the horse comply.”
She described watching skilled riders adjust their approach—not necessarily by stopping outright, but by reassessing what might be affecting the horse. That willingness to troubleshoot, she explained, comes from experience and confidence, as well as respect for the horse’s feedback.
Stone acknowledged that learning to interpret these signals takes time. Riders don’t develop that instinct from rule books or quick fixes. It comes from exposure like riding different horses, encountering problems, and being guided through thoughtful responses.
“There is no rule book for figuring out why a horse does what it does,” she said. “That intuition takes decades.”
That intuition, she added, is what allows many issues to become easier to manage before they ever escalate. When riders learn to look for causes rather than punish outcomes, fewer problems linger.
Stewardship and Listening Go Hand in Hand
Stone connected this philosophy directly to her work as a steward. When stewards observe a situation, they’re trained to look beyond surface behavior. What’s happening in the schooling ring? Is there a pattern? Are there signs of discomfort that need attention?
Often, Stone explained, conversations with riders begin from curiosity rather than accusation. “We’re trying to understand what’s going on,” she said.
That same curiosity, she believes, belongs in every rider’s approach. Horses respond when their discomfort is addressed, and many issues resolve once the underlying cause is identified.
Listening to the horse doesn’t mean abandoning structure or expectations. It means applying them thoughtfully. When riders pay attention—especially when something feels off—horses become more willing partners.
“When horses feel understood,” Stone said, “many issues become easier to manage.”
To hear more from Cricket Stone on stewarding, horsemanship, and long-term rider education, listen to her full episode of The Plaidcast and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
