Effective Horse Coaching Aids

There are many tools an equestrian can use when coaching horses for various sport and activities, and dependent on what the training is for, the prerequisite for more effective tools and more effective use of the tools is made more relevant. As an example, the bridles and ropes used in horse riding coaching would be insufficient when teaching a pony dressage maneuvers. There are several aids that help not only in training but also in the activity the steeds were trained for, and as a skilled coach and rider would know, getting well acquainted with them and their uses is essential.

With modern methods of pony coaching, there are natural and artificial aids. The natural aids are mostly parts of the human body, such as the feet, legs, and hands, and even the voice. Artificial aids are everything else—from the ropes to the bridle to the bit and everything in between. When you consider it, all aids and even horse riding and training itself is artificial, as horses weren’t planned to be tamed and trained. But as far as latest views go, all bodily members and aids are natural. There are corresponding ideas of dangers and risks to using artificial aids as they may sow fear and cause negative reactions from horses, but that’s all just hype. Even natural aids, when used badly, can beget unfavourable responses from horses and even sow fear instead of respect. It’s all about using the aids properly.

One major benefit of natural aids though, is that they are always freely available, what with being human body parts and all. But again, it’s all in the use. And when it comes to pony riding and coaching, particularly for sport as exacting as dressage, the right use of a mix of artificial and natural aids is best.

The secret to making the most out of natural aids is that everything should be coordinated. Cues shouldn’t come from your voice commands alone or from established motions of certain limbs. Don’t simply utilise a command and your arms or your legs and feet, always include your back and especially your seat when giving cues. For example, an ideal way to use a coordinated effort of natural aids with the assistance of artificial aids to make a pony slow down would start with the rider bracing his back. This drives the mount into the bridle, and from there the hands can cue the horse to decelerate. A fluid and nearly effortless motion from the back to the bridle to the hands—almost imperceptible and only slightly noticeable—that’s how well body motion used together with artificial aids can influence and command a pony.

Natural aids are usually quite handy, as besides from always being available they’re simple to manipulate and so straightforward to control. But even something as apparently harsh as a whip, when used at the right times in appropriate measure, can be of immense help not just in pony riding, but in coaching for equestrian sport or activity. And combining their usability with natural aids is the way to go.

Horses are Heather Toms’ passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100’s of articles with other horse lovers… like all things about horse rugs.