The Aids - How to "Talk to your Horse"

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#dressage #theaids #horseriding
The Aids:
Sometimes in Dressage we make things way too complicated. At the end of the day, the leg means go and the rein means stop. It is important to always keep this in mind regardless of how complicated a movement you are riding!
The aids are as follows:
1. Legs - driving aids
2. Reins -restraining aids
3. Seat - translator between the driving aids and the restraining aids
ALWAYS start with the driving aids. Think about driving your car. The first thing is to step on the gas. Then you can turn the steering wheel! So many riders start turning the wheel before they are even going anywhere!
Your seat is NOT a driving aid. So please don’t ever try shoving with your seat to get your horse to move forward. It just looks really bad!
It is important, however that once your horse is moving forward, that your seat follows the motion of the horses back in an elastic and fluid way!
#dressage, #dressagetraining, #theaids
The “last” aids are the restraining aids. The restraining aids get your horse to slow down and stop and they can also be used for direction or turning.
When using the restraining aids it is ok to start with tightening your seat and sitting heavy. Then use intermittent half halts to get the horse to slow down.
As you evolve as a rider and you and your horse become more sophisticated so do the aids. Correct implementation of the aids requires “timing, balance and feel.” Over time, and with tens of thousands of hours of practice, your aids will become more and more subtle and invisible!

[@ahnie771]

This is the best lesson I have seen. All my life people have used terms and said things without explaining what it means. Thank you for great , understandable info! 😊👍🏻

[@wendytaylor4030]

Tho it has been 30 some years since I owned a Horse, I got back into riding at our Local Riding Center. I had to take a riding exam to see what level I was, Advanced Novice, not to bad for not riding for so long, now in a class called "Intro to Canter" working my way to a Dressage class they offer, now, I totally understand that these are "School" Horses and not Dressage Horses! I watch your Channel and tell myself "That's how I want to "Look" when riding" Soft and smooth in the Saddle....for me this video was very informative! As all your videos are! I will be 56 in July and hope to still be riding well into my 70's😉 You are a beautiful rider and I thank you for sharing your skills!!....

[@elizabethcook8217]

Bravo! I'm 63, with a 6yr old mare. It's a blast! 😆

[@wendytaylor4030]

@@elizabethcook8217 AWESOME! And Thank you! 🤗🐴♥️

[@anyascelticcreations]

Thank you for the inspiration. I'm almost 47 and have only ridden once since I was about 25. I only got to ride for a few years back then. So, I wouldn't be doing as well as you are. But I'm looking forward to starting again anyway. 💖

[@wendytaylor4030]

@@anyascelticcreations Very sweet of you to say! You'd be surprised at how quickly riding comes back to you once you get back in the Saddle no matter how many years it's been! Best wishes to your journey back to riding!🐎♥️

[@anyascelticcreations]

@@wendytaylor4030 Thank you very much! Best wishes to you as well! 🤗

[@jennifer1110]

You have a fantastic way of explaining things and showing what happens when done properly or incorrectly. Thank you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're very welcome!

[@zdenkazouharova7469]

The clearest and the most precise explanation over the aids ever... compliments.... 😊

[@phatato]

Thanks for the video! You do a really good job of refreshing and reiterating the basics so we always keep them top of mind

[@kristinbutler3724]

Such a great video, clear instruction! Love the description of how the seat should not be a driving aid and what happens when you use it incorrectly! You are such a talented teacher- love your videos ❤

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thank you so much Kristin! It great to hear that! So glad to hear I'm helping you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Also, you can subscribe to my mailing list where I send out dressage tips weekly! www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/

[@ninahalvorson9451]

This is one of my favorite ones of your videos lately! The use of the restraining aides on the uphill beat was what really stuck out to me, thank you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay!!

[@jackybeshar2967]

You are an amazing teacher. Your explanations are so helpful. Thank you!

[@gracehayden8264]

The dog 😂 love how your horse wasn't even phased (or if it was you controlled it very well!)

[@tanon823]

So glad to see you reconfirm that “driving” with your seat at the canter is incorrect. I have seen that in multiple articles and even in lessons and thought it absurd since it contradicts the aids for, among other things, the half halt as you are pushing into the horse’s back. I always thought it’s origins must be with someone watching a particularity big canter where a rider’s following seat needs to match that big stride and it appears as if it is driving rather than following. The observer then theorizes that what they think is driving equates to a big uphill canter. After receiving direction in a lesson to drive with my seat I experimented with my horse only to quickly discover that, besides annoying him, it only encouraged him to drop in front before breaking to a trot. I ignored the advice ever after and worked on my following seat. Not surprisingly I got a better canter. 🐴😊

[@ElizabethPayet]

Who in the world advised you to drive with your seat?! My trainer gets quite annoyed whenever I accidentally start to

[@tanon823]

@@ElizabethPayet I think it was a fad, and misunderstanding, with certain trainers, including some who appeared in Dressage Today, ironically enough. The idea you could some how magically scoop the horse up in front of you. Obviously a complete ignorance of horse biomechanics.

[@russcarlson5874]

To get the restraining aid to it’s most subtle (invisible), the horse is most receptive to a rein aid (half-halt) when the shoulder of the horse on the same side of the rider’s hand applying the aid has come fully back. The timing in Amelia’s down transition from canter (in this video) was when the outside shoulder was back. This is a wonderful way to get willing (and invisible) cooperation from the horse.

[@Sandy-ei8ty]

All your video are very helpful for me . I always watch them repeatedly.

[@ajhorse2008]

Half halt, sit; half-halt, sit; I can remember that! Can't wait to put it to work for my horse and me.

[@horsebitchbarnwitch1076]

I love your descriptions!!! You are helping me understand all the bits involved (and and there are a lot) I have been having a difficult time with just the simplest walk. Nobody has explained it out like this. Thank you

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Wonderful!! Glad to hear this!!

[@kathleenkosel9368]

Fabulous, i showed my 12 year old granddaughter this video to help her understand better. This is like a private lesson..shes in group lesson and doesnt always get things explained clearly

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

So glad it could help her! And how wonderful that you can share this passion with her.

[@pariahmouse7794]

The horse I ride can be really sluggish at the walk, I am SO BAD at pumping my seat at the walk to get him to step out, but as you said, it only makes it worse! I am going to work really hard on just following his motion, without all the unnecessary "encouragement", haha! Don't know what I would do without your videos!

[@miss_whipps]

FANTASTIC LESSON!

[@suebenbow6860]

Thks. Really clear instruction. Appreciated

[@kathyreese7031]

Very well explained! Thank you!

[@wendylow5748]

Good reminder of how it all works.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

It is so important to really understand how to correctly use the aids in order to be and effective rider! Hope this video helps you and be sure to check out our workshop on the aids: courses.ameliasdressageacademy.com/p/aids/?product_id=3197667&coupon_code=SUMMER&preview=logged_out

[@joannezulu3272]

Brilliant video, would love to donthe course but your site says enrolment is closed. Will you repen it again?

[@ahnie771]

Thank you so much! Extremely helpful. You are a great teacher. 💕

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hollythecrossstitchaddict83]

Brilliant! Thanks Amelia x

[@christinafragis7224]

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing.

[@elitehptrim]

Thank you for the reminders

[@beamansmith961]

Thanks for your video, I love the refreshing information.

[@lauca6969]

This was such a great video. Would be great to see how you are using your reins and legs on a circle .

[@colleenchartier3680]

Yes please!

[@aktanakhmetov]

Great video, thank you!

[@shannenkroon9794]

This was such a good video for me thank you, I’m 20 and learning and everything is so complicated haha

[@alinavelez4085]

Your explanations are so clear! thank you

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're very welcome!

[@mermaid141213]

Very well explained Thank you so much .. Will definitly be trying these tips out in my next riding class 👍👍👍

[@larrychu5708]

Great tips! Thanks.

[@renemericle2117]

Soooo helpful thank you!

[@aniab4306]

Really helpful! Thanks❤

[@agusyeva]

I love all your videos!!! This is Agus from Spain.

[@teresawort9124]

Great !... thank you so much !

[@naunettemartin7450]

I ride my horse today and I got her to counter and I did so good on her to counter thank you Nannette

[@patriciarecklet3168]

Great video without overcomplicating!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Kelly_Ben]

"The seat is never a driving aid. " Whoopsie!! Now I know why my last instructor made the joke about being more still in my seat, my HORSE is cantering, not ME! 😆

[@eliara-thevoice8430]

Ha ha ha. I love your humor.

[@chewycat12]

Thank you so much. I love my instructor to death but this was the sort of description I needed. She always is saying I give conflicting signals but now I know why.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dawnjennings3709]

Great description and demonstration video!! Really enjoy how detailed your videos are! I wanted to ask you...It often appears as though you are using your heel a lot when driving your horse, even when she is moving nicely. Do you put your heel on her rhythmically all the time just to maintain your stride and then increase when you want more movement? I tend to not use my heel often and wonder if I should! Thank you!!

[@Vale-nh6ey]

Hi! There’s a previous video where she talks about it in detail! I think it’s called something about nagging. She only uses her heel to say go, and unless the horse slows down she doesn’t use it again. I highly recommend watching it Edit: Found it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/amSagoWLfMt4b6c

[@DarkArwen929]

Do these tips apply to hunt seat? I am going to really try not to drive and see what happens. Thanks for these videos.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes it does!

[@elf334]

Hi! This isn’t really related to this video, but my trainer likes to have me do walk to canter transitions and a lot of the time the horses do a trot in between, and when they do that I get jostled around and I lean forward, my heels go up so do you have any suggestions?

[@jakajajestem]

I don't know if I undestood properly what you have written, but the question is - can you do the correct transition from walk to trot?

[@elf334]

@@jakajajestem yes - my position has gotten better and I’m pretty sure it was just needing to lean back, and I had to work on my sitting trot

[@suetye9850]

Your horses always look so shiny and healthy what do you feed them

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

quality hay, safe choice and rice bran!

[@naunettemartin7450]

And I like this video THAT you are do on your horse this will help me win I ride my horse Nannette

[@pameladandley938]

Half halt sit, halfhalt sit, half halt sit . 😁

[@MikaKotikoski]

Don't really want to confuse here, but shouldn't the half-halt be used before initiating any manouver, transition?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Depends if you need one or not! It's not always necessary depending on your horse, level of balance/training, and their temperament.

[@sbrink1]

In this walk, it does look like you have her back and she is on the bit??? Would that involve at the least a holding hand aid

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Sharon, Yes, I am keeping steady contact with her mouth. My hands are soft and following, but I don't let my reins get too long or too short and I really make sure to sit up tall with my shoulders back. Hope that helps!

[@candacewade220]

The whole seat thing. Gad! I blush. Still trying to un-learn being taught to do that. Yikes!

[@naunettemartin7450]

Am

[@jennyrose2200]

why are you using your right leg to continue to tap the horse at a walk.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're right Jenny it is important not to nag your horse and to use clear aids.

[@jennyrose2200]

Let's see you ride a horse with no bridle at all, course one that's trained to be responsive without getting in the mouth.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi there! You're right, seat and legs are the first aids to prioritize.