Training Tip: Don’t Send Your Horse Mixed Signals

Laidback horses may be easy to get along with, but their lack of energy can create real challenges under saddle. You ask them to go forward, and they hesitate. You ask for the canter, and they quit almost as soon as they start. That reluctance to stay moving—what I call “sticky feet”—is a clear sign of an underlying issue, and the longer it’s left unchecked, the harder it becomes to fix

If your horse isn’t moving forward, make sure you’re not the reason why. Riders who are timid about a horse or don’t have good balance often send their horses mixed signals by accident. They’ll simultaneously cue the horse to go forward by squeezing his sides with their legs, and pull back on the reins, signaling him to stop. It’s like being in a car and putting your foot on the gas pedal and brake at the same time—you’re not going to go anywhere.

If you suspect you’re the root of the problem, the first step is to figure out why. Are you a beginner rider or haven’t had enough experience in the saddle to develop an independent seat? If that’s the case, great exercises for you to practice are One Rein Stops and the Cruising Lesson. All exercises in the Method are designed to partly benefit the horse and teach him something and to teach the human something.

Are you scared of the horse or don’t trust him? If so, your best bet is to find a well-trained horse that will babysit you and help you develop the skills necessary to be a confident rider. That might mean that you need to take lessons or lease a horse. Once you’ve gained confidence and developed an independent seat, you’ll have the skills you need to ride your own horse. You may even have a more experienced horseman ride your horse and get him moving out well so that when you get back in the saddle, he understands what is expected of him.

Looking for more training tips? Check out the No Worries Club. Have a training question? Submit it on our website.