Exaggerated releases etc

[No_Angel]

On Tuesday I had a western riding lesson, Most of the things I was taught I already do anyway, but my instructor seemed to have a pre-drilled idea that all english riders saw and have short reins and pull the horses head around (she said she used to ride english herself). I got to ride a very nicely tranied horse tho who was a sweet heart.
On thing I did notice is that the leg aids she was asking me to give when flexing to the inside and asking for vertical flexion seemed very big and exaggerated, aswell as the releases she was asking me to give, most of the time I had already released and she was asking me to do it.
So I was wondering, is this what happens in western riding, are the aids more pronounced? I try to keep my aids very light and un-noticeable so I look like in not doing anything (well dont know if I try, but this is what happens:p )

[cvb]

no angel

I've not had lessons (western) for a while.. but I think the end product is a lot more refined. After all, cowboys don't tend to be into more effort than they need ;)

But the aids tend to be very precise and crisp when needed, and nothing at all in between.

If you watch a reining comp, the aids aren't really big and obvious, yet the horse spins, slides etc

For me the difference between english and western is not the *size* of the aid but the "always on" (english) or "by exception" (western)

IMHO

[Jessey]

I always aim to use the minimum aid to get what I need, be it on a 3 year old green broke hos' or a 20 year old been there, done that type. I will however increase my aid until I get what I need but then always go back to the minimum aid for each request.
I don't think using big/exaggerated aids is of any help, its constant use is probably how many animals end up with 'dead sides' and 'hard mouths', in that they just learn not to react to anything less than a 'yes, you will....' command.

J x