Here is some curated advice from our experts on how to create a responsive horse:
- Keep your aids as light as possible that will still create a response. Horses can feel a fly on their skin, so they should not need strong leg or hand aids. In particular, avoid “creeping” into stronger and stronger aids. You only create a duller horse with unclear or heavy-handed aids.
- Remember to reward “try” in training new exercises. Even a small attempt at the behaviour being asked should be rewarded with a release. Build up to more complete or more intense exercises gradually while keeping your aids light.
- Pay attention to details. Have you asked for a transition clearly and correctly? If the horse lags or runs into a transition, go back to the original gait, rebalance the horse with half-halts, then ask for the transition again.
- Keep things fresh. A change of scenery, either by hacking or trailering to a new location, can help perk up a dull horse. Cross-training (for example, jumping small grids with your dressage horse or doing some hill work with your show-ring hunter) can also add challenge and interest to training sessions.
- Don’t spend long periods of time doing the same thing. Transitions between gaits and frequent changes of exercises and rein keep horses attentive.
