Quiet Rider??

[snozzcumber03]

I have heard the term "quiet rider" used quite often, and I was wondering
if any of you could describe to me what it means. On the tackroom wall at
the barn I ride at for instance, next to some of the horses names, it will say
"needs quiet rider". What is this???? Is it a good thing to be a quiet rider? I
can imagine so, Hmm. Thanks!

[galadriel]

Being a quiet rider is a very good thing. Most horses prefer it :) It's sort of the difference between shouting with your arms and legs, or asking nicely and calmly with your arms & legs.

A quiet rider is one who uses subtle signals; instead pf pulling on the reins or kicking on the ribs, the quiet rider uses light touches on the reins and light nudges with the cavles.

It's hard to be a quiet rider without a good sense of balance and a good seat. If you can move your body around in the saddle without losing your balance, or more importantly without tugging on the reins, then you have a good seat. If you lose your balance a lot or have a tendency to use the reins to re-balance yourself, then it's going to be very hard to be a "quiet" rider.

[Stephanie]

Galadriel's got it right :p A 'quiet rider' is also someone who remains quite calm, a lot of riders out there can get quite high strung, just like horses and a lot of times they do not pair well with a high strung horse (often called a 'hot horse').

Don't despair if your instructor calls you a 'quiet rider' it's a good thing I promise, you get to ride the high strung ponies at the yard if you have proven that you have a good seat, and a calm demenour.

[LouiseS]

As the quotationm goes 'a quiet rider makes a quiet horse'

Louise

[james]

The opposite is a "nagger" or a "butterfly". Some of the older horses I ride switch off if you nag them (usually geldings), although some mares seem to need nagging as if you are "quiet" they switch off.

Butterflies are riders (usually kids) whose legs flap continually. I pity their poor horses/ponies as whatever they do, the child flaps its legs on them. And people wonder why some ponies are nutters?

[Mazpup]

Also, quiet riders tend to be more effective. Many 'lazy' horses will respond a lot better to a quick hard squeeze (which you won't really see) than constant flapping (which is very obvious!)

[james]

A swift tap with the stick the 1st time a lazy horse ignores you, usually means that it will listen to you for the rest of the ride. Better 1 tap followed by quiet leg than an hour of flapping and hard kicking.

[eml]

I go along with you all on balance, subtle aids, and a calm frame of mind but think there is more...something indefinable.

I just relate better to the laid back cob type and 'fizz' up the sharper, flightier models, usually the mares for some strange reason. Discussing it with my daughter she reckons it is because I am 'scary lady' and everyone obeys me....seriously I think she has a point I don't think I am a quiet rider, although reasonable balanced and tactful in aids, as I expect my horse to listen to me whereas true 'quiet riders' listen and accept more.