How do you steer?

[MrsElle]

When I learnt to ride I was told that to turn a horse to the left you should tighten the left rein and move your right leg back behind the girth and squeeze, thus making the horse move away the pressure and turn left.

But, I have been told that you should tighten the left rein and squeeze with the left leg in it's normal position to make the horse bend round your leg.

Which is correct?

I haven't had a riding lesson in more years than many on this forum have been alive, and wonder if I had forgotten what I had been told and made it all up!

 

[nato]

I've always opened the rein in the direction I want to go, keeping inside leg at the girth and outside leg behind the girth to prevent hindquarters falling out. So turning left I'm slightly opening/flexing the left rein, applying pressure with left (inside leg) at the girth to ask horse to bend around my leg, and keeping right (outside) leg behind the girth to prevent hindquarters swinging out.

 

[peanut]

Don't forget to hold the outside rein and turn your upper body in the direction you are going ... it is very easy to block the horse with your shoulders.

Are you planning a lesson?

 

[Equi]

I've always opened the rein in the direction I want to go, keeping inside leg at the girth and outside leg behind the girth to prevent hindquarters falling out. So turning left I'm slightly opening/flexing the left rein, applying pressure with left (inside leg) at the girth to ask horse to bend around my leg, and keeping right (outside) leg behind the girth to prevent hindquarters swinging out.

This, but adding a shoulder twist and turning the head in the direction.

 

[MrsElle]

I do the turning to look in the direction we are travelling, and perhaps subconsciously squeeze with the left leg (when turning left) too.

I'm not planning on having any lessons, I just pootle around the lanes and we manage ok, but just wondered what was 'correct'

 

[peanut]

I've always been taught not to open the rein (remember the tray of teacups!) but to just close/tighten the fingers of the inside rein for a subtle but adequate communication with the bit.

ETA: Think top class dressage - no one should be able to see the aids. Does Carl Hester open the inside rein?

 

[vmac66]

Just started having ' classical lessons'. Am being taught to lift inside rein, open outside, put weight into outside stirrup and squeeze inside leg on the girth. Totally new way of riding to me so am now riding round saying lift open step and squeeze to myself. Does seem to be helping with my nappy boy though

 

[Equi]

I've always been taught not to open the rein (remember the tray of teacups!) but to just close/tighten the fingers of the inside rein for a subtle but adequate communication with the bit.

ETA: Think top class dressage - no one should be able to see the aids. Does Carl Hester open the inside rein?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-nuICdy1eE

i think his hands and legs move quite a lot in this video, but in a calssical way as the poster above said.

 

[CinnamonChristmasCookie]

The slightest movement to look where I want to go, slight leg pressure and he goes where I want, but he's an exceptionally responsive ride. Clench your bum and he stops.

 

[nato]

I've always been taught not to open the rein (remember the tray of teacups!) but to just close/tighten the fingers of the inside rein for a subtle but adequate communication with the bit.

ETA: Think top class dressage - no one should be able to see the aids. Does Carl Hester open the inside rein?

I would say he probably does! It's possible to open the inside rein without widening your hands. Also his horses are trained to a much higher standard and are at a degree of collection off such subtle aids that my little connie x ID will never be

We're still working on accepting the contact and keeping light in a frame when turning so opening the rein works best for us. I think once you've got a horse that accepts the turning aids and is responsive to those aids you can make them more subtle.