Riding Aids
Riding aids are the cues a rider gives to communicate what they want the horse to do
Riding Aides Explained
Riding aids are catagorizied as natural aids or artificial aids.
The aids are how you communicate with a horse and control him. Natural aids are a part of the rider and include use of the rider’s hands, seat, legs, and voice. Artificial aids are man made objects that help to reinforce your natural aids. Aids should be used very softly to start out with and used more strongly if the horse or pony does not pay attention to you.
Natural Aids
Natural aids are a part of your body.
Natural Aids
The rider’s body including legs, hands, seat, and voice are considered natural aids.
Your seat and weight either follows the horse’s motion or influences the horse’s balance.
Voice should be low and gentle.
Artificial Aids
Artificial aids help out the natural aids.
Whips & Spurs
Spurs, Bats, Crops, Dressage Whips are considered artificial aids and are used to support the natural aids.
A whip is sometimes called a stick.
Always start out with soft and light natural aids. An aid should be applied briefly and then let go. If the horse or pony does not respond than use a stronger aid but remain brief. As soon as the pony obeys you, relax the aid.
How to Correctly Apply the Aids
Ask
Apply the natural aid clearly and gently.
Allow
Give the pony time to respond to the aid.
Tell
Use a stronger version of the initial natural aid if the pony does not respond.
Demand
Follow up the natural aid with an artificial aid such as a crop behind the leg.
Correct Use of the Aids Example
When you ask for a transition from a walk to a trot, use the aids in the following order:
Ask: Squeeze both legs gently at the girth.
Allow: Wait for the pony to respond.
Tell: Use both legs stronger at the girth if the pony does not begin to trot.
Demand: Use an artificial aid such as a spur or a crop behind the leg.
Horse Riding Aids Explained
Starting and Stopping
Leg Aids to Move Forward
Squeeze with the legs once to move forward, squeeze again if the horse does not respond, give a gentle kick or cluck to encourage the horse to move forward if there is still no response.
Rein Aids to Slow Down or Stop
Squeeze both hands toward you then relax them to slow down or stop.
Basic Leg Aids
One Leg at the Girth
Pressure from one of the rider’s legs at the girth bends the horse while asking them to move forward. It can also be used to keep the pony from falling into the center of the arena or cutting corners.
One Leg Behind the Girth
When a leg aid is applied behind the girth, the horse moves sideways.
Leg Aids Do:
- Ask the horse to move forward
- Put the horse in front of the rider’s leg
- Correct backwards movements of the horse
- Give support and provide direction on lateral (sideways) movements
- Soften the horse’s mouth.
Basic Rein Aids
Use the reins with a gentle give and take without yanking or holding.
Leading Rein
A leading rein, also called an opening rein, gives the horse direction without taking away from it’s forward movement. The rider’s hand opens away from the horse’s body and leads the horse in the desired direction. This rein aid is used one hand at a time.
Direct Rein
A direct rein is the most basic use of hands on the reins. The rider’s hands move forward or backward and do not move sideways. For example, to apply a left direct rein, the rider moves the left hand straight back toward their left hip. The line from the rider’s elbow to the bit is straight at all times.
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Leg Aids May Be Used In the Following Ways
As your riding skills become better, you will learn there are more advanced uses of your aids.
Urging
Applied at the girth to encourage impulsion. Impulsion is the movement of a horse when it is going forward with controlled power.
Both of the rider’s legs may be applied at the same time to urge the horse into an upward (more forward) transition or to lengthen its gait.
Holding
Applied at the girth to keep a horse from falling in. May also be used to move a horse laterally (sideways).
Applied with one leg at a time, often used on the inside of a bending turn. A holding leg can also keep a horse on a straight track in order to maintain a straight line.
Displacing
Leg pressure slightly behind the girth. Used to move the horse’s haunch on turns and for lateral movements. May also be used to keep the horse from falling to one side.
Advanced Rein Aids
Use the reins in a gentle give and take. Your hands can control the forward motion of the pony, guide the direction of travel, and position the pony’s head and neck.
Neck Rein With One Hand
The outside hand moves inward toward the horse’s withers and the outside rein presses against the horse’s neck, which pushes the horse away from that rein. This is an advanced aid that can be helpful when turning the horse.
Neck Rein With Both Hands
Both hands move in the direction of the desired turn. The outside hand moves toward the horse’s withers and the outside rein presses against the horse’s neck, which pushes the horse away from that rein. This is effective for advanced control of the horse’s shoulder especially on tight turns.
Indirect Rein
An indirect rein controls lateral movements including bending and turning. The rider’s hand does not cross the mane line in the center of the neck.
There are two types of indirect rein aids:
Indirect rein in front of the withers: Moves the horse’s weight from one shoulder to the other. With a left indirect rein in front of the withers, the rider’s left hand moves toward the rider’s right hip.
Indirect rein behind the withers: Moves the horse’s weight from one shoulder to the opposite hind leg. In a left indirect rein behind the withers, the rider’s left hand moves toward the horse’s right hip .
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