Clashed aids and the turning of gears

I often describe the desirable movement of a horse as an unbroken circuit of energy, or a serires of gears turning within a machine. The hind legs turn within the system and the front legs turn coordinated as well within the system - in a rhythmic manner where the gear pushes the conveyor belt over the back, around the gears inside and out the front.

In a horse who is struggling with their movement: too choppy, crooked, jarring, sluggish or not forward, and so on, some of these gears turn the wrong direction within the system or don't turn at all - this steals energy within the system and directs it the wrong directions. A horse who is not forward is not having the hind end gear push that energy over the back conveyer belt, and often this conveyer belt is jammed and not moving at all.

One of the primary causes of this is a rider who uses clashed aids - meaning aids that oppose each other. A hand that works backward with a leg that squeezes is a fairly common example of a clashed aid (as seen in the first photo with the chestnut). Some horses are more sensitive and even a seat that works backward accidentally by a rider's stuck low back will create clashed aids and not allow the horse to move "through" the circuit of energy.

Often, the rider is unaware of their movements and aids and how they affect the horse and amplify them in a desire to get a response. These aids then go from chaotic and loud to frustrated and emotional - and this makes it impossible for any horse to move in good coordination.

Many riders struggle hearing this advice, often frustratedly blaming the horse - "if he would just go forward THEN I could relax my leg." But unfortunately the opposite is true - the horse cannot go forward because the seat, leg and hand and opposing each other, and UNTIL the rider gains control of their seat, they will be pedaling for nothing to get nowhere, frustrated unfairly at a horse who is doing exactly what is open to them.

It's hard to hear but important - The scrunching leg, and downward, backward hand will never produce a forward horse. This is where a good mindset, a good teacher, and lots of patience for yourself and your horse are the only way forward - literally and figuratively. Once this seat is learned it is very hard to unlearn, but it is possible - and I have seen many do it and enjoy the benefits of a much happier horse - and a much more comfortable body of their own, too.