Dressage: Seat, Aids & Exercises by Anthony Crossley

Question 1

A horse is in front of the leg when…

Answer 1

They give the impression of doing of his own accord what is required of him

Question 2

Sequence of your employment of aids

Answer 2

1. Correct, balanced rider-position together with a forward bracing loin = prerequisite for any aid
2. Leg aids that activate the horse; create or maintain impulsion; always precedes any rein aid
3. Hands and reins that restrain or direct the action
4. Again the rider’s loin/seat/weight, the central combination that coordinates and modulates all other aids and their effects

Question 3

The three mottoes every barn should display

Answer 3

1. No horse can be better than his rider
2. If the pupil has not learnt, the teacher has not taught
3. It is always the rider’s fault; never the horse’s

Question 4

What are “aids”?

Answer 4

The means by which a rider communicates with his horse.

Made up of

1. An intelligible message (telephone wire)
2. A degree of physio-psychological persuasion & dominance (ie forward pressure of seat bones to urge horse forward)
3. A degree of mechanical compulsion (ie rein aids to apply compulsion)

Question 5

Where do all aids start?

Answer 5

From the rider’s seat.

1. No aid of seat, weight, leg or hand can be applied correctly unless the basic position of the rider is correct
2. The manner in which the rider sits on the saddle constitutes and aid in itself and should complement the language used to convey signals and requests

Question 6

Requirements of the seat at the halt

Answer 6

1. Perfect balance so that we don’t struggle to retain it by gripping with the legs which would impede giving signals. (Our own imbalance would create an imbalance in the horse)
2. Ability to hold that balanced position unimpaired for long periods so we can ride our horse to the best of our ability for as long as necessary
3. Total relaxation from top to toe, body and mind, so that we can remain fully sensitive, alert and free from the paralyzing effect of muscular tension. Without balance, relaxation is impossible.

Question 7

All aids begin and end with…

Answer 7

A balanced and relaxed seat

Question 8

What is the process for finding your balanced seat at the halt?

Answer 8

1. Lower seat bones into the lowest part of the saddle and balanced over the horse’s center of gravity
2. Top of pelvis (or hipbones) are gently but firmly rocked forward to bring them into the same vertical alignment as the seat bones and shoulders (think, proper 19th century posture)
3. Head and neck must be brought back and into alignment with the seat-hip-shoulders
4. The legs must be allowed to hang down by their own weight into a natural position as directed by gravity and the shape of the horse. Slight bend to the knee, ankle should be more closed than open.
5. The toes should always remain higher than the heel
6. If the heel is allowed to hang naturally and by gravity, the legs should fall into position of their own accord in which the heel will be in alignment more or less on the same vertical line as the head, shoulders and seat bones
7. With the body and legs established, the reins are picked up with the hands coming into a direct line between the rider’s elbows and the bit when viewed from the side. Backs of the hands face outwards and the thumb should always be the uppermost point and fingers lightly closed.

Question 9

Other names for a balanced seat

Answer 9

Classical seat
Efficient seat
Elegant seat
Easy seat

Question 10

What is a passive seat and what is the key to its success?

Answer 10

Passive seat is “following along with horse”.

The key to success are:

1. The forward thrusting of the loin, or rocking pelvis, and with it,
2. The forward and shock-absorbing flex ions of the lower lumbar spine

Together, a passive seat minimizes the impact to the horse and encourages the horse to move forward thus becoming an aid to free forward movement

Question 11

An influential seat is..

Answer 11

Increased tension in the loin muscles to:

1. Reduce, but not nullify, the forward flexibility of the lumbar spine thereby giving the shock absorber a shorter, stronger and more powerful action
2. Increase the influence of the seat bones on the saddle and therefore the horse’s back muscles
3. To cause the spring-like shape of the lower spine, still acting in a forward and downward manner, to draw forward the seat bones on the saddle, thus exerting a distinct forward-urging influence on the horse (ie a thumb on the back of your hand pushing towards the knuckles)

Question 12

The adoption of a classical seat will help in what 3 ways?

Answer 12

1. It sets up the mechanism that will ensure that the balance of the rider, and therefore the horse, will not be disturbed
2. It forms a sound foundation for all controlled and controlling aids
3. Enables the rider to remain relaxed and supple which in turn allows the mechanism to operate automatically as a gentle aid for free, forward movement. Any further increase in. The power/influence of that aid is achieved by bracing more strongly the loin muscles, or small of the back, without in any way altering the basic operation of the mechanism

Bonus: helps rider look elegant and effortless

Question 13

Common faults of the seat (10)

Answer 13

1. Sitting with the seat bones too far back in the saddle
2. Holding the lower leg too far forward
3. Holding the lower leg too far back
4. Leaning forward
5. Leaning back
6. Lower leg not in contact with the horse
7. Raising the heels
8. Hands held too low
9. Twisted hands and bent wrists
10. Collapsing the back

Question 14

What if you sit with your seat bones too far back?

Answer 14

1. Rider’s weight is behind the horse’s center of gravity and nearer the weakest part of the back
2. Horse’s back cannot swing with impulsion
3. Rider is not in balance so the horse is not in balance

Question 15

What if the rider holds their lower leg too far forward?

Answer 15

1. It means there is muscular tension.
2. Tends to push the rider’s seat back in the saddle
3. Breaks the vertical balance line

Question 16

What if the rider holds their lower leg too far back?

Answer 16

1. There is tension in the leg
2. The leg will not be in contact with the most sensitive part of the horse
3. The heel will tend to rise and rider will press down with toes
4. The flow of the rider’s weight will not go into the heel to maintain a deep seat. It will be a shallow seat
5. The leg aids will be extremely weakened

Question 17

What if the rider leans too far forward?

Answer 17

1. He has taken weight off the seat bones and is not balanced
2. He will be ‘in front of the movement’ and not fully in control of the horse, especially in downward transitions

Question 18

What if the rider is leaning back?

Answer 18

1. The weight of the torso will be behind the vertical line and towards the weaker part of the horse’s back
2. Increased tension in rider’s back muscles
3. Stationary, the rider will be out of balance. Moving forward, the rider will be unable to ‘go along with’ the movement

Question 19

What if the rider’s lower leg is not in contact with the horse?

Answer 19

1. Rider cannot effectively feel what is going on with the horse
2. When the rider needs to apply a leg aid or correction the action will be mistimed and and inefficient
3. To overcome the lateness of the aids the rider will be forced to use rougher and cruder aides and spoil the sensitivity of his horse
4. With no leg contact, there is no communication open with horse. When the aid does come, it will be unexpected and thus the response from the horse will be correspondingly jerky
5. Aids should be applied intermittently and not in precise time with the stride so the horse stays attentive. This relies on the rider using momentary tension of the leg through (the unmoving) boot. This cannot be achieved without contact

Question 20

What if the rider is raising his heels?

Answer 20

1. The knee is slightly raised and the seat weakened

2. Often this is the result of training with Spurs and coming to rely on them as an aid

Question 21

What if the rider’s hands are held too low?

Answer 21

Often the cause of stiffness in the hands or wrists.

1. The elbow to bit line is broken. The hands cannot give and take in the elastic manner when required, they will not be able to encourage forward movement and they will become harsh
2. Horse becomes reluctant to step freely into the bit, he becomes resistant by going over the bit or avoids it by going behind. This causes his back to cease swinging, paces short and often irregular

Question 22

What if the rider has twisted hands or bent wrists?

Answer 22

1. The rider is not relaxed and the horse will feel it

2. This can have serious ill effects on the horse’s training and performance

Question 23

What if the rider collapses their back?

Answer 23

When the rider has lost the slightly concave line to the loin and replaced it with a more or less convex line

1. Shortens the body (instead of lengthen) and the head and shoulders start to dip forward disturbing the rider’s (and then the horse’s) balance
2. It destroys the ability of the lumbar portion of the spine to acts as a shock absorber and rider begins to inhibit the swing of the horse’s back.
3. Rider is no longer ‘going along’ with the horse in a balanced position and will likely start gripping with the thighs
4. All of the above contribute to pain and injury in both backs
5. Increased harshness of the seat will affect the shoulders and hands, and the horse won’t be willing to step into the bit. The horse’s back will become less supple and even hollow as a result of the seat
6. The vertical line will fall behind the gravity line and be behind the movement of the horse, discouraging the horse’s back

Question 24

The basic leg aid

Answer 24

Begins with a bracing of the back
Passes through the seat bones into the leg
Is accompanied by a lengthening and lowering of the heel

Question 25

A unilateral leg aid is

Answer 25

A single leg aid to affect the hind leg on the same side

Note: to act efficiently, the aid must be applied when the hind leg is off the ground so the horse can respond

Question 26

A lateral leg aid is…

Answer 26

Used to make the horse move all or part of himself in a more or less sideways direction. Lateral movements include:

1. Leg yield
2. Shoulder-in
3. Travers
4. Half-pass

Question 27

What is an active lateral leg-aid?

Answer 27

A leg aid used to cause the horse to move away from it

Question 28

What is a passive lateral leg-aid?

Answer 28

A leg aid used to control or prevent the horse from moving himself, or more usually a part of himself, towards the side on which the aid is applied

Question 29

What is a ‘deep seat’?

Answer 29

A seat that remains firmly and softly in contact with the horse’s back at all speeds and gaits, with the legs relaxed and free to apply aids without disturbance to the primary seat.

Question 30

How does the rider achieve a ‘deep seat’?

Answer 30

1. Having a supple and relaxed spine

2. Relaxed legs that do not grip

Question 31

What if the instructor says to ‘sit deeper’?

Answer 31

His is saying one or more of the following:

1. Rider’s seat is not firm enough (bumping in and out of the saddle)
2. The rider is failing to brace his back sufficiently to keep the pelvis in position and the shock-absorbing curve of the spine in operation
3. The rider, by gripping with unrelated leg muscles, is preventing his weight from flowing fully into the seat bones and down through the heels

Question 32

How can you tell if a rider’s seat is not genuinely firm in its contact with the saddle?

Answer 32

1. The distance between the rider’s loin and the cantle of the saddle will fluctuate with every stride and there will be a visible closing of that gap. (the gap will remain constant if the rider is ‘going along with’ the horse)
2. The loin becomes stiff, immobile and harsh which creates a jolting mobility of the shoulders which adversely affects the softness and stillness of the hands

Question 33

What is the first principle for the correct use of rein aids?

Answer 33

They may be used to either guide or control the horse. Within the aspect of control, they should only be employed in one of 3 ways. They may either:

1. Allow
2. Restrain
3. Oppose

Question 34

What is the second principle for the correct use of rein aids?

Answer 34

Without any qualification whatsoever, the reins must never actually pull back.

This acts against the instincts of the horse and will create resistance.

1. To restrain does not imply a backward pull
2. To oppose movement does not imply or need a backward pull

Question 35

What is the third principle for the correct use of rein aids?

Answer 35

No rein or hand action should ever be applied by itself or without the prior application of a weight/seat/leg action originating from a bracing of the loin.

This means the rein action only takes effect as the result of the horse pushing himself, in reaction to the seat and leg aids, forward into the hand.

Question 36

What are the 5 rein effects?

Answer 36

1. Open rein: forward turns and circles with inside bend
2. Indirect rein: forward turns and circles with outside bend
3. Direct rein of opposition: turn on forehand rein back (both reins)
4. Indirect rein of opposition in front of withers: turn on center with outside bend
5. Indirect rein of opposition behind the withers: leg yielding should-in

Question 37

What are the aids for the half-halt?

Answer 37

To apply a half-halt the rider must:

1. Brace his back, fractionally pushing top of pelvis forward, putting slight more tension into lumbar spine which will slightly increase the downward-and-forward pressure of the seat bones on the horse’s back - telling the horse to pay attention
2. In conjunction with bracing action, lengthen legs into heels and close them more firmly around the horse- telling the horse to listen and feel. (Must be forwardness in the leg aid, even at the halt you are mentally putting the horse forward onto the bit)
3. Nearly simultaneously, close the fingers more firmly on the reins while keeping elbows steady and close to the sides to increase rein tension sufficiently to prevent or restrain the horse from responding to the legs with unwanted forwardness (NEVER pull back)
4. The final, vital, action is the release. The coordinated actions of the above must never be held on or fixed as it will destroy the desire and ability to go forward

Question 38

What if the half-halt fails to produce the required response?

Answer 38

Release the half halt and repeat. Release and repeat until successful.

Question 39

What is the purpose of the half halt?

Answer 39

1. To increase the attention and balance of the horse whenever such improvement is desirable (frequently)
2. To precede, in a predatory manner, the execution of any movement or of a transition to lesser or higher paces or to different gaits.

When given in any of the gaits:
1. To cause the horse to improve the engagement of his hind legs and to push himself more forward into the rider’s restraining hand, thus shifting more weight on the quarters to the benefit of lightness of the forehand and the overall balance

Question 40

What is the horse’s prerequisite for a half-halt?

Answer 40

The horse must be soft and supple in the back, neck and poll, and is in at least reasonable control of his own balance.

Unless those prerequisites exist, the horse will be physically incapable of responding in the desired manner to the subtle aids.

Question 41

What effect should the rider feel with a successful half-halt?

Answer 41

1. A slight rounding or lifting of the horse’s back muscles as the quarters engage and the horse prepares for action
2. A slight softening of the poll and jaw l, felt in the fingers and indicating the horse is offering no resistance to the bit, though pushing himself into it; is not leaning on it; is waiting and ready for guidance

Question 42

Aids for leg-yielding

Answer 42

1. Half-halt for several successive strides to alert and balance the horse
2. A half-halt to put the horse into the correct position for a leg-yield (straight in body and neck with a slight flexion at the poll only - away from the direction he will be asked to travel)
3. Sink the heel and apply single leg aid slightly behind the position on the girth so it will influence the whole horse . The outside leg remains on girth and should be used lightly to keep impulsion. The inside leg will be mainly lateral, directly against the horse but may have to assist the other leg with impulsion.
4. Sit straight in saddle. Full share of weight is maintained on outside seat bone, and make sure you are moving with the horse on the outside. Don’t let your weight fall in on the inside seat bone over the now dominant leg.
5. The outside rein is opened slightly to take the horse in a sideways direction. A turn of the thumb outwards is sufficient. The inside rein complements the action by acting in opposition behind the withers (but never over the withers).
6. When the movement is completed or if the horse loses impulsion, drive forward with strong half halts

Question 43

Aids for Shoulder-in

Answer 43

1. 2-3 half halts to establish position making sure the horse is flexed and soft o the inside rein
2. Lead the forehand to the inside as if beginning (or continuing) a circle. The inside hip and seat bone are pressed forward by unilateral bracing of the loin on that side to initiate a strong and forward leg aid that will result in a lowering of the inside heel as it presses inward and forward nod the girth. (Position is ON the girth) the horse will bend around the inside leg but only on the forehand.
3. Outside rein opened briefly and firmly to indicate you are not going in a circle. Then the rein is brought quietly back to rest on the curve of the neck to maintain that contact with the neck and control of the bend. The horse is then ridden into this contact.
4. Outside leg should be in action from the beginning and drawn back a little behind the girth. The outside leg lies passively against the horse to assist him to bend around the rider’s inside leg and to PREVENT the hindlegs from falling outward from the true track. Take care not to push the hindlegs in. Once shoulder-In is achieved, the outside leg may also be needed for impulsion but do not lose the rearward position.