Asking for every stride

[Steorra]

When riding, do you actively ask the horse for every stride? Or do you ask once then expect him to continue doing what you wanted until you ask for something else?

Two instructors have given me opposing views on this. I'm enjoying trying out different riding styles (on different horses) and good instructors of any sort seem to have a lot in common. But this is a pretty fundamental difference!

 

[dianchi]

I don't, as I see it as nagging them, Although I will ride every stride if they are backing off or not giving it enough.

Once I have the stride that I want constantly I let them continue in that pace, but you have to be quick to reinforce riding this way.

 

[Fides]

My mare has been schooled that if you ask for something she continues until you ask for something else. It took a lot of work to achieve this but it now means she is very easy to ride. So easy in fact it has made me lazy.

Funnily enough though a girl tried her out for part loan who tried to do the kick every stride thing and she went totally unresponsive for her. She couldn't even get her to stay in trot - she clearly prefers not to be nagged

 

[Steorra]

I don't, as I see it as nagging them, Although I will ride every stride if they are backing off or not giving it enough.

Once I have the stride that I want constantly I let them continue in that pace, but you have to be quick to reinforce riding this way.

Yes, this is closer to the way I was taught to ride, and how I tend to school when left to my own devices. Ask once, don't nag, but make adjustments if necessary.

I've had a few lessons on a wily older schoolmaster though who knows lots of clever things but the moment I stop pushing he just...stops.... Quite disconcerting. It's clearly a training/ method difference though as another horse belonging to the same instructor was the same. RI is fairly successful at dressage and horse has competed to a higher level than I ever have so it clearly works for them.

 

[smja]

I wouldn't 'ask' for every stride, I would expect to ask the horse to trot and for the horse to continue trotting until I ask it not to. However, this doesn't mean no communication/legs off the horse - leg is 'there' in a reassuring way, but not actively being used unless horse backs off/needs more bend/needs more oomph.

 

[Red-1]

This seems to be a mx up with the idea of "Riding Every Stride", as opposed to "asking". I ride every stride (or try to),as in I keep my bearing, core strong, balance, feel on reins and through seat/legs.

I would see this as setting up the movement and allowing every stride, whilst being there to correct in an instant if performance drops.

I do not ask every stride, as this would mean to me nag nag nag. I think that the horse will be numb to the leg being constantly on. Besides if you are always legging the horse on how does he "feel" when you want leg yield, or "more", or whatever.....

Besides, I am tired enough when doing, say, a dressage test. It must be ultra hard to ask every stride.

 

[PorkChop]

I agree with Red-1, I definitely ride every stride. I am constantly trying to improve every step - me and the horse. No, I am not asking with my legs every stride, I expect a horse to stay in a pace until otherwise asked.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

No i dont ask for every stride.
I try and train the horse so that i set up the movement, cue the movement and let them carry me in it.

 

[Steorra]

Helpful replies - thank you.

Yes, I think there is a difference between riding every stride (sitting in balance, core engaged, legs softly closed, maintaining the contact, ready to actively make a correction) and leg-leg-leg every step. The former is more about maintaining of improving what the horse is doing and quite different to a horse who doesn't take a step you don't ask for. Interesting ride but knackering.

I wondered if I was being naive thinking that you could train a horse to maintain more advanced/ demanding movements without asking for each step.

Really interesting to hear from you all

 

[daffy44]

Not naive at all, as others have said, yes you need to ride every stride, but not ask. My advanced horse will piaffe, passage or half pass for example until asked to do something else, i am riding, but certainly not continually asking. This starts from the very beginning when you ask a youngster to go in a pace from one llight aid, and maintain that pace until you asl for something else.