Off the leg?? Schooling tips

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I had a lesson on Liri today, and my instructor kept saying she needs to go off the leg more, and she needs to go forward into the bit. I feel stupid keep asking my instructor these sorts of questions so can someone please give me some advice as to how I should be doing this??
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I kick her on with the inside leg, but she is sooooo lazy, and a squeeze would make no difference to her whatsoever.
 
Lots of transitions will get her listening more. Also if you back your leg up with a sharp tap i think you'll find she gets a bit more responsive.
 
What Dianchi said, but if you find that she ignores the whip too (like my girly!), you could try a wip wop rope...has totally turned my horsey into a different gal! Very kind (better than being tempted to kick or over-use whip) and extremely effective!
 
My instructor says they can feel a fly so they can easily feel your leg, but just dont respect it and should go off the lightest of legs. You need to be consistant (which Im not good at) both hacking and schooling. If she doesnt move off smartly with a light squeeze, back it up with you whip immediately. Promise it only takes a few times and she will get the idea but you have to start the way you mean to carry on and not niggle with your legs for ages, lose your rag and then smack her.
He made me imaging squeezing (not kicking ever) a toothpaste tube with my legs, the harder you squeeze the faster you should go!
 
do you ride with a whip? if not then try that, and just tap up everytime she ignores your leg, when she is going forward, leave her be, dont nag her. Another way is to teach her to move away from the leg by using forms of lateral work, standing still just put one leg on and as soon as she moves over, release the pressure and praise. The release and praise is very important for both methods!
 
Transitions really are the key to this. She needs to be leaping off your leg to start with! So ask with the pressure you always want to use, if she doesnt respond, ask again with a sharp reminder from the whip. ONLY use the whip when you are using your leg, otherwise she will just learn to go forward from your whip, and make sure you are prepared for her to really go forward, so dont touch her mouth for a couple of strides. You do have to be strict with yourself not to nag, and to only ask the same amount each time. Also, make sure you are sat correctly, it is amazing how minor adjustments in your position can take the "handbrake" off
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Lots of lateral work also helps getting them off your leg
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Thank you everyone for your advice. I bought Liri from a lady who never used her legs, just two whips (for disability reasons). Could this be why she totally ignores my leg aids??
 
A useful tip I noted when at a your horse demo was to make sure you are not asking the horse to slow down with your hands at the same time as squeezing him on!
I know it sounds obvious but sometimes we need to give more with our hands and let him go forward.
I think it was Carl Hester who demonstrated by giving his young horse a light 'kick' - this sent the horse flying forwards and Carl let him fly off for a few strides before collecting him again.
It has worked with my horse who can be lazy in the school.
 
You're paying an instructor who doesn't explain?

Why do people do this? What have you learnt? Why should you pay?
 
Bedlam, my instructor does explain, she is fantastic. But I'm asking her so many questions all the time and feel a bit of a numpty, and I ask the same questions over and over cos it isnt staying in, think its my age.
 
My mare is a lazy cow - even the PC kick doesn't work! As the school at the yard is very big I divide it lengthwise in two then ride in zig zags down one half and up the other in walk and trot - the combination of sharp turns and transitions get her going.
 
interesting click - I've been taught to slightly turn out the upper leg so that your knee and upper leg aren't restricting the horse and apply calf and effectively 'wrap around' the horse....the instructor on the clip mentions using your knee aswell......all very confusing!

I found that my new boy wasn't going forward very well and then I realised that I was clamping my knee around him too much - so I open up my knee and he went forward so much better....couldn't believe the difference.
 
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interesting click[ QUOTE ]


Ok, I'm really confused as to why I put click instead of post......think I had far too much wine last night!
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