skip to Main Content
Light Btw Aids–featured Image

Exercises To Teach Your Horse To Stay Light Between Your Aids

Featured Image Credit (CC): Bob Haarmans on Flickr

Submitted by member: Lisa

What are some good exercises to help my horse stay light between my aids? When I can get her there, everything is so easy, but I’m not always successful at getting her there. She usually starts off behind the leg, and when I do get her in front of my leg, she tends to get too fresh or on edge. Not relaxed. When she’s truly between the aids, she’s light and relaxed 😌.

Answer by Julie Winkel

First of all, it’s important to know all horses take different amounts of time to warm-up. Horses that tend to start behind the leg may need to walk for 15 minutes, then trot on a long rein for 5 or 10 minutes before asking them to go to work. During the warm-up phase, you can ask for leg-yields, some shoulders-fore, walk-halt transitions, turn on the forehand, etc. to get her listening and physically loosening up.

My favorite exercise to work on self-carriage, and truly having a horse between the aids, is to work over poles or small cavelltti. The easiest is to set two poles 72’ apart in a straight line. At a working canter, you should be able to canter 6 even strides in between without pushing or pulling. Set the pace in the turn, then allow your horse to canter in over the first pole. If she speeds up, correct her with two direct reins, and when she slows, give. If she slows down close your leg, and when you get a reaction, relax your leg. Repeat this exercise in both directions until she can stay the same speed on light contact of hand and leg.

In all flatwork, you must understand if you are holding instead of feeling with your hands or legs. The goal is for the horse to stay between the aids on supportive contact of leg and hand. Not active.

The next more difficult exercise would be 3 poles set at 50’ apart. These should be four strides to four strides at a working canter 12mph. Practice both ways.

The most difficult exercise is to set 3 or 4 rails in a circle spaced out enough to be 5-7 strides apart at a working canter. This is more challenging because you have to mind the track (lateral balance) as well as the longitudinal balance.

It is critical that you are aware of and good at explaining the concept to your horse–”Stay between my aids and I’ll support you instead of nag you!”

Video Recommendations:

get your horse in front of your leg

Getting And Keeping The Dull Horse In Front Of Your Leg
Bernie Traurig
Is your horse dull to your leg? Are you constantly nagging your horse with your spur? Are there worn patches on your horse’s side from heels that are constantly asking for forward momentum? Bernie has the solution.
Running Time:  15 minutes and 8 seconds

View Video
shortening and lengthening your horses stride

Shortening And Lengthening Exercises Over Jumps
Julie Winkel
Join Julie Winkel & her students as they demonstrate exercises designed to shorten & lengthen the horse’s stride within lines. Julie discusses strategies to execute lines that present different types of distance challenges. Practice of these exercises provides additional benefits that include improved rider/horse communication and sharpening of the rider’s eye.
Running Time:  27 minutes and 19 seconds

View Video
James Hagman’s topic “Oval Exercise”

Oval Exercise
James Hagman
Join Jim Hagman and his rider Katie Gardner aboard the beautiful young hunter, Crush, as they demonstrate one of Jim’s favorite exercises. This oval exercise has multiple benefits, helping the rider to sharpen lateral and diagonal aids, fine tune stride adjustment while brightening the horse’s jump and landing the lead.
Running Time: 9 minutes and 56 seconds

View Video
Stacia Madden’s topic “The Pinwheel Exercise”

The Pinwheel Exercise
Stacia Madden
Equitation championships call for precision. One necessary ability the rider must posses is the ability to “lock-in” bending lines. Stacia Madden’s brilliant, yet simple, Pinwheel Exercise is designed to hone these crucial skills for both horse and rider.
Running Time: 13 minutes and 35 seconds

View Video

Have Something You Want to Ask Our Panel of Experts?

Ask The Experts is the ultimate way to get help from the top professionals in the equestrian industry without leaving the comfort of your home. This service is available to Monthly, Annual, and Lifetime Members of EquestrianCoach.com.

Julie Winkel

Julie Winkel has been a licensed Hunter, Equitation, Hunter Breeding and Jumper judge since 1984. She has officiated at prestigious events such as Devon, Harrisburg, Washington International, Capital Challenge, The Hampton Classic and Upperville Horse Shows. She has designed the courses and judged the ASPCA Maclay Finals, The USEF Medal Finals and The New England Equitation Finals.

For more information, visit her website: www.mwstables.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back To Top