Thank you for telling what the aids are in the beginning. Many videos only say what you need to do (like "get him in front of the leg" or "collect") without telling what that means or how to do it.
First of all, these videos are great! Really helping my horse! Thank you! However, I do have a question-my horse is a very very “lazy” horse that needs constant encouragement to move forward. I like to avoid using spurs and a dressage whip, but they tend to become essential for our rides to be productive. Are there ways to help this? I try to squeeze with my leg and, when that doesn’t work, I will give a kick, generally followed by a tap with the whip (this series of events will generally work if repeated multiple times). Thank you again! Any advice is appreciated!!
Delaney Williams I’m sure Kirsten has her own opinion, but personally, I’d recommend you to use a pair of rounded spurs: they won’t scar your horse’s skin and they definitely make a difference when asking for forward movement. You won’t need to use so much pressure (as if you kick repeatedly with your legs, the horse can tighten its tummy and ignore your signals) and your horse will most likely become sharper with the help of spurs. As for a dressage whip, you can carry in case you need to tap it’s hind end (I usually wear just my spurs, but if a horse is a little bit more stubborn, I like to carry a whip, as I ‘always apply the same pressure with the spurs. That way, if the horse keeps avoiding forward movement I can tap his hind end more efficiently) The key is not to go overboard with any of theses tools. Always apply a consistent pressure and be pacient!
some horses are very lazy. Theres a horse at my barn that everyone except his owner (he's a lesson horse now) uses spurs (price of wales) and a crop or dressage whip. I say that you try using your voice and clicking once, then tap with the spurs then demand with the whip. Crops, whip and spurs are an aid for your leg and they should be listening to your leg without everything, but really some can just be lazy.
Hi Delaney, sorry I missed your comment till now. So pleased your enjoying the videos. It sounds like you are on the right track with the way you are using your whip, small squeeze with leg followed by a sharp kick then followed up with tap from the whip. The whip and the spurs are to help you make your sessions easier but neither will fix the issue. Consider for a moment when you've been taught by someone boring, you tune out and get annoyed when they hassle you, same could be happening with your horse. When you school lazy horses , you need to inspire them, every session should be short bursts of interesting work then rest, then another intense burst. Keep him really busy so he forgets to go back to sleep, every ten strides, do something different. A transition with-in the pace , from one pace to another, walk to canter, halt -trot, leg yield, squares, circles. Write down everything you could ride, then tomorrow start doing it all and then you'll have a lazy horse when you start but he will wake up and be interested in your schooling sessions. I'd love to know how you get on in the comments and check out my website if you need any more tips www.kirstinkellyequestrian.com Happy riding, Kirstin
Hi Caitlin, it’s just another way of thinking about it . When the horse is on the forehand , he will be heavy in front . His shoulders won’t turn easily , he is more likely to bulge out on half the corners and lean in on his stiff rein . When the shoulders are heavy, the horse appears to pull himself with his front legs rather than propelling forward from his back legs with light front feet . The mouth will often be heavy too as he will feel downhill to sit on
I am so confused just listening. Been riding since I was about 12 but . . . Falling in???? and other terms. Do not know how he knows to start at a canter or at a trott. Looks the same. It all confuse's me. Everyone is so critical😥
Hi Jilleen, Try to not see corrections as criticism. When we school the horse on the flat, we are trying to make him balanced, soft and supple so that's why correcting falling in etc are important. If you would like to understand the falling in issue I have a good video explaining it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K4F4-b4ulsw.html Hope that helps, Kirstin
Hi Andrea, this channel isn't a professional rider demonstrating the exercises, these are every day riders giving their time to help teach other riders. None of them are perfect, like the rest of us. I'm not sure what's happened in your day to make such a negative, unhelpful comment but please keep all comments constructive .
