Borrowing Brilliance: How Blending Disciplines Elevates Horsemanship

Oscar and Steve: different worlds, same window. The best boys who taught me more than any textbook ever could

Cross-discipline horses together – Oscar the Quarter Horse (eventing, jumpers, hunting) and Steve the x-polo pony – symbolizing borrowing brilliance in horsemanship.

In the world of horsemanship, some of the best insights don't come from reinventing the wheel, they come from borrowing it. The most skilled horsewoman and men I know are unashamed "idea thieves," always on the lookout for practical tools and techniques that serve the horse, regardless of their origin. This willingness to blend approaches from different disciplines is more than just experimentation. It's the foundation for real progress and happier horses.

Why Borrowing Horse Training Methods From Other Disciplines Works

Over the years, I've pulled inspiration from everywhere. Polo tack on green horses destined for completely different careers. Long lining and double rein lunging lifted straight from carriage driving. Western dressage's focus on lightness, acceptance, and a reverse gear from day one—backing appears in their very first baby intro test, while traditional dressage doesn't test it until second level. These aren't random choices—they're battle-tested solutions.

When I was young and invincible and working a lot of very green horses, the transition to true bridle work was… interesting and sometimes tough. Think of the groundwork and ponying and round pen stuff as Latin. Then you pop a bit in their mouth and expect them to understand French. They struggle! They’re confused, some pick it up quickly, others you’re using the bit to pull their head around with a leading rein. Switching to a polo-style side pull-a simple, unassuming piece of equipment-gave them familiar cues and completely transformed our first communications into something that built confidence. That experience hammered home what I already suspected: stepping outside traditional methods often yields the solutions that truly benefit the horse.

Polo Side Pull Bridles: Why This “Ugly” Tack Actually Works Wonders

The side pull's design-a dropped rope noseband attached to  the most basic snaffle-may not win beauty contests, but horses love it. The waxed rope combined with the bit's double connection gives the horse stability and familiar pressure, bridging that gap between halter cues and bit communication. For example, when you pull left with a big open rein, it pulls their face left like a halter-same signal they already know. They put two and two together fast and are happy to listen and go on adventures with a rider they can communicate with. Riding at its most basic level is about clear, fair signals that horses understand.

What Dressage, Polo, and Western Riding Can Teach Each Other

Each time I've borrowed from another discipline, it's because there was a need. A youngster struggling with bitting signals. A training rut that required fresh eyes. A different perspective on what "correct" actually means. Blending ideas isn't about disregarding tradition. It's about recognizing that "tradition" means something wildly different depending on where you stand.

The traditions of the Spanish Riding School look nothing like those of a Montana cowboy. Each represents a unique set of knowledge, priorities, and practices shaped by their unique history and purpose. By being open to learning from both—rather than holding one tradition as the only "right" way—we expand our toolbox and give ourselves more ways to support our horses. Honoring the strengths of all traditions while being willing to adapt and experiment, choosing what best serves both horse and rider, regardless of origin.

Sure, sticking with what's familiar feels safe. Tradition offers community, identity, a sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself and answers to fall back on without exerting the mental energy to ask “but why”.  But horses don't care about our attire or customs. They respond to feel, balance, clarity, and trust. When another discipline offers a more effective way to communicate or solve a problem, it's worth considering—even if it means questioning the "rules" you grew up with.

Western Dressage Basics Every Rider Should Steal

Some of my most rewarding rides have come from stepping outside the box. I've been working with a client for a couple years now who shows western dressage, and it's wild to me how well the basics work when you strip away all the extras. No thigh blocks. Optional/rarely used nosebands (For the record I am NOT anti-noseband. But that’s a whole nother post). It's classical dressage principles without all the gadgetry we've convinced ourselves we need.

Watching her horse develop through this system—light, willing, genuinely through—gives me hope for dressage in general. And by the way, the pair I’m helping are winning their divisions. Sometimes the older, simpler approach is the one that actually fucking works.

Horse Tack Marketing vs. Reality: Why Function Beats Flashy Gear

For all this talk about “Try Something new!” in techniques, it doesn’t easily hold true for tack. It's easy to be swayed by "anatomical," "ergonomic," or "pressure-relief" marketing, but the real test of any tack is how it works for the horse. The answer isn't about chasing the latest innovation OR clinging to tradition, it's about staying open-minded and choosing what's truly effective, no matter its origin. A decades-old cord girth might  (probably will)  outperform the flashiest new “anatomical” one that costs $200 and is pretty. Not because it's traditional, but because it simply works. The industry knows that if something lasts and serves a range of horses well, you won't need to keep buying replacements—which may not be in their best interest, but it's certainly in yours and your horse's. What matters most isn't whether a solution is new or old, but whether it's functional and serves your horse well.

The Real Luxury in Horsemanship: Choosing What Works for Your Horse

Look, I'm not against new things. For example, I think safety stirrups are NECESSARY and I’m glad they’re safer and prettier than the old Peacocks. What I am against is marketing bullshit that promises miracles. Try everything, steal ideas and concepts shamelessly, and listen to your horse. They'll tell you what works.

The real luxury is having a horse that goes well because you chose function over flash, effectiveness over trends. If you've got something that works—old, new, borrowed from three disciplines and duct-taped together—I want to hear about it. Let's keep adding to each other's toolboxes.