Horse Training with Leg Pressure

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Way To Go By Steve Sikora

Using Your Legs for a Light Responsive Horse

Have you ever watched someone (with a green cloud of jealousy) ride off on his or her horse with seemingly no input from the rider, while you are kicking your horse and wishing your horse would just walk? Most of us at one time have been in the situation where we have tried, but could not get our horse to do what we wanted to the point of frustration. If your horse does not transition from standing to a walk, walk to trot, or trot to canter easily, you are not alone. When your horse is not doing what you want with a minimal cue, he is pointing to where he needs your help in understanding what you want him to do. If only they could sit down, have a cup of coffee and discuss the whole situation!

When a horse will not move forward, increase his leg speed or accelerate from one gate to the next, it is because we have not taught our horse the “faster” cue to completion. We can teach our horse to become more “light” or responsive to our “move your legs faster” cue by following a few simple steps. We need to 1) define our goal 2) build a lesson plan 3) be consistent in executing our plan 4) have a way for the horse to know that what they did in response to our cue was correct.

Let us first define our goal. In this example our goal is to get the horse that does not want to move forward, to walk when we lift the reins forward. In this case, we would have a hard time achieving our goal if we did not break it up into smaller interim goals. So we will set our first interim goal for our horse to be to take one step forward. Then we can build to two steps, then three and so on.

Now we will build our lesson plan. We want our horse always to be light and responsive so we will start by lifting our reins and thinking a forward thought. If our horse does not take a step forward after two seconds, we will “kiss” or “cluck” to the horse. If the horse still does not take a step after two seconds, we will squeeze on the horse’s sides with our legs. If there is still no movement after two seconds, we will bump our horse’s sides with our legs. Wait another two seconds. If our horse has still not taken one step forward we will kick our horse. How hard you kick will depend on the horse and whether you feel that the horse may buck. Do not put yourself in harms way. If you think that the horse will buck, get professional help (let a trainer take the bullet, not you). Most horses, that do not want to walk forward, will not buck when kicked. They will usually just take a single step forward. As soon as the horse responds to any one of these cues by taking one step forward, stop what you are doing. When you stop lifting the rein forward, kissing, squeezing, bumping or kicking, the horse will know that the one forward step is what you wanted. It is the same as telling him, “Yes, that is what I wanted”. We will have to repeat this a number of times in order for the horse to completely understand what is being asked of him. It would not be unusual to have to do more than 100 repetitions to make the cue solid in the horses mind. By being consistent in our asking, lifting the rein, kissing, squeezing, bumping and finally kicking, our horse will learn the pattern of what is coming next. He will begin to take his step more quickly. If he started with you having to kick him, after a number of repetitions he will begin to anticipate the kick when you bump, he will take a step then, so as not to be kicked. As you continue with the exercise, he will start to take a step at the squeeze in anticipation of the bump. You will work your horse until he responds to lifting the reins forward only. Each time that the horse walks forward, wait a couple of seconds before asking again, this will solidify in the horse’s mind what you are asking. As you work on this exercise the horse will learn to keep walking forward knowing if he does not, you will just be asking again a little firmer. The horse will learn that it is easier for him to just keep going.

This exercise can be used to get you horse from the walk to the trot and from the trot to the canter. Be sure to work the horse in a complete range of speeds at each gate as you progress. We want our horse to have a slow trot as well as a medium and a fast trot. In the canter we would also like at least a slow, medium and fast canter. The horse will give you a complete range of speeds only if you require it. If you do not ask for a variance in speed you will not get it. Spend the time necessary to develop a complete range of speeds in your horse and you will be glad that you did. By teaching this lesson your horse will learn that merely lifting the reins forward means to increase his leg speed. Your horse will also know that if he does not increase his leg speed, you will be asking again, but not as nicely. It will take patience to work your horse through this lesson, but the return for you is getting the exact speed that you want every time that you ask. Expect to work on this lesson for several weeks. Interchanging this lesson with others will prevent boredom for you and your horse and will solidify other lessons previously taught.

By taking the time to teach your horse using clearly defined goals, a well thought out plan, being consistent in how you ask, and giving your horse a clear release as he does the correct movement, your enjoyment and the partnership that you build with your horse cannot be surpassed. Enjoy the teaching as well as the riding of your horse. You’ll be surprised at all you can accomplish in a short amount of time with little to no frustration.

Steve Sikora is a clinician and trainer located in Chandler Arizona. Steve specializes in riding clinics throughout the United States and has an apprenticeship program for those wishing to increase their knowledge. Steve can be contacted at info@ssequinetraining.com or
phone at 602-625-1961.

Contact: Stephen Sikora
15805 E. Lonesome Lane
Chandler, Arizona 85249
Phone: 480-232-3261
Email: SSikora15805@aol.com
Website: www.ssequinetraining.com/

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