Dressage Horse Riding Aids

Study Notes

Aids are used to communicate with the horse in Dressage, with the main aids being legs, seat, and hands.
Legs are used to ask the horse to move forward or sideways, such as in leg-yield, shoulder in, or half pass.
Seat is used in different situations, including:
- Slowing down
- Going into the canter
- Going backwards
- Making turns
Hands are used to hold the reins, allowing communication with the horse through:
- Small squeeze or pull
- Moving the reins left or right
- Giving reins to extend the horse's neck
Voice can also be used as an aid, including:
- Clicking the tongue to go faster
- Saying 'Whoa' to slow down
- Rewarding with 'good boy'
- Correcting with 'no!'
Note: Voice aids are not allowed in competitions, but may be used discreetly in training.

Whips and spurs are not considered primary aids, but rather additional tools to support leg aids.
They are used only when the horse does not respond well to other aids.

The canter is a 3-beat gait where a horse can throw either the left or right leg out.
There are two types of canter: left side canter and right side canter.

The canter starts with the outside hindleg, followed by the two diagonal hind and front legs, and finally the inside frontleg.
The canter ends with a moment of suspension, where all four legs are off the ground.

To identify the correct canter, look at the inside frontleg, which appears to move more forward than the other leg.
In a left canter, the left frontleg is thrown out more, and in a right canter, the right frontleg steps out more.
When riding, observe the horse's shoulders; the shoulder of the canter you are in will move more forward.

If you're in the wrong canter, go back to trot and try again.
Ensure you're giving the correct aids and that the horse is bending enough in the direction of the canter.
Avoid pulling on the inside rein; instead, adjust the turn and keep your hand slightly away from the neck.

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