Inside leg on a circle

[Marigold4]

I'm a bit confused by new instructor's approach to inside leg, although it seems to be working well. Up to now, I had read and been told to have inside leg AT the girth and outside leg slight behind to stop quarters falling out. New instructor has me using my inside leg BEHIND the girth, outside leg at the girth and inside hand forward and out to give the horse "space" to trot into. So completely contradictory ideas! I guess it all depends what your horse is doing, and my horse needs more bend?? She is an excellent dressage rider so happy to go along with it but just a bit confused as different to what I have been told before.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

As you say, your instructor is asking you to respond to the horse.

 

[scats]

Is the horse prone to falling out at the shoulder?

 

[Tiddlypom]

That’s weird, I’d be confuddled by those instructions .

I’d want an explanation as to why she was asking you do this, it’s not something that I’ve heard of or can understand the reasoning behind.

ETA it’s the inside leg behind the girth and the outside leg on the girth plus the inside hand wide I don’t understand. I offer the inside rein regularly but offer it forwards, not wide, and my inside leg always on the girth.

Bringing inside hand wide would encourage excessive banana shapes curving, wouldn’t it?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

There are so many different ways to get bend or straighten that's just another one.

My friend uses an exercise walking squares using more outside rein and outside leg, then you trot squares then go large and it's a great way of getting them much straighter afterwards.

She is probably seeing something from the ground but worth asking why.

 

[holeymoley]

Presumably he is 'falling in'. The arm forward is to get him to carry himself up and forward. Leg behind girth to get his hind up and not falling in.

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks for your responses, everyone. I think a lot of the issue is that I block him on the inside rein with my inside hand. I'm asking for the bend too much with my inside rein then holding it there. She wants me to release my inside rein forward and ask for the bend with my leg, if that makes sense. I can do this pretty well now on the left rein but find it SOOOO hard to release my right hand on the inside of a circle. If anyone has any thoughts why that would be so hard, please do share your ideas!

He tends to duck behind the contact when asked to do something different so, yes, we are trying to get him up and forward. She also makes me ride much more forward than I would usually do - he fusses less in the mouth then and we have moments of a proper contact - something he and I have been struggling with.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Using too much inside rein is a common thing on a circle at least she has picked up on this and is trying a different approach that's what makes a good instructor.

If your right handed that hand arm is normally stronger so again it's common I do it sometimes, just be mindful and keep reminding yourself to let go and it will get easier

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Arabi is a bit chomper when his not truly forward its almost like the lack of power and forwardness causes them to focus on something else.

It's the busy Arab brain I call it

 

[TheMule]

The inside rein observation is correct, but the legs are wrong- you’ll be displacing the quarters out rather than turning the shoulder round like that. It should be the same aids as for shoulder in but the outside hand allows the movement around rather than capturing the shoulder and riding straight down the line

 

[daffy44]

Ask the instructor why she is telling you to ride this way, it may well be a temporary solution to a problem, and she doesnt intend you to ride this way long term. She obviously has a reason, so ask the person who has given the instruction and has actually seen you and the horse work in real life.

 

[Rowreach]

It's impossible to know without seeing but it sounds to me like she's doing her job and coaching the horse and rider she has in front of her. She's the one to ask.

 

[tristars]

Is the horse going forwards enough?

 

[Marigold4]

Is the horse going forwards enough?

We're working on it! He's really quick to do emergency stops if he sees something on the ground that looks weird to him, so I am less keen than my instructor on him going forward! I need to rewire my brain a bit, because if he were more forward he probably wouldn't put a stop in. Having just come off him this evening when a funny-looking tuft of grass appeared at canter, I think it's set us back a bit.

 

[tristars]

Oh marigold sorry about that ! But one of ours who is never spooky is a bit looky at the no, I think its the grass here it's gone very warm after the rain, I was just thinking if the horse goes forwards nicely I find it so much easier to do decent circles, to start I am happy with one nice. Circle and build on that, i tend to come off the end of the long side to start a circle Stoke the trot and prepare, but not too forwards just a nice mix of balance slight curvature and engine power, then go forwards along the short side,I would also be interested to hear the reasoning behind your Instructors aids

 

[Muddywellies]

If I'm ever confused by anything, i just ask my trainer 'why' at the time.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Thanks for your responses, everyone. I think a lot of the issue is that I block him on the inside rein with my inside hand. I'm asking for the bend too much with my inside rein then holding it there. She wants me to release my inside rein forward and ask for the bend with my leg, if that makes sense. I can do this pretty well now on the left rein but find it SOOOO hard to release my right hand on the inside of a circle. If anyone has any thoughts why that would be so hard, please do share your ideas!

He tends to duck behind the contact when asked to do something different so, yes, we are trying to get him up and forward. She also makes me ride much more forward than I would usually do - he fusses less in the mouth then and we have moments of a proper contact - something he and I have been struggling with.

If you are finding it physically more difficult on one side it might be worth seeing a physio who is familiar with horse riding. I watched an interesting video on the Activate Your Seat Instagram about how weakness/imbalance in the seat can come through to the arms and hands. I've also had the experience with a physio giving me some off-horse mobility and strengthening exercises to help even things up and I felt the benefit in my lessons immediately! If I don't keep up the exercises I really notice riding well is harder, especially on left rein which is my 'bad' side.

 

[Nonjumper]

It honestly sounds like the horse is falling out at the shoulder on a circle. The outside leg on the girth, inside leg back and inside hand forward will encourage the horse to come round into the circle rather than bulge out with a bent neck. But I agree with @daffy44 that the person to ask this question to is the instructor herself.

 

[Marigold4]

Oh marigold sorry about that ! But one of ours who is never spooky is a bit looky at the no, I think its the grass here it's gone very warm after the rain, I was just thinking if the horse goes forwards nicely I find it so much easier to do decent circles, to start I am happy with one nice. Circle and build on that, i tend to come off the end of the long side to start a circle Stoke the trot and prepare, but not too forwards just a nice mix of balance slight curvature and engine power, then go forwards along the short side,I would also be interested to hear the reasoning behind your Instructors aids

Thanks, Tristars. I'm not hurt at all, just minor whiplash. Horse was very sorry and I got back and cantered several circles. He is a bit of a twit but very sweet. Next lesson I will ask the reasoning about my inside leg. I'm hiring an indoor school this week and will try your method.

 

[Marigold4]

If you are finding it physically more difficult on one side it might be worth seeing a physio who is familiar with horse riding. I watched an interesting video on the Activate Your Seat Instagram about how weakness/imbalance in the seat can come through to the arms and hands. I've also had the experience with a physio giving me some off-horse mobility and strengthening exercises to help even things up and I felt the benefit in my lessons immediately! If I don't keep up the exercises I really notice riding well is harder, especially on left rein which is my 'bad' side.

I AM sometimes unevenly balanced on my seat bones nd I'm sure that contributes to the right arm thing. I had some mechanical horse lessons earlier this year. I'm aware of it and working on it. Just need to find the mental fix to get that hand forward ...

 

[Marigold4]

It honestly sounds like the horse is falling out at the shoulder on a circle. The outside leg on the girth, inside leg back and inside hand forward will encourage the horse to come round into the circle rather than bulge out with a bent neck. But I agree with @daffy44 that the person to ask this question to is the instructor herself.

Yes, I think that must be right. I think my inside hand is causing him to fall out at the shoulder, as you say. She seems a wonderful instructor. I just asked on here because I thought perhaps I had got the aids wrong for all these years, so just checking my understanding before asking. Her method does result in better circles and better way of going. Although horse finds it all quite difficult.

 

[Marigold4]

The inside rein observation is correct, but the legs are wrong- you’ll be displacing the quarters out rather than turning the shoulder round like that. It should be the same aids as for shoulder in but the outside hand allows the movement around rather than capturing the shoulder and riding straight down the line

I'll check with her why she wants me to apply the aids differently. What you say has always been my understanding of aids for a circle.