Part One BASIC PRINCIPLES The Natural Aids and How They Are Used
The principal natural aids are the seat, the hands, and the legs.
The Seat The term
seat is used to refer to the distribution of the rider's weight on the buttocks and ischia (seat bones). The seat has a tremendous influence on the horse's balance: Leaning forward causes the horse to increase speed. Leaning backwards causes the horse to slow down. Increasing your weight on the seat bone and stirrup iron on one side causes the horse to bear in that direction. Your weight must always be oriented in the direction of your horse's motion. Proper use of the seat sets the rhythm of the pace and gives the impression of smoothness at the different gaits. The term seat is also used to refer to the way the rider sits in the saddle. A rider is said to have a good seat when he or she moves in total harmony with the horse. A good seat is a quality you must have to control your balance in all circumstances, regardless of your horse's reactions. It requires suppleness and relaxation of the lower back, which acts as a shock absorber.
The Hands The hands act, resist, and yield through the reins to regulate the horse's forward motion.
How do the hands act? The hands act to slow the speed, change the gaits (downward), modify the horse's balance, and give direction. They always act without pulling: By squeezing the fingers on the reins (see
Fig. 1). By turning the wrists, fingernails up (like turning a doorknob) to increase the tension (see
Fig. 2). By raising the wrists 2 to 3 inches, to further increase the tension (see
Fig. 3). The rider can increase the tension still further by leaning the upper body backwards. These actions are delivered in progressive steps to obtain obedience. They must be of brief duration and repeated if necessary.
How do the hands resist? The hands resist to oppose any undesirable initiative taken by the horse. Their resistance should be equal to the horse's, but not greater: By insisting (i.e., squeezing the fingers on the reins without pulling) until the horse has submitted.
How do the hands yield? The hands yield to reward obedience as soon as the horse has obeyed, without losing contact with the horse's mouth: By lowering the wrists. By moving the wrists forward. By opening the fingers. These actions are the
progressive steps to reward obedience.
The Legs The legs act, resist, and yield to produce and maintain the horse's forward motion-to change the gait (upwards) and increase the speed. They are also used to position the horse's hindquarters and
engage his hind legs (cause him to bring his hind legs forward and directly under his body). They create and sustain
impulsion; which is both the horse's attentiveness and the actual will or energy that makes him respond to the rider's commands.
How do the legs act? The legs act together
at the girth (actually 4 to 6 inches behind-see
Fig. 4) to drive the horse forward: By squeezing and releasing the calves continuously. By squeezing and releasing the heels. By kicking with the heels. The legs act individually
behind the girth (actually about 8 to 10 inches behind-see
Fig. 4) to make the horse move his hindquarters (the horse's response to this individual leg pressure is also called
leg yielding): By squeezing and releasing the calves continuously. By squeezing and releasing the heels. By kicking with the heels. These actions are the
progressive steps to obtain obedience.
How do the legs resist? The legs resist to prevent or oppose a lateral displacement of the horse's haunches: By maintaining pressure with the calves or the heels. By kicking if necessary.
How do the legs yield? The legs yield to reward obedience: By ceasing to act or resist. By lightening their pressure. Your legs should always stay in light contact with the horse's barrel, so that they are ready to act without startling the horse by a sudden movement. When you begin training your horse, your legs will have to act strongly to obtain obedience; as your horse progresses, he will become more sensitive to the aids and your leg action can be more gentle. All my life I have heard some instructors scream, "Squeeze your knees!" and others, "Squeeze your calves!" Who is right?
Let us take the example of two fingers squeezing an empty soda can held horizontally. When you squeeze the can with your thumb and index finger above the center, it slides from your grasp. When you squeeze below the center, you crush the can without dropping it. On a horse, the principle is the same. If you squeeze with your upper legs and knees, the pressure is applied above the widest part of the horse's barrel. You could be thrown if your horse bucks or stops suddenly. If, however, you squeeze below the midpoint of your horse's barrel, with your calves, you will be glued to the saddle and able to follow your horse's reactions in all circumstances. If you are at a halt, squeezing with your thighs and knees will produce no reaction whatsoever, but squeezing with your calves and heels will cause your horse to move forward. The Voice; the Eyes; and the Mind The rider's voice, eyes, and mind, also considered natural aids, are rarely mentioned, but are very important.
The voice The rider's voice is indispensable for teaching a young horse. Your tone of voice creates confidence and respect: A quiet voice calms the horse. A loud voice upsets the horse. Words remind the horse what to do and it is most important not to confuse him. You must have a specific word that you use all the time for each command. I have often heard riders shouting "whoa!'' at different commands. Would you say "trot" when you want to canter? As the training of your horse progresses, you must replace your voice commands with leg and hand actions. If your horse is green, voice commands are acceptable, but in most other cases they are a sign of the rider's insecurity and lack of authority.
The eyes The rider's eyes, attentive to the direction, initiate the use of the appropriate aids. When you ride a bicycle, for example, you only have to look in the direction you are heading, and instinctively your legs and hands will do whatever is necessary to make a turn. Similarly, on a horse, if you have mastered the use of your aids, your response will be automatic. Always look in the direction you want your horse to go.
The mind Is the mind the most important natural aid? Without elaborating on this complex subject, I will simply mention some very important points. Every rider should think about them. They are the keys to success. You should train yourself to react promptly. The best way to develop good reflexes is to understand and then to learn, by heart, how and why the natural aids act, resist, and yield. Taking notes or reviewing information in your head before going to sleep is an excellent way to assimilate knowledge. You must remember that horses are also beings. They work hard. They get tired. They have likes and dislikes. They are brave or shy. They need love without being too spoiled. You need to set goals: small goals at first, and then, eventually, more ambitious ones. To solve a major problem, you should break it down into little problems and deal with each one at a time.
The Artificial Aids When needed, artificial aids come in handy to reinforce the natural aids. They include special tack, such as a Chambon, Gogue, draw reins, Colbert reins, side reins, rigid reins, martingales of any type, and anything else a rider may need to impose his or her will on the horse. These artificial aids are very helpful in the hands of an expert, but giving them to a novice rider can be like putting a razor blade in a monkey's hand. The whip, the spurs, and the longe whip can be used without harm by most riders once instructed.
The whip (crop, bat) Used on the shoulder, it stimulates a lazy horse. Used on the flanks, it extends the above action. Used on the rump, it punishes disobedience. The whip is a very important aid in training, when it is used to teach and reinforce the actions of the legs. It must be used with authority, never anger.
The spurs The spurs, symbol of the true rider, reinforce the actions of the legs. They should come in contact with the horse's barrel only when the rider desires it. Spurs are not a tool for the novice with loose legs.
The longe...
