But it helps the instructors too, because it solidifies what they know and makes the teaching better because they have to know the ride and be able to do it themselves. While teaching boarders on their own mounts, Nancy has discovered that the forward riding system improves the animals' attitudes. The horse is much happier because the rider is working with the horse as opposed to working against him. And results come more quickly too, because the rider is not creating resistance. She makes the horse think it's his idea.
Happy horses make for successful lessons, and allow for more rapid improvement on the rider's part.
From the very beginning, students at McNair's are taught to respect and consider the horse. For example, we teach them to use the mane and neck to balance, rather than using the horse's mouth. We do a lot of balance and rhythm exercises to encourage students to move with the horse. The way that we teach has been a large part of the success of our lesson program at McNair's. Which shows that the forward riding system is not only effective, it's sound business practice too.