Posted by PH Cody on October 12, 2002 at 19:33:46:
In Reply to: Re: Riding Styles posted by eventergurl on October 12, 2002 at 11:54:23:
:first just a comment on the last post about using leg pressure when ur riding western. Actually, leg pressure is very important in both english and western! Many people tend to think english is just "pull the right rein to turn right pull back to stop" but its different then that!!Leg pressure in EITHER english and western creates a happier and more balenced horse! lol you might have meant to say that, i just wanted to make sure people didnt get confused
I do have to disagree that an english saddle does not allow slouching, having seen it MANY times. Yes, its harder to balance and slouch in an english saddle, but since balance is something the kids have problems with to start with (especially at certain ages) then I go back to the philosophy of one thing at a time. I'm definitely not saying you can't effectively teach a child in an english saddle, I've done that and seen it done. I'm just saying, having done both, as well as teaching children bareback to start with (which actually works really well in certain situations and with a good horse on a longe line) if I had to pick one way, it would be as I described. Now, speaking of bareback, if you have the horse to do it, a great way to teach a child to ride is on the longeline, bareback, without a bridle. Instead of teaching them to control first, you are teaching them to balance and feel first. You also take any decision making away so all they have to do is feel and stay on. This method also greatly helps kids who are timid riders or haven't learned to "feel" the horse and just sit there or worse, use the reins to balance. Where I used to teach, we also taught a smidgeon of "vaulting" to the boys. We had a percheron who was wonderful, and the kids learned to stand, turn completely around and sit backwards at a walk and trot. They loved it and learned a lot just having fun doing what they thought were "tricks". Little did they realize how much they were also learning about balance and trust! As to becoming dependant on the saddle horn, I've heard that issue many times. I agree that its a valid one, but I also think that the reason kids become dependant has nothing to do with knowing how to ride and everything to do with trust. If they do not learn that they can trust the horse and their balance, they will look for something they can trust - the saddle horn. I've seen English riders grab for mane or pommel also. Same thing, they don't trust their balance, seat and/or the horse. To me, that comes down to not overmounting a beginner and not moving too quickly up the basics that they miss something. That's just been my experience. Confidence in their abilities will overcome the saddle-holding. To me, a worse habit to develop is balancing on the reins. I've seen that happen more than I've seen any severe habits of grabbing the saddle horn. I broke one of my students of that habit once. Now mind you, he wasn't a small child but a college peer. I put him on my app mare who was very responsive to seat and leg, and pulled her bridle off and made him ride a lesson without the bridle. He had an awful time finding his balance at first because he had become so dependant on those reins. But he found his seat, realizing what he had been doing, and learned a whole lot that lesson. And of course, finding your seat is one of those "life altering" experiences. Its like learning to post. All of a sudden everything "fits" and you never forget it. He turned out to be a pretty good rider :) But then we could write a whole book on ways here to teach them various things, including trust and confidence :) And of course every child and every situation is different. What works great for 99 kids won't work at all for the 100th one. And much depends on the horse you have to work with also. So many variables! Wow - its nice having a good discussion around here, LOL!
Very true, leg pressure is important in all riding disciplines. However, my point was with children (and even with some adults for that matter), you can only really teach one concept at a time or they will get frustrated and confused. With direct rein, you can get a horse to effectively turn, its not a pretty turn like one would be with leg pressure but for basic learning, it works. With "neck reining" you CAN NOT turn the horse with the rein and you will end up with a confused horse, scared kid, etc.
Janelle
