Leg Cues On A Finished Bridle Horse

Pat answers a question from a viewer about leg cues on a Bridle Horse. Pat covers the purpose of the bridle to balance the horse onto its hindquarters so that the horse can tune into its rider’s seat and legs. Pat goes over the cues for the back up, sidepass, turn on the forehand, and turn on the hindquarters.

[@equineempathy652]

love seeing a Vaquero/Hackamore/Reinsman at work and show how a real horsemanship works with the horse.keep the videos coming !! Thanks Jason Jay

[@RegenalSommers]

I’ve got to say, for a Thoroughbred, THAT’S Impressive!!

[@brucelee5674]

Thanks for making the time to do these videos. They inspire me to be a better horseman and to want to know more. I'm not a roper but the roping ones make me see the tools and value of improving horsemanship. Bruce / Gila, New Mexico

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Thank you very much for saying that. We’ve had more than one roping student tell us they aren’t interested in horsemanship. They just want to rope. It usually takes an injury for them to realize that they can’t do the one without the other. So you’re coming at this from the opposite direction!

[@aileen694]

Hi there Deb, Your videos are great! I guess there are many different kinds of instructors out there - I rode English for years and your coaching is crystal clear! Very articulate for a "cowboy" 😁 ! And I really appreciate your gentle consideration of the horse, when using bit and spurs. I'll keep checking in on your videos- even an oldsters can learn new stuff! Thanks, Aileen in Toronto, Canada

[@damianfries7262]

I watch your videos because of how you treat the horses with patience, respect and consistences of training. You end up with a gentle horse that is responsive to the slightest of movement. I watch a Master at work in awe. I'm from CT and love the way your videos are presented thanks to your partner Deb...well done!

[@kennyclement2823]

Glad to see you spreading what you lnow! At 60yrs now, i see too many true horseman gone , that never shated thier knowhow, of a life time of learning, so much knowledge lost!

[@janmutchler7355]

Thank you for taking the time to do these videos. They are very helpful.

[@bevgill3180]

Thank you for explaining each cue so well. The way you demonstrate them teaches so clearly. More!Waiting for more!

[@kathycarpenter9396]

Not sure how I stumbled upon your videos, but I LOVE them!! Thank you both for sharing your knowledge in such a way that it is so easy to understand!! And explaining the Why is super helpful too!

[@TomRardin-xu6jm]

That was great! Greetings from Wyoming.You’ve helped me w/somethings I’ve been doing most of my life as on the job training. I’m old enough now and have some time, to do the preparation and preliminaries . It is absolutely worth the time and effort. Thank You

[@webadage]

I've been riding all my life and have never heard it explained like that. Awesome!

[@andrewcastillo9558]

Best videos out there. Keep them comin

[@ClayPiper]

I really, really, appreciated this video. So many answers to so many questions answered in an easy to understand way. Thank you.:>))

[@georgegoertzen4723]

Even more impressive when you look at the potholes the horse is stepping in and on while side passing and turning on quarters!

[@SarahSmith-rx3xm]

I appreciate you taking the time to make these videos!

[@TightwadTodd]

Another outstanding demonstration..I expect nothing less..

[@drkpg1]

Beautiful video and mare !!! Very instructive !! With kind regards from Lyon, France.

[@paulparker3259]

I really like your videos. You are a real horseman from the old school like me. Please keep these videos going as you are a world of knowledge and we can always keep learning more. Thanks so much and Happy Trails. PS I did learn from you, the proper way using the dropped noseband to keep their mouth shut on the backup training on your video on ole Grey Thanks

[@kristervauhkonen4912]

Thanks Pat! This vidio gave me the hope back. So many "experts" out there that say how to use the legs and body. I have learned to raid just as you show and the horses have always understood my signals. The only thing I possibly do a little differently is that I do not use the spurs until the horse does not move away for just my leg. But it is possible that´s what you meant also... I have studied your video clips on Ytoube and they are really great. Being Vaquero in Sweden means that there are not "many" to ask and learn from ... So your tips are very welcome!

[@PatnDebPuckett]

To clarify, the spur is the last thing to make contact when Pat rolls his calf. The goal is for the horse to move prior to the spur making contact. Thank you for bringing that up and thank you for watching!

[@kennyclement2823]

Ill add that just because the spur "touches" the horse dosent mean "stab" him, its jut the next "button" to push,

[@GonzointheSelf]

Thank you for the videos!

[@joseduarte7281]

Really enjoyed this clip, thank you

[@JH-lz4ky]

Thanks for sharing these videos, I’m a beginner and only ride once a week on a school horse. Not sure what I’ll be able to achieve but I enjoy it so I guess I’ll keep trying

[@kennyclement2823]

Youll never learn till you try! All horseman ship is gained by trying, & trying, untill ya get it right! Just remember its no bycycle,& pull with your hands is not the best way

[@Donna-vh5ym]

Great video. So informative.

[@jordanw4922]

👏👏👏 beautiful!

[@BBurt775]

I really enjoyed this.

[@AmyAnn13472]

Thank you so much!

[@lauramoy9940]

Love it love it liv it!!!

[@SteveDyer]

Thanks!!

[@typalmer5692]

I love your videos. You sir are a horseman. My question is that if you stay consistent in your cues and teach your horse these things couldn't you do them in essentially any bit?

[@PatnDebPuckett]

No because we need the level of collection and self carriage that is only possible with a spade bit.

[@typalmer5692]

@@PatnDebPuckett hey thank you very much I've never been around bridle horses before it's interesting stuff thank you

[@jaromhyde1804]

Can you make a video talking about various spurs function, shank length, the appropriate time to introduce a horse to spurs, how to choose a spur right for me?

[@PatnDebPuckett]

I’ll add it to the list.

[@benoitlivestock7910]

Id love to come and work with ya at and improve my horsemanship skills and be come a better horseman

[@wecu4dk]

I sure appreciate your willingness to take the time to do this for all of us. South Eastern Idaho. I am very curious about moving an older horse to a spade bit. Should it be done by backing up to the Hackamore and then moving through the two rein? I've only ever seen people talk about younger horses (starting in snaffle or hackamore and progressing through the two rein to the spade). Is it any different for older experienced horses that were probably ridden with all kinds of bits (grazing, snaffle, shank, doggone, Tom Thumb, etc)?

[@PatnDebPuckett]

James Drake Everyone has an opinion so here is what we think on this subject. A spade bit horse is a horse that came up through the hackamore, two-rein, and then into the spade. Some are ridden in a snaffle prior to the bosal. There is a window where a young horse is like a sponge. They have never experienced a bit as leverage. It’s always been a signal. In our world, an older horse might be ridden in a spade but he will always carry the memory of the Tom Thumb or the correction bit and it will effect the extent to which the spade bit will be a signal rather than a lever. For this reason, we ride that kind of horse in a half breed. That isn’t to say that they won’t be light as a feather in the half breed. But they just don’t have the same response to the spade that a horse that never had a bad day in a bit. I personally find that I have to do a lot more pulling than I would ever want to do in a spade. For that reason, we go with the half breed on older horses. Thank you for the comment and the question...

[@wecu4dk]

@@PatnDebPuckett Thank you very much. That is more on that subject than I have ever seen! Thanks again! I would love to see a video on bit selection and fitting. Thanks again and again.

[@donnakinsey2053]

@@PatnDebPuckett and….. “the last thing you learned was the first thing you needed to know” I get a big kick out of y’all’s videos and really appreciate some of the wisdom and insight shared within them and your great responses to questions. Good stuff!

[@rileychristensen4234]

Could you do a video on your stirrup fenders doesn’t look like they’re twisted like I’ve seen before but they hang perfect

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Pat won that saddle at a roping in Baja way back in 2007. The stirrups aren’t turned but the miles and the years caused the stirrups to hang correctly.

[@leealexander3507]

I ride my horse tackless so I need him to respond to my body. We have a good communication going.

[@anthonynelson4960]

great video. speaking of bridle horses, how is chinaco progressing?

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Chinaco is growing up. He has an appointment with the vet this fall...

[@johnyoulle1387]

Great stuff how's that chestnut mare bred how's working the alley go

[@PatnDebPuckett]

The dam was a Thoroughbred racehorse and the sire was a little Paint stud off of a farm in Ohio. She’s the best cowhorse Pat has ever had. And that’s the only thing she’s good at!

[@ethanmcnary9119]

You said in your most recent video "If you don't have a saddle horse - make one". Just yesterday I started throwing loops and pulling logs with my 5yr old mare. Its been weighing on my mind for me to do for sometime, and although she may never doctor cattle in the brush country (I live in Maryland), I figured it would be nice to have a second place to practice my roping. Thanks for all the help and encouraging words Deb and Pat! I am curious how you would refine the stop on a horse if you were restarting one. He doesn't understand what sitting down and exhaling means, so how do you come in after he continues to walk and tell him he just missed you asking him to do something?

[@PatnDebPuckett]

You have to transition from the reins to your seat. You have to first get him riding in your hand. This means he has to have some understanding of walking forward in collection. When you ask him to stop, you set your hand, take your legs off, sit down, and exhale, pretty much all at the same time. I usually begin by walking forward, stopping, backing up. Walking forward, stopping, backing up. After however many repetitions it takes, your horse will begin to understand that when you sit down and exhale, he should stop. Always be ready to not follow up with your hand. This all starts at the walk. And it hinges on the horse being able to walk forward in collection. I’ll see if the new bay mare we’re riding is ready to make a video of this exercise.

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Pat has a question for you. What are you currently riding your horse in and how old is he?

[@ethanmcnary9119]

@@PatnDebPuckett For a bridle I have a mecate - parachute reins and a snaffle bit. My saddle is a Crates (out of Chattanooga TN) ranch saddle. When I bought it originally it was wrapped with rubber, but I switched it out for a mule hide wrap. The mare I ride is 5 years old. The other horse I asked about restarting was just an example because I was curious.

[@bdub78dub90]

Do any of the spade bits come without the cricket roller?

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Bdub78 dub no. If a bit doesn’t have a cricket, braces, a straight canon bar, a loose jaw, and a spoon, it’s not a spade. Also, a traditional spade is a minimum of 4 inches tall.

[@RobertWilliams82-22]

I would love more details about the riders body position and methods on training a horse on each maneuver... like what do you mean by “sit down? I’m already “sitting” in the saddle body position is one thing that no one actually teaches someone they just say “sit down” or “lift” and so on... it’s great if you have a great horse that is well trained but if you don’t and don’t have a trainer near you or the time/funds to drive to one then your S,O,L

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Have you ever read Sally Swift’s book? She goes into great detail on what all of those terms mean and how to communicate effectively with a horse through your body. Meanwhile, we’ll plan a future video on body position.

[@Rlyneagle]

Do you think every one should use spurs if they are to be a good rider? I’ve never used them my whole life. Are they dangerous ? I saw your horse almost went in to a spin.... Very well trained horse. Enjoy your videos.

[@hotrod754]

You don't use spurs to become a good rider, you become a good rider to use spurs. In other words, if you don't have good control of your body and quiet legs then you should not strap on spurs until you have achieved complete control of your entire body and have a seat that moves with the horse and quiet legs. Once you have achieved that then you can strap on spurs to enhance your signals. Spurs are not a replacement for good riding skills, they are simply a tool to fine-tune the horse's response while allowing you to use subtler movements.

[@Rlyneagle]

@@hotrod754 ok I will take that as a yes. Since everyone should aim to be a good rider.

[@hotrod754]

What I meant is become a good rider with a quiet leg before strapping on spurs or else you may inadvertently jab your horse and give mixed signals, but once you are good and have good leg control then they are helpful.

[@stevenfoulger6066]

Can you do a video on getting a young horse to lope a good smooth circle, lead changes etc.? Having a bit of trouble in that department. Thanks.

[@PatnDebPuckett]

How young?

[@stevenfoulger6066]

@@PatnDebPuckett Sorry. Young probably isn't the right choice of words. I just meant a horse that just learning and in training.

[@PatnDebPuckett]

The age of the horse is important but it’s also important to understand that loping circles is probably at the very bottom of our list of priorities. Things like that take care of themselves naturally over time. Pat has entered up in a few Bridle Horse competitions and done well because of the fact that we rarely go into an arena. We don’t have one on our property. We take care of most everything outside. This means our horses are balanced because they are used to walking, trotting, and loping over uneven ground. Up hills. Down hills. They learn to utilize their bodies. Because of not drilling them in an arena, they aren’t resentful and they aren’t always anticipating what we are going to ask next. For lead changes, horses need to have a working level of collection at the lope. They need to be able to swing their hindquarters from left to right at the walk and trot off of the seat and legs of the rider. They also need to be able to do a good simple lead change with no more than 2 trotting strides. For your part, you need to know when to ask for the lead change. Asking to early or too late will only create confusion in the horse. Bottom line is I can’t promise you when we will a) have a young horse that we’re working on lead changes, and b) find ourselves in an arena or other suitable flat area but I promise to make a short video on the subject when those two things happen. I will leave you with this...loping circles is the most mind numbing thing you can do to a young horse and it’s the most damaging to their bodies because of the repetitive movement. It’s all too easy to get them too tired to be able to carry themselves in collection without leaning on your hands which is not what we’re after. So my advice is not to do it. Your time will be better spent teaching them how to carry themselves in collection in all gaits beginning with the walk, how to tune in to your seat and legs and yield to them, and ride outside where you can maintain their interest and avoid resentment. The rest will take care of itself. If you ride for the public and they look at loping circles as some kind of benchmark, I would recommend educating them ahead of time. Good luck and thank you for watching...

[@stevenfoulger6066]

@@PatnDebPuckett Wow, thanks for taking the time to give such an in depth response. Apreciate your insight and enjoy your videos. God bless.

[@ethanmcnary9119]

@@PatnDebPuckett Thank you!

[@chiquiperez7846]

Por favor subtilulos en castellano.

[@Utah_Trail_Rider]

I need to spend a lot of time on this. I put a 1000-1200 miles a year on the trail. My horses are stable and sure footed. But I can see lots of room to improve on controlling their feet.

[@eduardowagner2636]

Hi, sorry my basic question. Is it an universal language? Thanks

[@jessicagraf230]

How do i get my horse to do these moves but faster. She's a bit slow. Iv just started using spurs on her. She's always been forward but yet when I ask for a sideways move for example to get the front end across I feel she just doesn't do it quick enough.

[@ArizonaCowboys]

your horse is not putting enough of its weight on the hind. The more weight you put on the hind the front quarters will free up and do what you’re asking. It starts with the right groundwork. My .02 :)

[@furyxvanity2946]

Time, everything takes time and patience, and spurs aren't just for going faster, that's not how you use them, if your using them to go faster, your using them wrong, your horse will get better over time, you can't teach a horse self carriage and collection in a few months, it takes years.

[@brittmarie51]

Are any of your horses for sale?

[@PatnDebPuckett]

We are heading to Baja in the middle of the month to look at some horses. Stay tuned for videos!

[@johnmorris7960]

That is a beautiful mare. What breed is she? I can imagine Mr. Pat saying, " what breed do you think she is?" So, I think she is a Lusitano-Quarter horse cross. I am probably way off but curious.

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Fooled you! Gypsy is a Thoroughbred/Paint cross. She’s 18 years old. Her appearance and the way she carries herself is a result of the spade bit and the way she has been ridden her whole life. If you see her just standing around in the pasture, she looks much different. Thank you for watching and everything you’ve been doing to share our videos...

[@johnmorris7960]

@@PatnDebPuckett I should have known I was getting in over my head! Thanks for the quick reply. Just watched your video on sliding rope and I liked it too.

[@lars1480]

Can you please let go of The reins and ask The horse to backup using only Your body - because it looks like The horse backup due to bid contact and not The body language as you say - sorry just to verify You demonstration 🤔

[@PatnDebPuckett]

The horse has to be in collection in order to tune into the rider's body. So no, you don't let go of the reins. It doesn't work that way with a bridle horse. When you pick up the reins, you are essentially saying "Excuse me, listen to my body". The horse then raises her back and shifts her weight to the hindquarters to prepare for what the rider will ask. After you're done with whatever task you wanted the horse to perform, you put the reins down and the horse relates and goes down the trail, or stands still, or trots for miles waiting for the rider to gather her up and ask her to do the next task.

[@lars1480]

The collection comes from The hindquarter not The bid - I just don’t see there is much feel to what you show here looks very mechanical to me 😊

[@PatnDebPuckett]

@@lars1480 I didn't say that collection comes from the bridle. I said that the bridle is a signal for the horse to shift her weight to the hindquarters, raise her back, and tune in to the rider's body. Since we ride for many many miles, we don't always ride in collection. We ride on a loose rein at the trot to get to where the cattle are. Then, when there is a task to do, we gather the horse up and go to work. I suspect it's a very different world than what you are used to seeing.

[@brittanyvaigurand6520]

Such a painful bit🙁 and ur wearing soooo ling and painful things (am not english) on youre heels 😢

[@PatnDebPuckett]

I’m glad you made the statement you made because now I get to tell you how a spade bit works. It’s not used to inflict pain. The disclaimer is that any bit can be used poorly. A spade bit is a big bit but if you understand the way the horse’s mouth is made, you will see that it fits perfectly. Because a spade has a greater surface area than, say, a snaffle, the pressure is spread out over a greater area. When the curb strap is adjusted properly, it acts as a signal. The horse feels the spoon of the spade lift off of his tongue. This is his signal to tune in to the rider’s body...legs, seat, all the way up to the direction the rider is looking. It take around 6 years to prepare a horse to carry this kind of bit. Again, it’s purpose is as a signal not as a device to inflict pain. If anyone causes pain with this bit, they are not following the tradition of the Bridle Horse. As to the spurs (the things on Pat’s heels), they are only used if the horse does not respond to the rolling of his calf. The particular spurs that Pat uses are very mild. They look impressive but the are blunt and the points on the rowels are very close together so they are not painful. They are made to roll on the horse’s side, not to jab her. There are very cruel spurs used in some disciplines but these spurs are not like that. There are times when we need our horses to respond rather quickly to get out of the way of danger. So in addition to making sure our horses do not get dull to our boot heel, a spur is our emergency button that says “Move quickly!!” We need this when working in close proximity to bulls as one example. Thank you for the comment. I would rather you speak up so that I can have the opportunity to teach you what is really going on.

[@dsimas1967]

@@PatnDebPuckett I have a quick question: Can you comment on how and where the chin strap should be properly adjusted for the spade? Thank you!