Rein Aids

[Burke]

I am new to this forum, and I have learned a great deal by searching through the archives. Could anyone go over again the basic rein aids? I have two situations in mind: (1) turns and corners, and (2)moving the horse onto the track on the long side of the arena when he has drifted in to the center and is not straight, and has either the front or rear further away from the track. In the latter scenario, my instinct is to use one rein more that the other to straighten, but my instructor has been saying to use less rein and rely on inside leg. I am confused. Thanks

[Heather]

HI Burke,

Your instructor is right. Provided the horse has learnt to move away from the pressure of one leg- i.e basic lateral movement, you should use the inside leg to correct any drift towards the inside of the school. Be very careful to ensure that you are not collapsing your inside hip and weighting your inside seatbone, which will invite the horse to drift inwards. Learn to rely on rein aids as little as possible. I will be trying to write a couple of pages for Mike to add to the Kinder Way to Ride section as soon as I get a moment, which will cover this in depth.

Heather

[Heather]

Sorry Burke,

Sholuld also have added to make sure that you use your inside leg by closing your calf muscle and following the swing of the belly,as it swings towards the outside, then releasing as you feel the horse's belly swinging back towards the inside again. In this way, you will be using the leg as the inside hindleg is stepping under,( off the ground and moving under the body) not blocking it as the foot strikes off the ground.

Heather

[Burke]

Thank you Heather. It is reassuring to hear that one's teacher is giving the correct advice. I will pay attention to your additional advice regarding weight shift, and I will try and develop leg sensitivity to be aware of timing the leg aid to the horse's leg position, although this is probably beyond me at this stage.

One related rein topic: at my last lesson, as the impulsion increased from walk to trot and the horse extended into the bit and put pressure on the reins, I resisted, not pulling back, but merely not giving in. How long should one maintain the pressure and resist, and should there be a mild release, but not a giving up of the pressure? I am new this riding experience, and I want to do it right. Thanks.

[Heather]

It is dependent on the horse, his schooling and balance. The sooner the horse learns to go in self carriage on a light contact rather than a stronger one, the better. It depends on the school of thought that your trainer follows.The German school wants a stronger more positive contact, where the French/Iberian schools want a much lighter carriage. Where do you live Burke, and which method does your trainer teach?

Heather

[Burke]

I live in the USA. Your comments make perfect sense. I will discuss the horse's schooling and balance with my instructor, as well as the style of dressage that she may follow. My guess is that she is more French than any other. As I am only at the walk-trot stage, I may be getting ahead of myself in terms of theory, but I guess it can't hurt to be aware of these things. Thanks again for your response.

[Heather]

Great to see a beginner who is a real thinker too. You should progress fast, Burke. Sorry to sound like a saleswoman, but I think that you would find my book 'Enlightened Equitation' helpful as it covers all topics that you would need to know in considerable depth at this stage and beyond.

All the best,

HEather

[Burke]

Heather: Your comment are encouraging and much appreciated. Its difficult to progress when one rides only once per week for 30 minutes. I find that the riding "feel" that I have in my body after a lesson lasts around 4 days, after which time it has almost entorely faded, so the best way would be to have at least 2 lessons per week, spaced around 3-4 days apart. I will see if I can work on arranging that.

No need to worry about mentioning your book. I am sure it is very good, and I plan on ordering it soon.

If I might, one more question: any tips on how a beginner can start to get a feel for how to coordinate the leg aids with the horse's hind leg position, so that the leg aid is timed correctly with respect to where the horse's legs are in their motion? Is this in your book? My guess is that it is related to having a relaxed and supple seat. Thanks.

[Heather]

Yes Burke, you are right, it is in my book, explained in depth. What a pity you are not in the Uk when you could come and have a lesson on my Equisimulators and then on to one of my dressage schoolmasters. You would learn in double quick time!

Heather

[Burke]

I may be in England next summer. Let me know if it is possible to have a few lessons. Thanks.