When our horse is struggling to respond correctly, we often blame it on the rider’s position or incorrect use of the aids. It’s what I was taught.
CORRECT VERSUS EFFECTIVE RIDING
THE ROLE OF A RIDER'S SEAT
The Role of Seat and Legs in Turns
One of the things I come across regularly is the idea that a horse should be ridden more from a rider’s seat and legs than from use of the reins. As many of you who have attended my clinics will already know I am a big believer in teaching a horse to be brilliant off the reins before worrying about teaching them to be brilliant from the seat and legs. But from time to time I come across people who are uncomfortable with this idea because it contradicts years of education in a more European style of training.
Seat and Legs
Notice that the way my legs come into play is very different to the traditional inside leg on the girth and outside leg behind the girth. This is because I’m not trying to use my legs to control the horse’s bend. I try to influence the thought of the horse and when that is right I let the horse balance itself around the turn.