People learn to steer horses.There are times when knowing how to steer using only your legs may be useful.By positioning your legs in place and applying pressure to the right spots, you can communicate to your horse that you want to turn left or right.You can tell your horse to speed up or slow down by adjusting your hips and pelvis.
Step 1: Place your legs under your hips.
If you want to give your horse a command, you need to get your legs straight.If you keep a tight grip with your legs around the horse's ribs, you will lose some of your control.Place your legs under your hips.Your body should be in a straight line from your ear to your foot.If you angle your feet, your toe will be lower than your heel.If you want your lower leg to have more contact with the horse's body, turn your toes out.The horse's body should be touched gently from the thigh down to the ankle.
Step 2: Turn your head towards the direction you want to go.
It is possible to have a better command of where you want to go by turning your head.Keep your chin up and look at a fixed point.You want to turn in a certain direction.Allow your shoulders to turn a bit.You could lose your balance if you turn your shoulders too much.
Step 3: Take your hips in a different direction.
If you want to turn towards that spot, begin rotating your hips once you've fixed your eyes.A change of course is approaching and this will send a message to your horse.With the rest of your body, try to maintain a stable position.Give the hips a slight twist.You run the risk of losing your balance if you rotation too abruptly.
Step 4: To execute the turn, squeeze your legs.
Your legs will be used to steer the horse's body once your shoulders and hips are facing the desired direction.The turn will be affected by how much pressure you use from each leg and you need to coordinate both legs.You can squeeze just behind the horse's girth if you want to complete the turn.If you're turning left, your right leg would be the outside leg.Place a gentle pressure on the horse's girth with your inside leg.If you're turning left, you should place your left leg against the horse's left girth and your right leg behind it.Your horse should have turned in your direction if you did everything right.If the horse didn't turn, try a more cooperative horse.
Step 5: Use your horse's movement to move your hips.
As you ride around a fenced-in area on your horse and post with its movements, you should begin to get a sense of its rhythm and timing.If you learn your horse's movements, you can gently move your hips to maintain better control through the seat.Post the trot by getting out of the saddle and sitting down for the second beat.Don't bounce up and down, just move with the horse's movements.
Step 6: Keep your body in a straight line.
Your pelvis rocks forward and backward as your horse moves.Changing your horse's speed can be done by keeping your pelvis in position and adjusting your movements.You should angle your pelvis slightly forward.Don't lean too far forward and keep your center of balance.
Step 7: Increase the speed of your horse's movement.
You should be able to use your body's posting movements to encourage your horse to go faster.This may take some practice, so be patient and stick with it.The horse's sides need to be touched between your legs.A gentle squeeze will let the horse know that you want to go forward.If a horse doesn't get the hint that you want it to speed up, some horse riders kick in the sides.If the horse is rocking you, move your hips and pelvis forward and backward at a faster pace.
Step 8: Slow your horse down.
You'll want to learn how to slow your horse down once you've mastered speed.To go slower, you'll need to stop all the movement of your hips and pelvis.The muscles in your stomach and buttocks need to be tightened.This will stop the movement of your body parts in the saddle.Keeping contact between your legs and the horse's sides is important.They should hang naturally over the horse's sides.If you want to slow the horse down, close your fingers around the reins.
Step 9: Try vocal commands.
You can try using vocal commands with your horse, but they work best when the horse associates those sounds with an action.The words "woah," "easy," and "back" are easy to understand by horses.If you want your horse to respond to a verbal command like "faster," you'll need to train it by squeezing or kicking the horse's sides.You should be aware of your voice's tone.The actual words you say to your horse are more important than the tone you speak in.
Step 10: You can use an English saddle.
If you want to learn how to steer with your legs, you should use an English saddle.English saddles are lighter and thinner than their western counterparts.The two styles of riding are very similar, except for the difference in saddles and steering.It's important for ranch work that saddles are comfortable for long sitting and riding.English saddles maximize contact between you and the horse's back and sides.
Step 11: It is a good idea to practice on the same horse.
Some horses are willing to give in to a rider.You may not get an accurate gauge of your progress if you switch horses every time you practice steering.Try to get a sense of how cooperative your horse is, and if it seems like it won't be willing to listen to you, then you may want to try a different horse.
Step 12: The seat on which you are sitting is made of bones.
How you sit in the saddle affects your balance and control.If you sit on the crotch instead of the seat bones, you won't be able to use your seat as an aid in steering your horse.If you lose your balance, try to keep your hips forward and pull your shoulders back.Don't let your hands fall past the saddle if you keep your elbow bent.If you're tilted too far forward, you won't be able to properly hold the horse.