The fix for the lazy horse can be done while doing any riding exercise. The first thing that makes a horse responsive or lighter is having a clear cue. A cue is something that you ask the horse and can get the horse to do. That means a cue to stop will be picking up the reins. That would be a cue to stop. A pre-cue is something you do before the cue. A pre-cue is "ho." If I go forward and I say "ho," and he doesn't stop, I'm going to say "ho" and pick up the reins to say "That meant stop." So pretty soon, when I go forward and I say "ho" the horse stops. So a pre-cue is something you do before a cue that makes a horse lighter and more responsive. It's the same thing with your legs. What do you do before you use your legs? You sit forward, pick up the reins, kiss to them. But what's the first that you do before you squeeze or kick your horse? You take your legs out. You take your legs out, then you bring them together. So practice that. Practice taking your legs off and if he doesn't move, then tell the horse "Hey, that meant move" with a kick. And when you bring them together, be prepared to kick them until something happens. So practice that and pretty soon, when you take your legs away from the horse's side (as if to kick), that'll mean "move forward." So I'm not using my legs to keep kicking my horse. Practice this and remember, when you bring them together, bring them together hard enough to get a change of leg speed. If you kick him and you just kick him to keep him going, then…
Will it turn a wild beast into a kid's horse in twenty minutes? Duh, of course not. But it's a great way to start getting your horse to listen to you.
WHAT YOU'LL DO: Today when you ride, pick up a trot to the right and try the following:
STEP 1) pick up your right rein and find the angle and amount of pressure it takes to move the horse's butt one step to the left BUT KEEP MOVING FORWARD then release the rein.
Relax your reins, compose your thoughts for at least four strides, keep moving on your circle and repeat for twenty minutes.
STEP 2) There is no Step Two. How simple is that? You've calmed an agitated horse and it took one brain cell to do it. You can think about anything or nothing while your do this. It's idiot proof.
(Yes, you can do this at a walk, but the simple fact for most exercises is this: at a walk you learn the maneuver — at a trot the horse learns. Both gaits have their place.)
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We all get into bad habits. When you're riding - and looking for improvement - it's going to take awhile to break the bad habits that you've picked up over time. If your feet get behind you as you ride, then there's nothing to stop you from flying forward if the horse stops quickly. If we pull our arms out as we ride, extending them out far from our bodies, then we have no strength to pull. It's simple mechanics.
Trail Riding Series - Training From The Heart, The
• Catching Your Horse
• Calm Down Cue
• Stand for Mounting
• Leading; Jigging
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When we ride, we want to keep our hands in close, always close to our belly buttons. That allows you to use maximum strength when you pull. If you pull off with hands far out to the right or left, then you've minimized your strength and you're off balance too. The more off balance you get, the greater chance you have of getting thrown off if that horse jumps or spooks. He'll see his shadow and put you on the ground. The whole idea is to stay up in that . So, keep your weight in your and keep your feet in front of you.
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There are certain products that every long-time Lyons fan carries in his equine tool kit. They're the "gotta haves." Here are a few essentials - as recommended by this John Lyons Certified Trainer, Keith Hosman.
