Use your leg

The leg aid is one of the most fundamental ways to communicate with your horse. Leslie Bliss finds out how to refine it to the ultimate level

- Leslie Bliss

IN its most basic form, the leg aid is simple. You are asking the horse to yield away from your leg, so using one leg moves the horse sideways away from the one leg, using both legs means you are asking the horse to go forwards. Sounds easy. But achieving the desired reaction consistently using the lightest of aids requires a rider with the ability to use the right amount of pressure at the right time and in the right place.

GET A RESPONSE

THE first step is to teach the horse to react to a light leg aid. This is critical to training a horse whatever the discipline or level the horse is working at.

Dressage legend Kyra Kyrklund explains: “A horse feels a fly land on his skin, so ideally, he should be listening to a whisper. Think of aids – whether hand, leg or weight – in terms of small, medium, large and extra-large. If you don’t get a response from a small aid, use medium. You might need to use extra-large, but it is important you always go back to small, otherwise the horse will shut off.”

This is absolutely vital: “You might have to raise your voice now and again, but then remember, always go back to using a small aid. If you start to use a bit more leg, and a bit more leg, then it doesn’t mean anything anymore.”

“As with all aids, not influencing the horse is his reward,” explains Kyra Kyrklund; “nagging” a horse with your leg (above left), will encourage him to switch off from your aids. A relaxed leg (above right) – one which is not constantly squeezing – will allow the rider to “feel” the horse, putting the leg on when it is needed and encouraging response to a light aid. “Ideally, the horse should be listening to a whisper,” says Kyra