How do you interpret the following....

[Amanda Dolby]

Just out of curiosity and knowing how many instructors just repeat the same thing over and over and never check that the client understands the thing the same as they do...

So I'll start with
how do you interpret the phrases "behind or in front of the aids"

Don't be shy as that can be interpreted in a few ways I should think.

[rhillahorse]

I'm a dunce with technical stuff, so in all honesty to me 'behind the aids' would mean the horse isn't responding to the leg and is slobbing along and 'in front of the aids' would mean to me the horse is rushing and pulling.

[julz]

In front of the aids = Horse is anticipating the next command.....

Behind the aids = horse is not responding

[naria]

Same as Julz, though maybe I'd say respnding too slowly rather than not responding.

[june]

Okay, here's another one...

Use your seat

[sammos]

I could write an essay on each but that pretty much sums it up!

Responsive and unresponsive would make an awful lot more sense - but of course we instructors have to speak in abstract so as to prevent people from realising how deceptively simple riding actually is!

[thelwall78]

I bet if you asked a lot of instructors what they meant by "use your seat" they wouldn't be able to tell you. Am quite convinced a lot of instructors use cool jingo-y phrases they hear other people saying without any idea what they are saying, and use your seat is one of them ime. A good instructor would make sure you understand EVERYTHING before they expect you to do it, even if they do then bbreviate it to one of the little phrases, so that they can shout several things to you in a hurry!

[naria]

"Use your seat" would probably get a snotty reply along the lines of "I'm sitting on the horse so how the hell can I NOT be using my seat!" followed by a request for more detailed instructions. I'm maybe not the easiest pupil!

Seriously I do think this is an instruction that usually needs a fuller explanation simply because the seat can be used so many ways so unless the pupil is aware of what's wanted it's meaningless. All too often though it seems to result in riders shoving with the seat, putting the horse off balance & having the opposite effect to the one they want which is usually more activity.

[chloe]

behind the aids - sluggish to respond to the rider's requests
in front of the aids - anticipates the rider's request
use your seat - use weight aids/tighten bum muscles to slow/relax bum muscles to accelerate

[june]

From the number of people who come to us for polo lessons having had "normal" riding lessons who shove with their bums to try to get the horse to move I suspect "use your seat" means something quite different to a lot of people to what it should!

[jen1]

amanda i couldnt answer your question, one of the reasons i tookthe rwym route about 20 years, i need imaginary pictures to counjour the kinathetics(sp) in me , i find it all very fastinating that i can speak with my intructor about a limbo feeling , june knows corners lol,that seems to have become universal in rwym, you question is one of the reasons i gave up having lessons, see when mary wanless was shouting left shoudler to right bra at me i got it straight away,lol

[Amanda Dolby]

Ah jen 1 - I did positively mention about those pictures of yours in another thread you replied to about is every one an bare foot expert. Mind you even as a highly visual person RWYM make sno sense to me and is far too much like hard work ( bit lazy me)
Sam - happy new year!- come over for tea and a chat when you are next passing house or yard

I have various interpretationsof the above - so avoid using the phrase along with other such as

"More forward" ---- more froward as in faster? as in more on the forhand?, the neck stretch outwards more?

Actually my reason for asking was the apparent difference in meaning in different horse training and anatomy books.

Also that I seem to use a whole set of new adjectives for every new individual client and then narrow it down!
recently helping a fellow instructor ( you know who you are) I end abbreviating to the final points reminding her of "Slide" "marraccas" and "off "

[naturalneddie]

I would presume 'in front of' and 'behind' the aids would be akin to another well worn phrase 'in front of ' or behind' the leg, that phrase used to be quoted at me all the time and I never had the foggiest what it meant.....
Since working with RWYM, I now know whats meant by it (but whether I can put it into words anyone else would understand - thats another matter....LOL!)
Start with 'behind' since thats the negative one......
Ever ridden a horse who feels like he is trying to escape backward between your knees? His head and neck will be compressed, possibly overbent ( but not always), and the feeling is that the horse is 'pushing back' at you? He may well manage to go quite actively forward whilst doing this - some horses are expert evaders, but most would feel at least a little 'not quite commited' to going honestly forward. A horse can 'push back at you by going hollow and raising his head and neck too, perhaps this is a more obvious way to come back towards you ( is this making any sense?).!!!!
If you look at some pictures of riders and horses, it is sometimes quite clear that there is much more horse 'out the back' and not enough in front of the rider, almost like the horse was a turtle, trying to get back in its shell......
In front of the leg, I take to mean that a horse is 'through' ( sorry - another one of THOSE words!), honestly going forward and balanced in the front back plane, neither rushing forward or hanging back.
As to 'use your seat' - how long have you got!!!!! Can of worms, that one!
Know what you mean about the short cuts tho - once yu and your pupil both know what you are on about it matters not what word you shout, as long as you shout at the right moment and it has the desired effect! Some of the things I shout are completely ludicrous and I check for BHS spies in the bushes before I start! I'd be strung up!!! LOL

[june]

Lol, back to good old corners!

[Amanda Dolby]

Corners? eh? - now June what do you mean by that?

Now I would personally would percieve - "infront of the aids " to mean anticipating the next request rather than waiting for the ask.

Your description of behind the aids is what I would describe as "sucking back"

So what do you understand by "sucking back?"

Also How many folk are actually taught to break down the requirements of movements to ride a corner? Out of interest - not many I suspect
I have BHS qualifications and handsup I was shocked by the question when asked!