Please explain...the basics

[tigertim71]

Could someone please explain to me in the most elementary way possible, how:

a/ I get a horse to halt

b/ Go into trot, but know that this is not a canter

c/ Go into canter

I would like to know what my thought process should be, and how exactly I should use my seat and hand aids (which ones first and doing exactly what).

Thanks,


Tim

[xloopylozzax]

basic halt is squeeze with your reins- if the horse is well schooled you can lift and release with your seat (bum basically)

to get into trot you need to squeeze with your legs. trot is 2 time (1 2 1 2 1 2 etc) and for rising trot you could go up down up down etc. or you could do sitting trot.

canter is a 3 beat gait so it will be 1 2 3 1 2 3 etc you wont do canter (or shouldnt) until you are confident in walk and trot.

if you are having lessons (which is advised, dont just hop on a friends horse and go for it) then your instructor will help alot more.

[Joyscarer]

canter is a 3 beat gait so it will be 1 2 3 1 2 3 etc you wont do canter (or shouldnt) until you are confident in walk and trot.


And halt! :D :D :D

[LindaAd]

Could someone please explain to me in the most elementary way possible, how:

a/ I get a horse to halt

b/ Go into trot, but know that this is not a canter

c/ Go into canter

I would like to know what my thought process should be, and how exactly I should use my seat and hand aids (which ones first and doing exactly what).

Thanks,


Tim

Read Heather Moffett's "Kinder Way" section on her (one of the blue links on the right). It tells you everything you need tp know, with pictures.

[Jenny2502]

a good instructor should explain this to you basically you shouldnt need stirrups or reins to ride, it should all be done by the lightest of aids.
(yer right) my horse wouldnt go by seat alone.
although he surprised me greatly by letting me jump without reins in canter the other day :)

[tigertim71]

OK- I understand the basic halt: I should lift my spine up, release my body and then squeeze and release the reins, in that order (or body movement only for a well schooled horse)?

With trot, I should use my legs to create forward movement.

[QUOTE=Butcanter is a 3 beat gait so it will be 1 2 3 1 2 3 etc you wont do canter (or shouldnt) until you are confident in walk and trot.[/QUOTE]

I find canter difficult. I have read that you should put one leg behind the other before a bend, and squeeze with the inside leg. But the horse does not seem to respond smoothly (it's a bit like trying to change gear without using the clutch...). Why is this so?

[xloopylozzax]

put your outside leg back and squeeze with that one and add your inside one for more 'go' if needed and support so the horse doesnt just drift into the middle if you see what i mean.

you will ask for canter on a corner usually, you want a slight inside bend but sit up tall dont lean either way.

hope this helps :)

[lorna01]

Emmm, can I just point out that it aint only well schooled horses that respond to the seat

The seat should be the center of all riding.

The seat should have three points resting on the saddle. your two seat bones and your fork. (girly parts)

To halt, lift your seatbones to lighten their contact, push the weight down the front fork (dont lean forwards)
apply ppressure with the thighs.
push the weight down the front of the leg to the knee and onto the stirrup (not the heal)
(In order to do this correctly the foot should be level with the ground not with the heal down)

To back this up take a slightly stronger contact on the mouth if needed. (basically should be closing the hand more when holding a correcct and soft contact)

To trot, push slightly harder on the seat bones and open the thighs slightly to allow the horse to move forward. Apply pressure with the whole leg from thigh to calf (no heals) Do not collapse through the upper body.

To canter, turn the hips in the direction you want the horse to canter (ie. to left lead turn to the left) keep the shoulders straight if asking on a straight line turn if on a corner.
By turning the hips this should auto matically push the outside leg back behind the girth and apply more pressure on the girth with the inside leg. This may need to be exaggerated by the rider for some horses.

This is the bast way to keep a horse sensitive to aids, and any age of horse can be taught to respond to these if used correctly.
(I recently trained a dead sided horse to respond to the slightest touch in 4 weeks, he was 14)

The best book to read in Sylvia Loch's book, the classical seat part 1, an everyday guide for the every day rider.

This explains in depth all the feelings, aids, responsses needed to ride a horse correctly, safely and is ideal for all horses.

Hope this helps XX

[xloopylozzax]

well schooled is for me meant to mean not your average RS horse.

they become very numb to aids and learn kick go pull stop (not at all RS i must add but many)
one persons seat aids may be another person been unbalanced in the saddle very common in people learning to ride.

[cvb]

I find canter difficult. I have read that you should put one leg behind the other before a bend, and squeeze with the inside leg. But the horse does not seem to respond smoothly (it's a bit like trying to change gear without using the clutch...). Why is this so?

Has anyone talked you through the footfall of the gaits ?

A transition is not necessarily a change in SPEED, but more about a change in gait. i.e. the order of footfall

walk is fourtime (one foot at a time)
trot is diagonal pairs
canter is: outside hind, inside hind and outside fore, inside fore

so for each transition (walk to trot, trot to canter, walk to canter, canter to trot, trot to walk, canter to walk) the horse has to make a change in the order of legs !

The transition to canter involves the horse "pushing off" with the outside hind - which is where that "gear change" feeling comes from...

[Julz]

It's amazing how many RS horses will respond better to a kinder, lighter aid from one person, when many just kick it..... even if it's not used to it!

strictly speaking when asking for a halt, you need to use your legs/seat/thighs as much as you use your reins... as isnt the reins for controlling the front end of the horse?? so if you are aking the front end to halt so should you also ask the back end to halt also... by giving a light squeeze with the legs you ae asking horse to bring up his rear end under him, then apply the reins for a full halt... result should be a square halt. (ths is both fronts standing together and both hinds also standing together, forming a "square", a "leg at each corner")

walk and gallop are both 4 time, ie, 1234,1234,1234,....etc..

trot is two time when the diagonal pairs off hind and near fore/near hind, and off fore) move together, there is a split second of when the horse is changing pairs, so all four legs are off the ground at the same time, so the beat is 1,2 - 1,2 you know this is trot because it will feel "bumpy"

canter is three time.. if on the left leg.. the legs move as.. off hind (1), near hind, and off fore together (2), near fore (3).

[xloopylozzax]

i think some people are missing the point of the post, Could someone please explain to me in the most elementary way possible

someone learning (or at least asking, i dont know the person in RL or there situation) how to halt and how to trot needs to learn in simple terms and from doing it physically.

you cannot possibly read a book/forum etc and learn how to ride, yes the correct aids are good, but it doesnt substitute time in the saddle and been taught in real time with someone who can react as something happens.

over-analysis is just as bad if not worse as just sitting there and not doing anything in particular.

[LindaAd]

[QUOTE=lorna01;1843316

The seat should have three points resting on the saddle. your two seat bones and your fork. (girly parts)

<snip>

To halt, lift your seatbones to lighten their contact, push the weight down the front fork (dont lean forwards)
apply ppressure with the thighs.
push the weight down the front of the leg to the knee and onto the stirrup (not the heal)
(In order to do this correctly the foot should be level with the ground not with the heal down)

To back this up take a slightly stronger contact on the mouth if needed. (basically should be closing the hand more when holding a correcct and soft contact)

To trot, push slightly harder on the seat bones and open the thighs slightly to allow the horse to move forward. Apply pressure with the whole leg from thigh to calf (no heals) Do not collapse through the upper body.



Hope this helps XX[/QUOTE]

This is the centre of a big argument between Heather Moffett and Sylvia Loch, and some other people: HM says that if you rest your fork - that's your pubic bone - on the saddle it'll make your seat rigid and unbalanced - your weight should be on your seatbones.

And, with your weight on your seatbones, I don't see how it's possible to lift your seatbones (unless you take the weight on your thighs, knees or stirrups) or how to push harder on them.

[Julz]

it's not about lifting your seatbones, but subtly shifitng your weight.. this is a bit far on for OP who is just learning the basics... this is not basic stuff...

to stop horse in basic terms - sit up tall, look up, squeeze hands on rein (pull back a little to emphasize what you want - but not to the point that horses mouth will open) squeeze with legs a little - from your thighs, not the lower leg - , when you feel horse slowing, relax hands and legs. Horse stopped. (subconciously you will lift/shift your seat bones, and horse will this as the command to halt) it also helps if you think Halt

Op it takes practise!

when asking to trot, sit up tall, shorten reins, and give a little squeeze (this will let horse know that you are about to ask something different of him), then when you are ready give the command to trot. sit a couple strides, then start to rise to the trot. you should be rising as the outside shoulder comes back. (you have to look down to do see this, but you should always look up)

do you know why you should always look up and straight??

it's because your head is the heaviest part of your body, anywhere your head goes the rest of your body will follow. if you look down, and horse trips... you will go in the direction you are looking.

Keep your head up, and you shall keep your balance. Look down and you will lose your balance.

Same in canter

shorten the reins, and give a little leg squeeze.. go into sitting trot, before a corner (choose one), inside leg goes on the girth, outside leg behind the girth. Some people will disagree and say the opposite. but the way the horse moves his legs, you are telling the horse which leg to strike off from... if on the left rein, the first leg to go has to be the off hind, then followed by the near hind and off fore together, finally followed through by the near fore, which is the balanacing (lead) leg. if horse was to lead with the off fore on the left rein, then it would be off balance, and on the wrong bend, and the two of you could end up in a heap on the floor

[lorna01]

Hold on just one wee minute!!!

She asked for a description on how to ride transitions, now you cant skimp on these, how can you expect to learn properly if you dont describe fully tom them how it should be done / feel??

lindaD:

If you have your weight in your seat bones it drives the horse forward, so how can this make the horse stop??

My horse has a very sensitive back and reacts to the slightest movement so you can come and see if you like, even have a ago and he'll show you how to do it properly. because believe me if you have your weight in your seatbones he aint ever gona stop!

There s no way to ride other than the right way to learn how to ride.

XLLX: have a read of sylvias book, it wont teach you everything like a person can but it enlightens you to how it should feel and how you should act.

[starrynight]

I think it varies between horses though. Honestly my RI shouts if you sit on your fork. I personally find that when i do i'm in the completely unbalanced, tipping forward, going to fall off stage. Yes you need to use the seat to push the horse on but from what i gather that is a different movement from sitting deep to get the horse to halt. Our RS has many horses/ponies who will stop when you sit deep without even touching the reins but others who will keep going no matter what your seat does and they DO need a squeeze and a little 'pull' on the reins. (also you will end up really sore if you truly are sitting on your fork!)

There s no way to ride other than the right way to learn how to ride.

I'm sorry but many RIs vary in their teaching methods not only that but riding style as such depends very much on the person and how secure they feel and on the horse they are riding. SO there are actually many ways to learn how to ride as you put it. I'm not being nasty and i know i'm not that smart when it comes to riding but i thought i'd say that there is a lot of 'disagreement' out there and i think we just need to accept that!

[vimto92]

tigertim, are you getting lessons?

[LindaAd]

Hold on just one wee minute!!!

<snip>?

lindaD:

If you have your weight in your seat bones it drives the horse forward, so how can this make the horse stop??

My horse has a very sensitive back and reacts to the slightest movement so you can come and see if you like, even have a ago and he'll show you how to do it properly. because believe me if you have your weight in your seatbones he aint ever gona stop!



XLLX: have a read of sylvias book, it wont teach you everything like a person can but it enlightens you to how it should feel and how you should act.


If your weight isn't in your seatbones, where is it? In your stirrups? Or are you just hovering two inches above the horse? It see ms to me that your seatbones are what you sit on, but maybe I'm not understanding what you mean by "weight" and "seatbones" ...

I've read several of Sylvia Loch's books, I've watched her videos, and I've seen her at a demo. I think she's 100% wonderful, in every other respect but this bit about weight on the pubic bone puzzles me.

[LindaAd]

i this is a bit far on for OP who is just learning the basics... this

is not basic stuff...


r

You're right, Julz, it is – and I remember my RI telling me it was too advanced for me when I was a lot further on than the OP.

OK, let's see if we can make it really, really simple.

Use the reins either to restrain the horse or to allow him to move forward.

Restraint is for downward transitions; that means (roughly) moving to a slower pace - from canter to trot, trot to walk, walk to halt. You close your fingers or keep your hands still so that they're not moving with the horse's head any more. Don't pull.

Allowing, you open your fingers a little so that he feels he can go forward.

For legs, you close them, maybe squeeze, whichever way you're going. Maybe for upward transitions (that's the other way round from downward) a harder squeeze or a nudge (or sometimes a boot in the ribs if it's a RC horse - let's not be unrealistic here!).

Halt to walk: just squeeze legs and allow forward.
Walk to trot: as walk, but shorten your reins first, as horse's head will come up higher, and lots of RS horses understand this as a cue to trot.
Trot to canter: shorten reins again, sit for a few strides if you're doing rising trot, look to the outside if you're on a circle, and ask for upward transition (squeeze, allow...). I find that this puts your legs and your weight in the correct position without making you tense.

Julz is right about your head: always keep your head up and look straight ahead through the horse's ears (except for the moment when you're asking for canter). If you want to turn, look in the direction you want to go. Always sit up straight, and relax your waist so you absorb the horse's movement.

That's all.

But never be afraid to ask questions! It's the instructor's job to make things clear for you – if you don't understand, that's their fault. If you don't understand because you didn't ask, that's yours.:):):)

[lorna01]

If your weight isn't in your seatbones, where is it? In your stirrups? Or are you just hovering two inches above the horse? It see ms to me that your seatbones are what you sit on, but maybe I'm not understanding what you mean by "weight" and "seatbones" ...

I've read several of Sylvia Loch's books, I've watched her videos, and I've seen her at a demo. I think she's 100% wonderful, in every other respectbut this bit about weight on the pubic bone puzzles.

When halting our horse, your weight should be on your pubic bone!!!!! I think I said that did I not???

And at no point should you be sitting, it should feel like standing more than sitting, if you've read many of SL's books you should know that!!!

How does the weight puzzle you? you are puzzling me. If you've read her book she descrides fully why this works.

Every horse is different but the basics is the same, read some classical books, they all say the same thing

[lorna01]

Could someone please explain to me in the most elementary way possible, how:

a/ I get a horse to halt

b/ Go into trot, but know that this is not a canter

c/ Go into canter

I would like to know what my thought process should be, and how exactly I should use my seat and hand aids (which ones first and doing exactly what).

Thanks,


Tim


This is the original question, now tim asked for a description on hands and seat,

[LindaAd]

This is the original question, now tim asked for a description on hands and seat,

Sorry - I answered for hands and legs. Which I think are more important for a beginner. For seat, I'd say it's enough to stop following the horse's movement with your seat when you're asking for a downward transition - you feel it in your lower back, not your bottom.

[jinglejoys]

I'm only just begining but bascically to halt I stop riding and lift the reins.
Its not easy trying to write it though:)

[LindaAd]

I'm only just begining but bascically to halt I stop riding and lift the reins.
Its not easy trying to write it though:)

Do you ride Western, jinglejoys? That's what they told us to do the couple of times I tried Western... Just the lifting of the reins, I think the "stop riding" is pretty universal.

(love your username, but the way - it conjures up such a happy picture).

[tigertim71]

I'd just like to thank you all for your contribution to my questions. What this shows is that this is a real forum and that is good.

It also shows, however, that riding is not easy, but that it can be made easier by effective explanation. The quality of tuition is extremely important as are relaxed and knowledgeable students and happy horses.

I'm going to try putting some of this into practice the next time I go riding and if I have any questions, which I'm sure I will, you'll hear from me again...

[lorna01]

I'd just like to thank you all for your contribution to my questions. What this shows is that this is a real forum and that is good.

It also shows, however, that riding is not easy, but that it can be made easier by effective explanation. The quality of tuition is extremely important as are relaxed and knowledgeable students and happy horses.

I'm going to try putting some of this into practice the next time I go riding and if I have any questions, which I'm sure I will, you'll hear from me again...

yey, good for you XX

[Julz]

When halting our horse, your weight should be on your pubic bone!!!!! I think I said that did I not???

Sorry to rock the boat here, but.. sitting on your pubic bone?? if you are sitting on your pubic bone, you are tipped forwards, and will be lacking in balance. (it's also known as "sitting on your F***y") assuming that tigertim is a lad, it wll be a tad difficult for him to acheive this position.



*And at no point should you be sitting, it should feel like standing more than sitting, **if you've read many of SL's books you should know that!!!



*only if you are doing hi tech dressage.. us minions doing regular riding will be sitting with our knees bent


**who is Sylvia Loch?? I dont ride in classical dressage, and im quite sure that the average beginner doesnt either.

[lorna01]

Sorry to rock the boat here, but.. sitting on your pubic bone?? if you are sitting on your pubic bone, you are tipped forwards, and will be lacking in balance. (it's also known as "sitting on your F***y") assuming that tigertim is a lad, it wll be a tad difficult for him to acheive this position.





*only if you are doing hi tech dressage.. us minions doing regular riding will be sitting with our knees bent


**who is Sylvia Loch?? I dont ride in classical dressage, and im quite sure that the average beginner doesnt either.

Ok, go to google and type in sylvia loch, she will pop up

when you are there, type in classical riding, when that pops up read through the concept of classical.

You will find that the everyday rider should ride this way as it benefits their horse and allows them to work correctly.

You do not have to be doing dressage to ride correctly, if you dont ride properly you are potentialy damaging your horse (depending on how sensitive the individual is) and your horse will automatically move a lot better if you ride classically,

I have ridden hundreds of horses in my time that when ridden how you average rider would, would misbehave or move wrong, where as ridden classically and sympathetically shines and acts much better.

[Julz]

gosh you must be such a good rider!!!

[lorna01]

gosh you must be such a good rider!!!

Nah Id say Im average, but Im aiming to get better at riding classical, theres always room for improvement!!!!!!!!!

Look Im good at sarcasm too

[Julz]

I've googled SL... she's a bit above herself, isnt she?? assuming what constituates "abuse" in it's many forms... Abuse is the sight of a small horse being ridden by a very heavy rider.

well, this depends on the weight carrying level of the horse... and how the rider rides... there are some heavier riders who will ride lighter than that of a thinner person, who doesnt have the same balance... and there are types of small horse that has a higher weight capacity than of a breed that maybe bigger but less able than itself. this kind of statement can give other non-horsy or less knowledgable rider the wrong impression.

[mogadoga]

Argh no one jump on me here...please..:D
But to halt alex i sit deeper on my seat bones...

*hides* lol

[Julz]

dont hide.... not jumping on you!! atleast you said somethig that makes sence!!

[lorna01]

I've googled SL... she's a bit above herself, isnt she?? assuming what constituates "abuse" in it's many forms...

well, this depends on the weight carrying level of the horse... and how the rider rides... there are some heavier riders who will ride lighter than that of a thinner person, who doesnt have the same balance... and there are types of small horse that has a higher weight capacity than of a breed that maybe bigger but less able than itself. this kind of statement can give other non-horsy or less knowledgable rider the wrong impression.
dont be pathetic

you are picking up on one thing. Read everything before making a comment about ONE thing. You anint going to agree with everything, same as I dont but the principles are right.

and if you note, a person that is too heavy for a horse is cruel!!!!!
of course it is, im sure she is refering to someone really heavy.
when she judged me last year I was riding my 14.1 hh arab and I weigh 12 stone, so I am riding quite a small pony but weigh quite a lot, he is fine with it and she never commented other than he went really well for me and we are coming on in our training nicely

[mogadoga]

Ok il come out of hiding.

To go foward i 'lift' my weight...well i try :D. And open my hips.
To leg yield, as well as asking with my hands etc i shift my weight to the right seatbone to go right and the left to go left.. and to go backwards i dont 'lean' forwards but i do sit more fowards taking more weight off my bum, like the opposite to how i go forward (it opening hips) as i ask him.

makes sense to me but if i read that back it probably wont!!
Might not be the perfect way but its how we seem to work?

I try my best and thats all that counts really!!:D

[LindaAd]

When halting our horse, your weight should be on your pubic bone!!!!! I think I said that did I not???

And at no point should you be sitting, it should feel like standing more than sitting, if you've read many of SL's books you should know that!!!

<snip>.

Every horse is different but the basics is the same, read some classical books, they all say the same thing

[QUOTE=Julz;1844656]Sorry to rock the boat here, but.. sitting on your pubic bone?? if you are sitting on your pubic bone, you are tipped forwards, and will be lacking in balance. (it's also known as "sitting on your F***y") assuming that tigertim is a lad, it wll be a tad difficult for him to acheive this position.


[QUOTE]

Well yes, you should be in a standing position in that your weight is above your feet, and you're balanced. But there's just one teeny difference: when you're standing, your weight goes through your feet to the ground. When you're on a horse, it goes throught the seatbones ... to the horse.



And no, the classical writers don't all say the same thing. Here's Heather Moffett (from Enlightened Equitation, page 20):


Considerable debate has raged over the years about the concept of the "three point seat". There are two schools of thought on the subject:

1. The first argues that the three points constitue the two seatbones and the pubic arch. this means that the pubic arch, the bony third point of the tripod, is in constant contact with the front arch of the saddle. Most riders find this uncomfortable, to say the least and ....<snip> the lower back is hollowed extensively ...<snip> ... as a result, the flexion afforded by this area – which is of paramount importance, as it is the means by which we are able to adhere without effort to the saddle – is negated.

2. The second school of thought states that the three-point seat constitutes the whole area between the seatbones and the pubic arch, but does not insist on the pubic arch being in constant contact with the saddle. ...[this] still permits free rotation of the pelvis in order to absorb the horse's movement.

I prefer to think of the position at the halt as resting on six points: the two seatbones, the insides of the thighs and the calves ...

Heather Moffett (EE p 20)

Considerable debate has raged over the years about the concept of the "three point seat". There are two schools of thought on the subject:

1. The first argues that the three points constitue the two seatbones and the pubic arch. this means that the pubic arch, the bony third point of the tripod, is in constant contact with the front arch of the saddle. Most riders find this uncomfortable, to say the least and ....<snip> the lower back is hollowed extensively ...<snip> ... as a result, the flexion afforded by this area – which is of paramount importance, as it isthe means by which we are able to adhere without effort to the saddle – is negated.

2. The second school of thought states that the three-point seat constitutes the whole area between the seatbones and the pubic arch, but does not insist on the pubic arch being in constant contact with the saddle. ...[this] still permits free rotation of the pelvis in order to absorb the horse's movement.

I prefer to think of the position at the halt as resting on six points: the two seatbones, the insides of the thighs and the calves ...




And here's the great Podhajsky:

Alois Podhajsky's full description of The Seat from p 211 of :
The Complete Training Of Horse And Rider

(AP) While the horse is standing still, the trainer explains the correct position to the rider. This begins with the foundation, namely, the seat. This should be pushed well forward into the centre of the saddle. Both seat bones should rest firmly in the saddle so that the coccyx points to the centre line of the saddle. The seat should be open and not pinched together in order to allow the rider to sit as deep as possible in the saddle. Both seat bones resting in the saddle together with the coccyx, which does not touch the saddle, form the "triangle of the seat" mentioned in many old books about riding”.

)http://www.classicaldressage.co.uk/The_Seat_/the_seat_.html


With apologies to tigertim, because this is rather more than he needs to know <grin>

[Julz]

well, all i know is the way I ride my horse is the way that is right for both of us. We all have our own riding style and we should all be allowed to get on with it!

Should i choose not to follow some "riding guru" shouldnt mean that refraining to do so, means Im doing it wrong!

[LindaAd]

Should i choose not to follow some "riding guru" shouldnt mean that refraining to do so, means Im doing it wrong!

I don't think you're doing it wrong at all, Julz .... I like to understand what these people are doing, and I keep learning new things, but when I talked about Sylvia Loch in a lesson my RI told me that was too advanced for me and I was getting in a muddle ... I think she was right.

Still the reason these people are 'gurus' is that they are very good at what they do, and we can learn from them.

But, as tigertim said, this is a forum, and it's interesting to discuss different points of view.

[Ourique]

Hi,

I'm new here. Don't you think that beginners have enough to think about, other than lots of different bits on which to sit?:)


Ourique

[Julz]

probably but this thread went a bit off topic.......

[LisaLovesHorses]

OMG, I'm totally confused by all this and I've been riding for more than a year now! I'll tell you how I do it and have been taught by two instructors...

a/ I get a horse to halt - sit up straight, shoulder blades coming together, give a little squeeze down the rein and push my weight into my seat bones (defo NOT pubic bone - sounds weird!) and my heels.

b/ Go into trot, but know that this is not a canter - again sit up straight, shoulder blades together, chest up, squeeze with my calves against my pony's side, making sure the inside calf is on or just in front of the girth to encourage bend, keeping my hands still and head up, weight into my heels.

c/ Go into canter - guess what? Sit straight, chest up, head up and in the direction I want her to go, slide the outside leg back, just behind the girth and squeeze, squeezing with the inside leg to encourage forward-ness, keeping weight into my heels and hands steady, with enough rein for her to keep moving forward. Try thinking of riding almost bow-legged, gripping to your horse's side with your calves, instead of your knees. If Solo gets too quick, which she often does, I give a little check down the outside rein (half half) to slow her a bit.

With regards to your thought process - I think you'll find that with regular riding on the same horse, you'll be able to get an almost spooky psychic thing going on with your horse so he/she will be able to do something just as you think it. You'd be surprised how quickly this will come - I've had my mare for five weeks and we're at that stage already! She is a schoolmistress though and has been doing her job for years and years (she's 22!)

I think the single most important thing to progress your riding is to relax and enjoy it. If you don't get the transitions you wanted straight away, enjoy learning how to improve on it. You won't become an Olympic champion overnight and even natural born riders won't get everything right all at once but a good instructor should be able to help you figure things out. God, that sounds soppy!:o

[chickyd444]

this will sound awfull but i cant explain how i go through the gaits - they just happen now - allmost like i think them and they happen, there are leg, seat aids, involved, just dont think about them anymore, they are just there :o:confused:

[LisaLovesHorses]

That's exactly what I thought, ChickyD! It's so difficult to explain - which is why I mentioned the psychic thing with my horse!
xx

[LindaAd]

this will sound awfull but i cant explain how i go through the gaits - they just happen now - allmost like i think them and they happen, there are leg, seat aids, involved, just dont think about them anymore, they are just there :o:confused:

I know what you mean – my instructor used to say "think canter" or "think walk" - and it works because when you think those things your body automatically does what's necessary. But you have to learn to do them before it becomes automatic!

So my advice to a newbie would be to find the simplest thing that works for you, don't get worried about placing your legs on or behind the girth, just ask the horse to go forward or not, listen to what the instructor says, and it'll come :)

[chickyd444]

I know what you mean – my instructor used to say "think canter" or "think walk" - and it works because when you think those things your body automatically does what's necessary. But you have to learn to do them before it becomes automatic!

So my advice to a newbie would be to find the simplest thing that works for you, don't get worried about placing your legs on or behind the girth, just ask the horse to go forward or not, listen to what the instructor says, and it'll come :)

top advice linda ;) you explained exactly what i was thinking :D

[Julz]

b/ Go into trot, but know that this is not a canter - again sit up straight, shoulder blades together, chest up, squeeze with my calves against my pony's side, making sure the inside calf is on or just in front of the girth to encourage bend, keeping my hands still and head up, weight into my heels.

c/ Go into canter - guess what? Sit straight, chest up, head up and in the direction I want her to go, slide the outside leg back....etc...


Do you never shorten your reins while doing the sitting tall bit?? it's all the above and shortening your reins that tell the horse something different is about to commence......

[LisaLovesHorses]

I give her a little check down the outside rein to let her know I'm going to ask her to do something new in a few seconds. I tend to keep the same contact throughout all gaits, with a steady hand, just softening as I push her forwards or slow her down. Is that wrong? I was told by my current RI that I shouldn't shorten up the reins :o

It's not as easy as people think, this riding lark! :D

[chickyd444]

i do shorten up a touch before i ask for a faster stride or change in gait - thats just me - i think every one and there horses all have different ways of letting horse know something new is expected ;) unfortunately sometimes it works a little too well , i have to shorten a tiny amount and very gentley - he's always waiting for the canter aids :D

[Julz]

It's not as easy as people think, this riding lark! :D

it's not is it?? I have learnt it's safer to be on top of the horse as opposed to under it... it's only taken about 18 years to learn that!!

[Packhorse12]

Hello Tigertim71,

You asked what your thought processes should be. I am guessing that maybe you have not been riding that long so I am aiming for easy to take on board info and only for the halt and trot aids

(and all of this only works well if your seat is in the correct position in the first place !)

My opinon is you should use : seat leg and hand in that order, for all aids. others have their own opinion of course:

A really basic guide to how your thought processes might be

for the halt:
Your aim is to ride the horse forward into the bit which stops the forward movement, rather than pulling him up into a halt by the bit so think of doing this:


Sit tall - which usually puts your seat in correct halt position
Loosen your knee and thigh - which should bring your lower leg around horse
Close your fingers into a smaller fist - which should put a little pressure on his bit.
As soon as the halt has been achieved, soften the fingers again.

However in my opinion you should have been taught the 'half halt' and should be using this prior to any change of pace etc.

this half halt is a way to tell the horse to pay attention and to get it ready for something you are about to tell it. I woudl do a half halt before doing any, change of pace, direction, movement, gait etc. If for instance you were aiming to go from walk to trot, or circle at one letter, just as you reach the letter before you would start a half halt. Watch his/her ears as you do it to see what response you get.

Basic thought processes for a half halt :
do the same as for the halt but to only half the degree.


Basic thought processes and aids for the trot (from walk).

think same half halt messages - then
similar aids as for halt really except soften fingers

i.e brain says take sitting trot to enable seat to be used, (sit tall but not stiff),
close lower leg onto horse so think loosen knee and thigh slightly
and soften the fingers
you may have to use a slightly stronger leg aid depending on the horse.