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Lesson 5: The rider's aids (part two - How to apply them)
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Links 		An aid is the signal or means by which a rider conveys his or her wishes to his horse. It refers to any action by the rider which results in physical or mental communication between horse and rider. These are divided into two parts: -

Natural Aids - The rider's legs, hands, seat and back, balance and voice.

Artificial Aids - Whips spurs and any form of strap, rope or gadget (other than the reins) which control or position the horse, with or without a rider. Examples might be standing or running martingales, draw or running reins. Only the whip and spur have a place in classical dressage, however, gadgets on rare occasions could be the only solution to a severe or even a dangerous problem and will be discussed in future lessons and e-mails.

Natural Aids

The Legs

The major influences are to

  1. Create forward movement.
  2. Activate the hindquarters.
  3. Indicate direction.
  4. Influence length bend.

Leg on the girth Identical use of the Legs

The effect of using both legs on the girth is to encourage the horse to move forward. When first handled, any horse will react to human contact by withdrawing from it. As flight is their natural defence, when first mounted and feeling the legs of the rider against the rib cage, the reaction is to move forward and away from the pressure. This is the basis of all training. By constant repetition and training, the slightest pressure with the inside of the rider's leg will result in the horse moving forward (off the leg).


Individual use of the Legs

Once this reaction of moving forward is established the application of either of the rider's legs by the girth, or slightly behind the girth, will encourage the horse to move the hind leg on that side forward. Since it will also be instinctive for the horse to try to yield to the pressure on the ribs it will also tend to bring Leg behind the girth the leg forward and slightly under the weight of the body before turning the hindquarters away from the pressure. This effect is used to move the horse laterally (sideways).

Applying the Leg Aids

  1. Applied with changing pressure and not a constant squeeze.
  2. Not used in time with the horse's stride as the constant kicking /urging forward will make your horse dead to the leg/ignore the leg and thereby the driving forward/creating impulsion effect will be lost.
  3. Applied as lightly as possible, since heavy thumping or kicking with the legs, heels and spurs, will also cause the horse to become dead to the leg, will learn to ignore the leg and will stop going freely forward.

The Hands

The major influences are to;

  1. Contain the impulsion created by the rider's legs and seat.
  2. Control the speed (the tempo of the gait)
  3. To ask for bend in the neck
  4. To balance

The hands are only supplementary and complementary to the seat and leg aids. Except for the very young horse where the hands and reins are used to guide and lead.

Applying the Hand Aids

Through the reins and the bit the hands are a direct connection to the horse's brain and their use has a paramount effect on its mental and physical attitude. To be most effective the hands should

  1. Never pull backwards
  2. Remain still in relation to the movements of the horse and entirely independent of the action of any other part of the riders body (independent hands)
  3. Maintain a consistent light sympathetic but elastic contact with the bit (except when riding on a loose rein). The horse loses his sense of security and communication with the rider if the rein contact is inconsistent.

Individual use of the Hands

Will be covered in future lessons.

Seat and Back

Will be covered in future lessons.

Balance

Will be covered in future lessons.

Voice

The voice by its tone can encourage, correct, soothe or reward. It is also used to give commands, particularly on the lunge and with a young horse when it is first ridden. The horse learns that sharp quick commands 'walk-on' 'trot', 'canter' mean to go forward, and low and drawn-out 'woaah' 'waalk', 'teerrot' to reduce the pace.

Artificial Aids

I have already covered some of the theory of using whips and spurs in 'The Theory of Aids' but I will expand a little in this chapter. The first things to remember are these:
  • The whip or spur must never be used in anger or frustration.
  • They must never be used to punish a horse that has misunderstood the lesson or what is being asked of him.
  • The whip must never be used as a substitute for bad riding.
  • If they are causing extreme tension or fear in your horse, you are misusing them or they have been misused in the past.
  • If you use these aids correctly, you will hardly ever have to use them at all.
  • If you ever have to explain their use to a child, make sure the parents are there and that they understand the lesson.
  • They are only used to back up your leg - not your hands or your balance or lack of intelligence!

The Whip

The whip helps to reinforce the leg aids should they prove insufficient.

Application

When the whip is not in use, carry the whip across either thigh, mid way between knee and hip. It will help you to control the whip if you hold the whip with your thumb up the shank or handle. It should be used behind the leg to emphasise the aid or to ask for more attention.

Holding the schooling whip The schooling whip is used for schooling on the flat. It should be between 0.9 metres (3ft) and 1.2 metres (4ft) so that it is long enough to apply without taking the hand off the rein. The wrist and forearm is flicked to result in a tickle or a tap whenever required, behind the rider's leg. The strike must be behind the riders' leg so that your horse can associate the whip and leg. The shorter whip, used for jumping, must not exceed 75 cms (30 ins). The whip hand should be taken off the rein and both reins held in one hand and the whip applied behind the leg. The rider should practice this action and the ability to change whip hands.

The spurs

Like the whip the spurs help to reinforce the leg aids should they prove insufficient.

Application

When used, the spurs should only brush the skin. Spurs are a refinement of the aids and should not be used as a sole means of creating impulsion. Consequently, the rider must be able to apply his legs without the spurs touching the horse.

Spurs are rarely used in the early training of a horse and are not suitable for use by a novice rider.

The type of spur you use must be personal preference. I prefer those with about a 1 inch shank and a smooth rowel that can just roll up the horses side and not dig in. Spurs with sharp toothed rowel or pointed shanks have no place in classical dressage so will not be discussed.

Other Artificial Aids

(gadgets, specialised reins, etc)

Future lessons and by emails

Remember - the artificial aids are ONLY brought into action if the legs are not effective.

Good luck with this lesson. If you have any problems with your aids or you are confused as to what aids to use when, or, the aids as I have described them just don't work, please email me. If there is a problem then we must find the solution.
Email your questions about the lesson

Lesson Number 6 - On the Aids

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