Legs swinging with rib cage

[Speedy]

I was riding my mare last night and she felt a bit sluggish. I have to confess that I haven't done a lot of EE with her, but I remembered reading something on here about asking them to go forwards with the swing of the ribcage. So, I decided to try it. I literally just 'walked' with her (for want of a better phrase!) and her whole stride lengthened amazingly - no more constant squeezing. So I tried the buttock squeeze to stop and that worked too! Did loads of transitions between walk and halt, using belly swing and buttock squeeze and it felt like I was riding a different horse. Once we moved up to trot she only needed the gentlest squeeze to move forwards and a buttock squeeze back to walk.

I know most of you have probably been experiencing this for years, but I just had to remind you how wonderful it is when you first discover it!!:D

[Kerry's Partner]

I haven't been experiencing it for years - just for months and I don't really think I'll ever stop loving the feeling.

btw if I ever needed to be reminded this was 2-3 weeks ago and I can tell you that Kerry who stretched out put her head down and "took off" responded to my determined, deliberate intent, i.e. "I mean this Kerry, I'm not going to be tanked off with AND I'm not even going to attempt anything at all with my hands" plus, yep "the squeeze". Boy was I glad I had been taught that combination of mean it when you ask and ask "properly".

[Wally]

It's like the lights going on innit?:D for the horse as well as the rider.

[CityGirl]

Can you clarify what you mean by "asking to go forward with the swing of the ribcage"? Forgive my ignorance but it sounds like it worked wonderfully & I'd love to try it. Thanks.

[Kerry's Partner]

Click on Heather's "Kinder Way" on the site links list - you will find lots of descriptions there.

[luv horses]

kerry

could you please tell me you find this info as I have looked in the kinder way and cannot find it anywhere in there. I practice on a lovely pinto pony but he's very lazy at times and hard to get and stay in a more forward moving walk.

luv horses.

[Kerry's Partner]

Hi,

It's in the "Kinder Way" section called "Horse Movement" - here Heather describes the horse's movement at walk and suggests you look for this and feel for it.

I'm not a riding instructor so hope someone else clarifies what I say (because it is so easy to say something which misleads people instead of helping them). Anyway I'll have a go:

Once you can see it and feel it then you need to let your legs (separately) follow the alternate inward swinging of the ribcage on each side as it happens. The actual "leg aid" then becomes a purposeful "swing". Compared to when you just followed the movement the aid is purposeful, i.e. when you just followed the movement this was a passive thing but when you give the leg aid it is an an active movement (with alternate legs) and it is just, otherwise, the same movement as you felt when you just followed the swing of the belly so is nothing like a kick at all. Later, you'll be able to vary the pressure of each of your leg swings according to your horse's developing knowledge of this aid and your requirements of him/her.

[luv horses]

thanks very much for your reply Kerry it helped clear it up for me!