Similar to how we want our hands to be as quiet and effective as possible with the reins, we want our legs to be as quiet and use as little pressure as possible to cue the horse. What light leg pressure entails is teaching our horses to be sensitive to the leg. With the leg aid, we close the leg, bump with the leg or sometimes spur or tap. This article will look at when we use each technique and will describe some exercises to make your horse sharper off the leg.

 ‘Sharp off the leg’ means that when we use our legs to ask our horse to do something, he does it. Right then and there, no excuses. With any leg aid we are looking for a prompt reaction from the leg. The reaction varies of course depending on the task we are asking the horse to perform, sideways from the leg, lengthening or collecting the stride. The idea is to promptly get the reaction you are looking for. In the actual movements, it is more difficult to get the horse sensitive to your leg. The best time and place to school sensitivity to your leg, is in the transitions, between and within gaits.

            A good exercise to school sensitivity to the leg is in the walk to trot transitions. Ask the horse to move off your leg in the upward transition and come back steady in the downward. Remember, there should be no lag time from the moment you ask, to the moment the horse jumps forward. Younger horses or horses new to dressage training require more patience as they develop or work into the new gait, but they too must initiate the response as quickly and obediently as any horse; this simply sets precedents for the rest of the horse’s training. Try this: ask your horse to trot for eight steps, walk for eight steps, repeat. Create that jumping forward feeling from the lightest of pressure from your leg and then walk or trot relaxed and steady in between transitions. Be strict with the reaction time and remember to reward the good reactions with softening or a pat.  

            A dressage rider’s leg hangs from the hips in a fairly straight line down the horse’s side. There is no griping with the leg: the rider balances with the seat and upper body. The legs hang soft so that when they do come in contact with the horse’s sides, there is a distinct difference in feel and the horse knows he must react to the slightest pressure. A useful technique in generating energy and a reaction from the leg, especially in the collection, is ‘bumping’ the legs against the horse’s sides. When using the bump as well as tapping with a whip, we are asking the horse to be quicker in his reaction or movement so we use the aids quickly: pressure on, off. Tap -tap, with the whip or thump-thump with the leg. Then we soften and ride quietly in between.

The leg is used in dressage to balance and energize. We apply the aid to increase energy in the hind end, to send to the horse forward and to move the horse sideways. When collecting the horse, we half halt with the hand then immediately soften and add the leg to energize. Whenever we add the leg, we slightly soften the hand to allow somewhere for that energy to go. We do not want to create it and then immediately block it. This will only make our horses dull and heavy. When collecting, we bump both legs lightly and quickly against the horse’s sides as we slightly soften the hand. This tells the horse to jump through with the hind end. It is a lot of work for the horse to collect and engage the hind end. To lengthen we can ideally just close the leg around the horse’s sides and he will be happy to move on. Work on the exercise of collecting and lengthening- all horses can benefit from transitioning forward and back within each gait. Go forward for 15 meters, collect for 15 meters, repeat. Make your horse responsive to the leg in the collection- half halt, then bump him with the leg as you soften the hand to create energy and impulsion. If he runs forward, half halt, soften and bump him with your legs again, asking him to energize the hind end. Then ask your horse to be responsive lengthening, close your leg and he must go forward.

If the horse fails to respond to the leg, the rider must get into the horse more and demand a reaction forward. Sometimes a spur is helpful if the horse is ignoring your leg. Likewise a tap with a whip on the hind end can be quite useful. Riders must be discerning with the use of spurs or the whip. They are artificial aids used to supplement your leg and seat. They are used to create a reaction when a horse is being insensitive. However, if used improperly, the horse will only become dull to the aid, worsening the sensitively problem. Properly applied, the whip serves the function of generating a specific reaction. If the horse ignores the tap, the aid must be reapplied: soften the hand, tap-tap. Likewise, if the horse resists by kicking out with one hind leg the rider must tap again with the same amount of pressure. If he kicks out again, tap again. The idea is to persist with the aid until the proper reaction is created rather than resisted (moving forward, engaging or stepping away) then immediately reward by softening or a pat.

When applying the leg aid in dressage we expect a reaction from our horse. Dressage riders must learn to use their legs effectively (1) by applying as little pressure as possible when the horse is responsive and (2) by creating responsiveness through requiring a reaction from the leg every time it is applied. Effective aids and a responsive horse are cornerstones of the sport of dressage and make for enjoyable, connected riding. 

Danica Yates is a sporthorse trainer in the Portland, Oregon area.  FEI and European experience, four years private training with Olympian Debbie McDonald. Training, lessons and board are  available. Call (503)278-1112 or visit  www.danicayates.com  for more information.