Episode 19: Your Weakest Aid When Horseback Riding
When being a balanced rider, you have aids that can assist you. These include your right hand, left hand, right leg, and left leg. Today, I’m talking about these rider’s aids. Do you know which one of your aids is the weakest? Do you know which one of your aides you are over using?
Last week, I talked about the rider’s aids and the rider’s willingness to use those aids. When you understand how to become effective using all four of these aids, you will become a more balanced rider. Today, we will be talking about using aids when riding in a circle because it requires more balance and more navigation on your part.
“Even if the plan is to use both legs evenly, you still need to question whether you are doing it or not.” Stacy Westfall Share on XSubscribe and never miss an episode! (I listen in the barn and when I’m out driving)
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Podcasting from a little cabin on a hill. This is the Stacy Westfall podcast. Stacy goal is simple to teach you to understand why horses do what they do, as well as the action steps for creating clear, confident communication with your horses.
Hi, I'm Stacy Westfall, and I'm here to teach you how to understand, enjoy and successfully train your own horses in last week's episode. I talked about the riders AIDS and the riders willingness to use their aids. In this week's episode, we're going to explore finding your weakest aid. Do you know which one of your AIDS is the weakest or which one you're overusing for today's discussion? I'm going to define the riders AIDS as the right hand, left hand, right leg and left leg. We all know there's a lot more involved. We know that we can use C and voice and all kinds of other things. But just to simplify, today, we're going to picture somebody on the horse riding, not doing ground work. And we're going to picture how they're balancing. Right hand, left hand, right leg, left leg. When you understand that you can use all four of these aids and you become very effective with them. You will become a more balanced rider. An interesting thing during this discussion that you're going to hear come up is the difference between going on a straight line or going on a circle for this discussion. We're going to talk about these for AIDS and we're going to talk about riding a circle when you ride a circle. It's going to require the horse to be balanced and it's going to require more navigation on your part. And so it's going to make it more clear what's going on on a straight line.
There is the need to balance and it is very difficult like in an arena. But a lot of times when I say a straight line, people think more about. Remember that podcast a while back I talked about active versus passive riding. A lot of times straight lines are incorrectly ridden, meaning they're just kind of like the horses, like pointed in a direction and sent there but not guided or balanced between the AIDS. I'm not going to go super deep into that idea right now, but it's just to say that, for example, when I trail ride, I'm guilty all day long of just pointing the horse down the trail and just kind of letting it kind of freewheel it. Talked a little bit about that in the Active versus passive pop podcast when we ride in a circle. Let's go ahead. And for right now, let's just picture that you're riding your horse in a circle to the left, the circle to the left. Let's make that somewhere between the size of a lunge line circle or maybe a little bit bigger. So maybe that's 40 feet wide or up to 60 or 70 feet wide. We're not trying to make this a super small circle. We're just trying to say that it's a purposeful circle. And when we ride on that, let's just say it's a 50 foot circle will split the difference here and we'll go with a 50 foot circle.
We'll say that because we're riding on that circle, we're going to be steering more and planning more so that we get that pretty round. Now, think about this, though. Don't do this inside your round pen. If you do this inside your round pen, you're going to be cheating just a little bit because the horse might use that rail or pretty much for sure we'll use that rail for guidance. So this is better done in the middle of a riding arena or out in a flat part in your pasture or if it's really muddy right now. I've had some people that have been saying, hey, I've got kind of a flat spot in my driveway because you don't have to do this a speed. You can even just do this at a walk. I think I may have mentioned I prefer and like a trot or a jog for a lot of other things. But this one, you're just kind of feeling out how you're using your age. You could totally do this at a walk. So now you're picturing that you're on your horse, you're riding to the left on a circle that's about 50 feet across. When you're doing that, you're going to have four choices of AIDS. Now, we're also going to say we're going to keep that horse bent on the shape of that circle. And here's what we have to start thinking about. Well, if the horse is going around and we're the most common aid people are going to use is the inside rain, in this case, the left rain to pull the horse in.
And the next strongest aid, I would say I see over and over again would be the outside leg, possibly helping to bring that horse in the two weakest AIDS. I see over and over again are the inside leg and the outside rain. Now, as you imagine, you're riding this horse around this imaginary circle to the left. You can imagine that if the horse had been in a bigger circle and you were bringing in, you would very naturally use that inside that left hand to guide that horse in. What happens here that's interesting is that if the horse doesn't follow, sometimes, you know, people will use that left rain to guide the horse. And the horse doesn't follow. They'll use some outside leg and help push that horse in. Now, what happens is if the horse overshoots that 50 foot mark and goes smaller, what a lot of people do to bring the. Force out is they go ahead and they use the right rein to pull the horse out. But in doing so, they very often will totally switch the bend. So when they pull the horses, head to the right and pull it to pull the horse back. Outlets say it fell into a of 40 foot circle instead of a 50 foot circle.
When they go to bring that horse back out, they very often let that horse completely switch the bend. So the horse is no longer matching the bend of a 50 foot circle going to the left. They the rider will pull the head to the right and effectively switch the band. Well, as soon as you switch the bend like that. That's now your new inside rain. So that right rain is effectively acting like a it's that bend and direction rain. So it's now your new inside rain. So this is why when we're going around on this circle to the left, if that horse falls in to the circle too much and goes down to a 40 foot circle instead of a 50 foot circle. If we keep the horses bend going to the left, then we're going to need to think of how can we bring that horse out to the right but still maintain that bend. Now, what we're going to do is we're going to think, OK, just to talk about the hands, we're going to use both legs as gas pedals. So we're going to use both legs evenly to keep the horse moving forward. The inside hand is going to be here bending hand, and then that outside right hand would move out. And let's pretend we're sitting on the horse and we're sitting on the horse. It's if the horses had a straight ahead of it, then it's 12:00.
And so if you're sitting on top of the horse, if you took your right arm straight to the side, that would be three o'clock. And if you took your left hand straight out to the side, that would be nine o'clock. And so if you're riding around on this horse, if you're if got the horse bending to the left and the horse is falling into like a 30 foot circle to take that right hand out towards two or three o'clock, but you're still going to hold the bend with your inside left rain. And what this is going to do is this is now going to give you an inside bending rain and an outside rain that's going to be leading that shoulder out. And this is when you're going to start to find out what aides are working and which ones are out of balance. Now, in the example I just said, I said let's use both legs evenly. But I'll tell you what happens most of the time is that if that horse is supposed to be on a 50 foot circle to the left with a left bend and the horse over steers, when the rider brought that horse in to the 50 foot circle, the horse over steers or the rider overseers, I don't care who we say did it. When that horse over steers in to the 30 foot circle, if the rider tries to keep the bend to the inside, what they'll do a lot of times is they'll get really active with the inside leg and try to push that horse back out with that inside leg.
Now, ultimately, it is a combination of these aides. Ultimately, it is a combination of these aides. So it would be you could use that inside leg to drive that horse out to the outside hand and pick that horse back up, out on to lead that horse, keeping the bend to the inside, lead that horse's shoulder back out to that 50 foot circle. Now, imagine if you have to rewind and listen to all that again. It's a lot happening. So imagine that you're riding on that 50 foot circle and you've got the horse bending to the inside just enough to shape it onto that 50 foot circle. And the horse is pretty balanced between your aides. What I want you to think about is I want you to think about without the horse necessarily falling in or out, which one of those A's do you think you're using? A lot more or a lot less? I totally realized that this is going to depend on if the horses pulling towards the barn or falling in. But for this example, we're going to say that instead of this horse really diving in 10 feet or pulling out 10 feet, we're just going to say this horse maybe has a little bit of a wobble. So you're on that circle and your horse is suddenly thinking about falling in.
Do you think that you would first move towards which A, do you think you would first move towards to bring that horse back out? And what I start to find as I watch horses and riders working together is that, number one, the riders tend to use their inside rain a lot. Again, we're going to say that if we go into a circle, the left and that horse goes into much, the rider will automatically use what sounds like the outside rain. But because they let the bend change, I'm going to argue that became. Monu inside rain. And so they end up with this when they go to pull the horse back out and they change the bend. You end up with this snaky kind of a feeling with the horse because the horse's bent to the left, then is spent to the right. Then you're trying to bring it back onto that bend to the left. So you bring it back to the bend, to the left falls and a little bit too much. They bend it back out to the right. So what they're doing is they're using effectively inside rain all the time. If you think about that, every time they change the bend, it becomes a new inside rain. Big concept there. So what's happening is typically I see that the inside rain is the strongest aid. The outside leg tends to be the second strongest aid.
The next strongest aid tends to be the outside rain and then the weakest aid. I tend to see is the inside leg. And when you start riding around and exploring this idea on a circle, it can be really eye opening. I personally do this to myself even now when I ride, because you have to be aware of what AIDS you might be overusing or under using. I don't have as much of a tendency to bring that horse in and start switching the baton. I'm very aware of the bend or not the bend, but there are times that I'm aware that I might have one aid carrying more and doing putting in more effort than it should be. So it's out of balance. An example of that might mean that if I were asking the horse to turn to the left, a very common mistake or out-of-balance thing would be, you know, the rider might use a lot of left hand to take the horse to the left, but not follow that with leg. So the horse needs to have kind of an equal amount of gas pedal to the steering. And another place that that I might I might find myself doing it would be maybe I am turning to the left and I feel that horse drifting in just a little bit too much. So I would keep the bend with my inside hand and I would pick up my outside rain and float that hand out.
But maybe I don't use that inside leg quite as strong. So I'll say use both legs to drive that horse forward in a lot of a lot of situations. I say use both legs to draw that horse forward as opposed to using the inside leg only and pushing the horse out. A lot of times I'll say use both legs evenly. A lot of this depends on the training stage of the horse. Meaning like is this horse in the fifth grade or is this horse in college? It matters how we're going to use these aides. But for this example, let's say I'm telling myself I'm going to use both legs evenly and I'm going to lift up my outside hand to two to draw this horse to the outside. I have to question myself, am I actually using them both evenly or am I using one a little bit more than the other? So there's this awareness cycle that is constantly happening. As I'm using these aides and I'm thinking I told myself I wanted to use both legs evenly and then emphasize opening that hand. Did I really do that or did I let the inside leg get a lot stronger? And then that outside rain didn't really have to do the work of drawing that horse out, because in the end, there's two ways we can look at this. We can look at the fact that as I'm riding around on this 50 foot circle to the left, I would like to think that I could be trotting around and I could be going inside, rain outside, rain inside leg outside leg.
And as I was trotting around there, I could actually be thinking, am I using these all about even or am I leaving one of these doors open or am I over using one? Let's just say it's the outside rain this time and under using one. Let's say that's the inside leg. And so it's very fascinating to double check how in balance and aware you are of those four aides as you're using them. If you do a lot of trail riding and your possibly guilty of what I've said I am possibly guilty of, which is kind of pointing that horse down the trail and letting it cruise. I'm telling you, that is a hard place to figure out if you're using one aid weaker than the others, because it's very common when you're headed straight down that trail to be constantly switching that that bend like I described on the circle. You can picture it if you're picturing riding down your favorite 50-foot. Much of trail that it be pretty easy to have a little wobble where you pulled the horse a little to the right. A little to the left, letting that horse change bend every time you did that. And what happens is you don't ever really establish an inside leg and an outside rain to be able to identify what could be weaker.
If you do that frequently, what I would challenge you to do is I would say just find a flat spot, whether it's out on the trail, whether it's in your pasture, whether it's at the parking lot before you head out onto the trail. Find a little place and do this little circle exercise and see which one of those aides doesn't feel like it's working. And here's a big hint. The weakest aide is the one your horse is usually going out through. So if your horse tends to be falling to the inside of a circle, there's a really good chance your inside leg is weaker. If your horse tends to be dragging you around in the steering, so you go to pull it to the left and it just doesn't really go there. It goes somewhere else. That could mean that that inside rain could be weaker. A lot of times those horses are pointing towards whatever your weakest aide is because they're kind of taking advantage of it. They're not respecting it. They're going out through that door. If you want to look at each one of those aides as a door, you can open or close. The horse will very frequently be walking straight out the door that you're leaving open because of that weaker aide. Now, if you're a more advanced rider, an interesting exercise is to ride around on something like that 50 foot circle.
And you think, sure, I can ride around on a 50 foot circle. Now go around. And this time you're using all four evenly. Go ahead. And for a moment, you know, for a few strides or if you're trotting around one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four. On that count, momentarily, lighten one of your aides and see what happens. So, for example, if we're trotting on that 50 foot circle to the left and you're trotting around and you momentarily lighten your inside rain, does the horse kind of carry that or resource zigzag somewhere because of the horse and ducks or dives? There's a good chance that maybe you're holding on quite a bit with that aid because the horse really fell out of balance. You'll find in dressage terms that we're looking for something called self carriage as we go along. And when I play around with this, I also put bridle is riding in the self carriage category because they kind of sound like they fit. So you can imagine that if you momentarily lighten one aide, it would be interesting to see what would happen. Now, for example, if you momentarily lighten your your inside rain, maybe you notice that your inside leg needs to do it. Touch more to keep that horse clear, but you need to just be aware of it. So I challenge you to go ahead and ride around and just go through, enlighten each one of those aides for a moment.
So you're trotting one, two, three, four. You lighten your inside left rain for a count of one, two, three or four, and then you pick it back up and you think, okay, what just happened there? What did I have to adjust? Or did we have a major change or did the horse carry that along? Then you do the same thing. You go around. You lighten the outside rain for a count of one, two, three or maybe four. And you see what happened there. And as you go through, a lot of times, you'll find that there's one aid that when you lighten it, you really notice a difference. And that's because that's the aid you're using. And then you'll find another aid, usually a parallel one. So it might be like, again, parallel inside rain, outside leg, or you'll find that the opposite one might be the one that's the weakest. Guys, I threw a whole bunch out. Yeah, I went really fast. It was too fast. Send me a question. If it was right on par and you were able to keep up. Let me know that in the comments, too, because I love teaching and blasting through material. But I can't really read your faces right now to tell whether you have that slightly fuzzy, confused look or that slightly dawning light bulb awareness.
Or if you're jumping up and down, I can't actually see you. So go ahead. Thanks for joining me today. Leave a comment and let me know what effect that just had on you. And I'll talk to you in the next episode. Thanks.
If you enjoy listening to Stacie's podcasts, please visit Stacy Westfall dot com for articles, videos and tips to help you and your horse succeed.
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Links and Resources:
Stacy’s Video Diary: Jac-Episode 17- Colt starting: Ground (line) driving and dressage whip training
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I’m a beginner rider who has just started circles. Can you break down what aides are used for what for leaking into the circle and for veering outside of the circle. Thanks
Hello Stacy
All the spiraling in and spiraling out, and wondering circles you taught me years ago has really helped Hildy and I. If Hildy were to duck into the circle my first aids that I somewhat use together are my inside leg and outside rein with a slight hold on the inside rein to keep the bend. I really don’t think I use my outside leg too much. Lots of practicing the beginning maneuvers has helped a lot!!
Yes it did! It is why you were able to jump to the neck reining exercise! You put down a great foundation.
Thank you!! I learned from the best?. I love your teaching style because it is easy to follow and you explain things so we’ll. You break down the manauves in steps that I understand and can comprehend and your examples are a tremendous help!!! I like how you explain the “why”.
Interesting read about our strengths and weaknesses while riding a horse. I notice that with myself and how my left side is more dominant. When riding, I have to work harder to use my right side with as much strength as my left. Thank you for acknowledging an issue that all equestrians face.
Great observations. I ride multiple horses so whenever I start to see a pattern in their ‘weaknesses’ I start to suspect me. My right leg has issues. I just had acupuncture yesterday and she found lots of things to work on over there. Here’s to hoping that all the needles help! (also explains the lengths I’m willing to go to 🙂
Conquering my fear of needles for my horses…
I am “competent” according to my trainer, but feel I am lower level intermediate. I found your explanation easy to follow and am looking forward to trying it out when the winds drop below 20 – 30 mph here in New England.
Yay! Very good. The weather is finally getting nice here in Ohio and I keep sneaking outside to ride up and down the hills when the weather has a few good moments to offer. The wind does get strong every time these temps rise and fall. I’m not sure they are reaching your speeds though!
In between rain and wind, I got an hour’s ride in last night and did this at the walk. What I discovered was that, at this point in my relationship with this horse, I was giving him way too much rein. After I corrected for that, we got some really nice, collected circles in at the walk and posting trot. So that led nicely into your next podcast, which I listened to this morning. (I’ve only ridden this guy about 6 times and he is not very collected. For the 4 years prior to him, I rode a very collected horse who only needed the slightest touch of my calf as an aid.)
Discoveries like that are so valuable! I love reading an article, trying it out in the barn and then feeling something new. Great job putting it into action! (hint; that’s the next podcast:)
Hi Stacy!
I’m not an advanced rider by any means. I was able to follow along though. I was physically standing in my kitchen and moving my hands and legs as if I were riding. (My imaginary horse and I had to occasionally get out of our circle to stir my ham and bean soup! Lol! :-))
It was a lot of information, but you did an amazing job explaining. Your analogies were excellent. I did have to really concentrate to get it all, and had to rewind twice, but I feel I have a very good understanding of the message you were conveying. I think your explanation is on the average riders level, which in my opinion is right where you want to be. Not too difficult for beginners, and not too easy for those more experienced. All should be able to gain something beneficial from your wise words.
Thank you for sharing! I look forward to actually riding in a circle soon! 🙂
I’m glad I’m not the only one doing the motions! I was recording the podcast and bending to the left…my hands and legs moving while I was talking, lol!!!
The Ham and Bean soup was the gate…pulling your circle out of a perfect circle…:)
Thanks for the feedback! I’ll keep blasting out the info!
Hi Stacey,
I have found when riding my gelding (He’s 20 years young this year) in a circle, in the beginning he will always test each of my aids, which in turn I am adjusting the pressure as needed until he is walking equally within them all. Highly likely due to the fact that in the past I have not been riding consistently, or enough. And yep when poking around the cows checking their welfare I tend to become passive and just mindlessly ride through the paddock while I count and observe them. I have become more mindful of my need to be present when riding, which has in turn made my riding time much more pleasant. And if I am distracted by other things on my mind, I’ll get off and walk (I guess in that case, my weakest aid is my mind in those moments ?)
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. I have been able to relate to every one of your podcasts.
Kudos ?
A perfect description of warming up and balancing between the aids! Your comment about the ‘mind’ as an aid made me laugh…and made me glad I said I was only focusing on the four aids in that podcast. We could add so many more but the mind would for sure be at the top! (which explains why I spent a whole season on the mind, lol)
Good idea on getting off and walking. I do that too sometimes out on the trail. It always surprises the newer horses.
I’m grateful that you have been enjoying the podcasts:)