How Do I Steer a Horse?

The first answer to this question is usually "With the reins, duh," but it's more complicated than that. Yes, most horses have been taught to follow their noses around, so if you pull on the reins, you pull their nose in the direction you want to go. But what about the rest of the horse? Or those horses that neck rein? That's where your legs come in to play. By using your legs when you ride, you can control the hip, barrel, and shoulder of your horse, not just the horse's head and neck. This allows the rider to be much more precise in the directions he or she is giving. Move your leg a little bit forward to push the front end around, a little bit back to move the hind end, ect. It's called body control, and is very important in today's performance horse. But it isn't just for people who show, or compete. If you've ever wanted to open a gate from horseback, or pick something up off the fence, or keep your horse straight while crossing an obstacle, you'll have a much easier time of it if you can control each portion of your horse's body. How do you do that? By using your legs as well as your hands to direct the horse. Sounds complicated? Don't think you're that coordinated? Practice, practice, practice. Take a few lessons. Have your horse tuned up a bit. Think about what your legs should be doing every time you move your hands. It's hard at first, but consistency is one of the keys to training, and by doing something exactly the same, at the same time, every time, it will become second nature for you and your horse.