WildHorse Articles

Using Natural Aids to Train Horses
By: The WildHorse Info
Some people say that artificial training is bad for horses since they are abusive and cruel. So what is the difference between the natural form and the artificial ones? Natural training or aids are the human body parts such as our hands, feet, mouth, legs and so on. The artificial ones are the material things that we use like the spurs, whips, side reins, martingales and the likes.

Since the artificial aids are harmful and traumatic for horses, the natural aids are considered to be the best way in communicating with your horses. The traditional natural aids consist of the legs, sight, the voice of the rider and as well as the hands. But it also includes the eyes of the rider, breathing and the mind. When these things are used all at the same time, it gives a consistent and precise communication to the horses.

When you are using the natural aids, everything should coordinate with the seat and its usage. If you want to give a horse a cue to stop, you shouldn't only use your feet or legs but rather use everything together to get the correct response from the horses. In order for your horse to slow down or stop, you should drop your weight first on the horse’s back which will create an increase pressure on the mouth of the horse. As you can see, it isn't only the hands that are working rather the whole body.

If you want to teach your horse to turn, you must look at the direction first where you want to turn and utilize your eyes and as well as body in initiating the turn. Once the rider turns his head slightly, his body will also follow which will create a slightly swiveling on the saddle and shifts the weight outside the seat bone. The hands and legs of the rider will follow the movement of the seat and not act independently from one another.

These are just some of the tips and advices that you use in naturally training your horses. Even though many riders nowadays are using the artificial aids such as the whip in training, it doesn't mean that it is more effective than that of the natural aids. Just keep in mind that you use your entire body in communicating with your horses. Utilizing all these aids will give a precise cue to the horses which are very effective in training horses.
Natural aids are the essentials of riding. I suppose that in the days before motorised transport when riding was used by most of the population when the people of those times needed to get about, horse rising was just something natural that everyoe with their health and access to a horse would do.

It is only now that horse riding has become rarer and a passtime, that we realise the simple enjoyment and contact with a fellow animal that ridng can bring, while at the same time actually needing to be taught the natural movement on a horse which in so many ways communicates the actions which the horse must take.

In other words. We are so used to lazily driving our cars that it actually has to be trained into us that when on a horse our movement has to flow with the horse and anticipate and interact, at the same time balancing and controlling the steed.
Article provided by WildHorse Info.