The Aids

The Aids

By Maribeth Dunlap

January 2007

Aids are what we use to communicate with and influence the horse. An aid should be applied lightly and briefly. The stronger the aids, the duller the horse will become. It is important to teach the horse to respond to the lightest of aids. The lighter the aid, the more subtle and invisible the rider can become, and gives the impression of being in unison and harmony. An aid shouldn’t any longer than a fraction of a second. If it lasts longer, then is works against the sequence of the footfalls and can produce the opposite result, which is bracing and resisting, and a loss of forward energy as the horse sucks back. So it is important that the timing of the aid is correct. (More on the timing of the aids in another article)

The Primary aids are:

• The seat

• The legs

• The hands

The Auxiliary aids are:

• The voice

• The whip

• The spurs

The Primary Aids

The seat aid refers to the parts of the rider’s body from the thighs to the core and abdominal muscles. The seat is the main control center for all the aids and is the most important aid. If the rider does not have an educated seat, one that is effective and independent, then the other aids become less effective. Often when the rider lacks a good seat, then he must rely on stronger hands and legs, which often leads to resistances in the horse and a less than effective communication system. An educated seat transmits and coordinates the aids just as in an orchestra where the conductor coordinates all the musical parts and can perform a beautiful symphony. The seat coordinates and supports the other aids so that the legs and hands can become more subtle. The best way to achieve an educated seat is to spend time on the lunge line on a safe lunge horse under the eye of an educated instructor.

The legs primary role is to send the horse forward by touching the sides of the horse gently with the calves. The heels do not pull up but stay pressed down. It is really the calves that touch and press and release to indicate the aid. The legs can also indicate to the horse to bend either left or right or to yield as in a leg yield or lateral movement.

The hands indicate direction and bend. The hands can yield to allow the forward energy created by the legs to go forward, receive forward energy, or redirect the forward energy. The hands should never block the forward energy created by the legs and, most definitely, should never pull backwards. The hands should remain close together and in front of the rider’s core with soft bending elbows, which rest close to the rider’s sides. The fingers should be softly closed around the reins as if he were gently holding tiny birds; closed enough to not allow them to fly away, yet soft enough so as not to crush them. It is important to keep the wrists relaxed and not stiff. Stiff wrists will prevent the rider from having an elastic contact with the horse’s mouth. It is also important to not cross the rein over the horse’s neck as it creates an incorrect action on the horse’s mouth.

The hands should only be used in conjunction with the seat and legs and never alone and unsupported by the seat and legs.

The Auxiliary Aids

The rider’s voice, the whip and the spurs are used to make the rider’s intentions clearer to the horse and to reinforce the Primary aids; the seat, legs and hands.

The voice is used especially in the early training of young horses. It can also give the horse confidence. The tone is the most important faction the use of the voice. A calm, low-pitched voice has a calming effect, whereas a short, sharp word can indicate a need for a change or to indicate disapproval. A quick cluck can encourage and a reassuring voice is helpful when introducing the horse to a new exercise or to new surroundings or stimuli.

The whip is used to make the horse more alert and responsive. It can improve the activity of the hind legs and bring the horse “to the leg” or help to put the horse “in front of the leg”. The whip helps to support the forward driving aids. It is important to remember that the whip is an aid and should be used in such a manner. It should be used, like all aids, briefly and beginning with a light touch. Remember that you want to train the horse to react to light aids, not ones that are strong and severe. If the horse does not respond to the light touch, then press and then quickly vibrate the whip. Save the strong whip aid as the last resort. Always give the horse the opportunity to respond to the lightest of aids.

The spurs are used to enable the rider to apply his leg aids with more finesse and to reinforce the leg. The spur is mainly used for the lateral movements and for collection. The correct use of the spur helps to engage the hind legs of the horse. As with all the aids, the use of spurs should be kept brief and to the point. Constant nagging or using strong aids will only dull the horse and make him less responsive. Also, it is very important that the rider has an educated seat and independent aids before wearing spurs. The rider should have complete control over his body so as to prevent unnecessary jabbing with the spurs.

I’m going to add feel or equestrian tact as I think this deserves to be noted. The rider needs to learn to feel the horse move underneath him. It is important to learn to feel the footfall sequence of the horse in all three gaits and to feel when the horse is moving straight or when he is crooked.

Feel is important to be able to apply the aids:

• in the correct manner

• with the correct timing

• with the correct intensity

• with the correct ratios of seat, leg and rein

Developing feel is essential to refine the aids and make them more subtle and helps to develop a harmonious, confident and effective relationship between the horse and the rider.

Co-ordination of the Aids

The aids serve as signals, communicate and influence the horse, that it should move in a certain direction, carry it’s body in a certain way, and so perform exercises. The rider achieves this by using a combination of all the aids. Any one of the aids used alone cannot be effective. Only when the aids are coordinated can they be effective. Think of the orchestra again, the aids should be used like an orchestra, coordinated and working together to produce beautiful music. The correct coordination of the aids is only possible if the rider has an educated seat. The rider must be in complete control over his body to be able to apply the aids independently of the horse’s movement. To be successful, the rider must become skillful, coordinated and learn tact and finesse and be able to feel and understand how the horse is moving underneath him.

Photo: Maribeth riding Maestoso II Odetta II (Wild)

This article was written by Maribeth January 2007 – All Rights Reserved Used With Permission.