Basic Aids

Aids  Aids are the means by which the rider communicates the desired movement to the horse. There are six aids available to the rider, three natural and three artificial. Of the three natural aids, legs, seat bones, and reins, the legs and seat bones (weight) should have the emphasis. Reins play an important part, but should never be over used as is too often the case. The artificial aids which can be used to assist the rider are the spur, whip, and voice. The spur and whip are used to reinforce the rider's leg, and should be used with care and knowledge. Voice is not a legal aid in the show ring; however, it is a very helpful tool for the rider. The horse responds to the words "good boy or good girl". I use voice to reassure the horse, to let him know that he is doing good. All aids should be applied with the least amount of pressure necessary to obtain the desired response. Aids should be applied in a relaxed, calm manner and never in anger.

Before going on we should define what inside and outside means. Inside is the concave side of the bend of the horse. Outside is the convex side of the bend of the horse. The bend being even from poll to tail. Dominant aids mean the active aid; passive or diminished aid means the aid which is in position to act if the need arises but only with very light pressure.

Diagonal Control The dominant rein and leg between which the horse is being controlled are always on opposite sides (inside leg and seat bone and outside rein). This keeps the horse controlled on both sides between "hand and leg". Although one diagonal is said to dominate, this does not imply that the other diagonal (rein and leg) is to be forgotten. It is only slightly diminished. Once the position for the movement has been obtained, it should not be lost by the lack of application of the diminished control. Diagonal control is the basis for all good dressage.

Reins When riding straight the rider should have light, even contact with the horse's mouth. The rider's inside rein is used to slightly bend the horse's neck to indicate the direction of the bend. It is called the flexion rein and is a direct rein. The outside rein is called the opposing rein,an indirect rein, It is used to oppose forward movement, support and limit flexion, and is the main turning rein.

Legs Both legs are positioned at the girth for riding straight. The rider's inside leg is used at the girth for bend, impulsion, and to move the horse away from it. The rider's outside leg is used back behind the girth (approximately 4" behind the rider's inside leg) to limit the hindquarters from swinging to the outside to avoid bend. Remember that both legs should be on the horse, not gripping, but touching the horse's body in a relaxed way.

Seat When riding straight the rider sits evenly on both seat bones. Seat bones are used with the rider's leg aids. When the rider lowers her inside leg for a turn, the inside seat bone is used to transfer the weight of the rider in the direction of the turn. When the horse is bent, the rider always sits on her inside seat bone, or the seat bone to the inside of the bend. Seat bones are also used to push the horse forward. The rider braces her back (pelvic tilt) pushing both seat bones forward and down. The rider should only brace her back until the horse responds and then should immediately lighten her seat. Remember any relaxtion of the aids is a reward to the horse, to keep the aids on strongly would be a bad mistake; it would produce a horse that was heavy and difficult to ride.

The aids used for each movement will be covered in the session on each particular movement.