"Riding Every Stride" vs "nagging"

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Roody2

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As title really - how do you make sure you ride every stride and keep the pace even and active without turning into an annoying nagging rider?

I have a naturally bone idle horse who will do as little as possible but is really quite talented once you have found the 'on' switch. But to keep him infront of the leg I do have to ride with very strong legs myself. He can have a 'pony' trot, an average horse trot, and a beautiful trot with cadence, it just depends on how you ride him. I would love to just get on him and get the right trot straight away but it takes some work and I do worry he is going to find me a nag rather than respect my leg aid and just get on with it.

I do mix up his work including jumping and hacking so don't worry, he's not drilled every day on a 20m circle!!
 
My youngster was like this. I had a lesson with a good 4* rider who told me that I had to stop making him do everything (ride every stride) and start letting him do everything. I did and it worked, as soon as I quietened it all down and demanded he get on with it without constant work from me, he started taking me forwards without the effort.
 
Something i got taught once was to dare them to stop going forwards so take your leg off completely then when they go to slow down really clamp the leg on or PC kick! it will give them a fright and they will go forward again then do it again 2 or 3 times and they will get that just because you are not constantly at them with the leg doesnt mean you want them to slow down. Hopefully then the horse will take you forward naturally without you having to get at them all the time. I am not a dressage rider by any means i'm sure others have better suggestions :)
 
claire_p2001 said:
Something i got taught once was to dare them to stop going forwards so take your leg off completely then when they go to slow down really clamp the leg on or PC kick! it will give them a fright and they will go forward again then do it again 2 or 3 times and they will get that just because you are not constantly at them with the leg doesnt mean you want them to slow down. Hopefully then the horse will take you forward naturally without you having to get at them all the time. I am not a dressage rider by any means i'm sure others have better suggestions :)
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Ha, if I dare him to stop going forwards he does the most impressive emergency stop!! I guess we have got into a vicious circle which I need to break.
I would love him to respect my leg enough to take me forwards with the lightest touch and 50% of the time we get it, but it's a bit hit and miss getting it.
 
claire_p2001 said:
Something i got taught once was to dare them to stop going forwards so take your leg off completely then when they go to slow down really clamp the leg on or PC kick! it will give them a fright and they will go forward again then do it again 2 or 3 times and they will get that just because you are not constantly at them with the leg doesnt mean you want them to slow down. Hopefully then the horse will take you forward naturally without you having to get at them all the time. I am not a dressage rider by any means i'm sure others have better suggestions :)
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Lol - nope, this is what the OH does with his top horse and he's riding at GP! :p Sven can be a lazy beggar and likes to ignore the leg from time to time and so Edward has to just give him one big shock, then it's all fine and they can carry on :) (Apart from if Sven does it in the walk in a test... Edward just has to live with it then ;) )
 
We did something similar with mine, ask for forwards then wait untill he is just about to break pace then all hell breaks loose so to speak and he gets really sent forwards, dont mind if he then breaks up a pace or just heads off in medium but it must be moving forwards. Only takes a reminder once a week or so and he's now realised that its still me and he still has to go forwards.

ETA I'm currently riding a small pony who at the moment needs correcting every stride to stay straight though so not sure how that would be seen by the dressage crew. But every stride he needs one of his shoulders correcting mainly his right although its not taking as much to correct him now as it did the first time I rode him.
 
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Legs off for lazy....agree with above. You can use voice but the more leg used the more it will been ignored.

If your horse then stops then immediately send forward to a gallop! Pat and reward.

Then gradually use less leg.....if ignored send forward etc

When you give an aid you should get a change.

Itll make life easier for both of you.
 
B-B said:
Legs off for lazy....agree with above. You can use voice but the more leg used the more it will been ignored.

If your horse then stops then immediately send forward to a gallop! Pat and reward.

Then gradually use less leg.....if ignored send forward etc

When you give an aid you should get a change.

Itll make life easier for both of you.
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Thanks everyone, I'm going to have to be so strict with myself. Sometimes I don't even realise I'm asking with the leg and getting nothing in return - need some shouty lessons I think to keep me thinking as well as the horse!!
 
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