Recently my colleague Sue Martin and I did a “Seat Clinic” where we focused exclusively with our students on rider position and effective use of the aides. One of the MOST COMMON problems in all the riders were ineffective driving aides (leg aides) which creates lazy and dull horses.
In order to effectively kick your horse you first must have correct leg position. The heel must be under the hip. The knee is in contact with the saddle and the toe points forward. There are 4 hinges in the legs that ALL must bend and flex for a correct leg position: hip, knee, ankle, and foot (where the stirrup goes).
A LOT of riders had tight quadriceps that forced them into a chair seat AND inflexible ankles that caused the heels to be up. In order to effectively kick your horse you must first have the correct leg position!
Once this is handled, there are various ways to use the leg including pressing with the upper thigh, closing the calf, kicking with the heel, and kicking with the spur. It is essential that you can use the various parts of your leg independently and consequently.
The goal is that the leg aides are invisible and come only from the upper thigh and calf, so you always “ask nicely” with these invisible aides and then follow through with a bigger kick if needed.
In order to make your horse quicker from the kick, it it important to give your horse quick and firm kicks. Make sure to “rebound” your leg immediately. DO NOT kick and squeeze. The leg must immediately come off the horses’ side after you use it! When you kick your horse, make sure not to change in your upper body and don’t take back in the rein when you are kicking!
Happy Riding!
Amelia
