Spinoff: on the aids?

[Kairoshorses]

In the transitions thread, there's a lot of conversation about "on the aids". I'm learning that I need to learn a LOT more about that!

I used to think I was "on the aids"...but in some recent clinics/lessons, I've discovered that I'm really not, and that I've allowed my horses to "get by" with obedient, not-through transitions, gaits, and so forth.

As I get to more difficult dressage and jumping questions, I KNOW I need to understand....and FEEL....this concept more fully.

And it seems to be different with different horses--my "long, tall Texan" horse does more of it on his own, but I'm learning I need to push him into a stronger connection.

My stout, Irish horse (who's relatively new to me--since June) is only going to give me as much as I ask for--and I'm learning I'm NOT asking for NEARLY enough. I'm in a process of re-training both of us that asking nicely AND expecting results immediately is the way we want to be.

I've been working on that independent seat--I can ride bareback easily w/o hanging on reins, I've jacked up the stirrups and done a LOT of galloping position. I'm working on the core, too. But putting it all together is hard for me. I guess I'm not sure what I'm SUPPOSED to be feeling.

SO--to all of you who "get" this concept, who understand the feel, tell me about it: how it feels, how you get it, how I'll know on different horses, and so forth.

Thanks in advance!

[EiRide]

Well . . . you should have the feeling that you can decide to go or do whatever and get it, immediately. If you are trotting along and decide to halt, the horse should do so with a little tactful prep--as in, hold your core, settle your pelvis, slightly close the legs, close the fingers, whoa. This should be a quick process, not something that takes you a bunch of strides,. Dobbin should not be sticking the nose out, bracing, getting crooked, etc. if he is on the aids, but rather should step under himself and into the halt.

In what way is your horse not on the aids? Is he behind your leg? Just sort of clomping along daydreaming while you get his attention in order to do something?

If the former, I like to ask the horse to halt, rein back, and canter right out of rein back, hand gallop, halt, rein back, canter out of it again. This wakes up my lazy girl in no time flat, and sends her right out in front of my seat. Once she had learner the exercise, I just had to start to compress and lengthen her stride in canter and she would be right up in front of my leg again. Lots of stretching trot in warm up also helps her get on the aids as she loosens that back and her heavy neck up.

If it is the latter, then mix it up in your training, all the time; never just go around the outside of the arena. Circles, figure 8's, bunches of grapes, spiral in and leg yield out, transitions, transitions, transitions. Practice making your transition on a visual marker, like 'at the roll top, walk five steps, then trot'.

Good luck.

[forestergirl99]

When your horse is on the aids they are really work back to front and using themselves. They are also very attentive to every movement you make. A horse that is on the aids should feel light and responsive. You should feel like you could ask them to get off you leg, make a transition, etc all at the drop of a hat.

[jn4jenny]

Alas, as my trainer often says, "I can teach you a lot of things, but I can't teach feel. I can teach you what you should and shouldn't be doing. I can tell you when I see from the ground what it should look like, and you can try to memorize what that sensation feels like. I can get on your horse and get him to a point where he's moving on the aids, then put you back on him and let you feel that until you memorize it. But I can't describe it to you in words."

The only thing that worked for me was to lesson on horses that were generous enough to show me "the feel", to hop on my horse after training rides to feel "the feel", and then work with my trainer to recapture that feeling in lessons.

But if I had to describe it? It's like riding the bowstring of a violin. It feels like riding on a cloud. It stops feeling like a discussion/argument and starts feeling like a partnership. I know that's super cheesy, but it really does. For me, I know that my horse has stopped "faking it" and is really on the aids when he raises his wither, starts taking a bigger step, and stretches into my hand (and when I give him a little more freedom in my hand, he carries himself rather than abusing the privilege by leaning).

[CBudFrggy]

It's when they freely give you every step, but you do not have to micro-manage it.

[Kairoshorses]

Thanks, everyone. I know that twice, when I've ridden/tried out TBs, I was told to push them, then take the contact, and I think I "felt" what y'all were talking about.

But my WB/Irish (esp. the latter) tend to be a bit lazy, only doing as much as I demand (and I'm learning I'm not very demanding). The Irish horse, esp. had me convinced that I need a LOT of leg to get him forward.

So last weekend, I was told to ask nicely, then TELL HIM. A few rides later, he's MUCH more responsive and forward.

But I'm still not sure if he's "through"....and "round" enough....and how much feel I should have in my hands.

I'd LOVE to ride a schoolmaster and feel it. Perhaps riding after a trainer, too, would help.

AND I need to be more demanding! Yesterday, we did spiral in/out, LOTS of transitions, shoulder in, leg yields, and even counter-canter. It was much nicer with him being more forward. But I feel like I could lose it any minute...and I'm not sure I always had that feeling of "we can do anything in an instant".

BOTH are much more engaged/forward outside the ring. I guess I need to learn to capture that....