I admire your Horsemanship. Its NATURAL and LOGICAL. 🌿🐎🌿 I have a horse rescue in Colorado. I like what I have learned from you.

Another issue that can be solved with logic and empathy. Perfectly explained. Thank you very much for explaining this. :) I think this weight shift works well as a cue too. I had a horse once that started moving differently because I, as an amateur, shifted my weight awkwardly at a certain time. That was a very interesting experience.

Your analogy with the piggy-backing was perfect. Thank you for explaining the logic!

Awesome. I have been struggling with my newly discovered seat and weight, as a newer/returning rider. In my mind, I was thinking that perhaps weight equals pressure, but now that I see your perfect illustration, I can see why that’s silly. Thank you for this. As a returning rider, I’ve been gathering information from all disciplines (books, KZread, magazines, even an on-line course!) to complement my lessons in an English barn, and agree that good riding is just that. There is so much to learn! Appreciate your work here.

Hello Ross, beautifully explained topic. btw, Im really mesmerised by your „good night Alice, wherever you are...” as my name is Alice ;)

For keg yield, I find that if I *slightly* shift my weight towards the direction I want my horse to go, it works well. Very easy to overdo, 'though. Thanks, Ross.

@trevorbailey1486

5 жыл бұрын

My keg yield results in a shift in my weight upwards. And yes, it's because I overdo it.

Thank you. Love your videos. Your expertise and time is greatly appreciated.

Ive been pondering/arguing this question for ages!! Describing it in terms of carrying someone on your shoulders makes complete sense when answering this question

Many years ago I had the best lesson (inadvertently ) on this subject. I was on a ride and we came to quite a steep hill. My horse and I were committed to it before I realised it was very slippery. Well, my clever horse planted all four feet and skied down the hill. I had to keep my weight totally balanced over him or it would have been disaster..

Excellent video, thank you.

This helped a lot!

Super answer

Hi Ross, just wanted to say that I find your video's very informative and inspiring, I was wondering if you could maybe make a video about some of the key points to think about when starting to train a young horse? ~ Jytte

@RossJacobs

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jytte for he suggestion. I just purchased a Pixio system (tracking system for a camera) so that I can make more videos in the in coming months. I will add your suggestion to the list of ideas.

@jytteloos1193

5 жыл бұрын

@@RossJacobs Great! Thanks for the response

One needs to distinguish whether you are leg yielding, no bend, away from the bend or into the bend, both the physiology of the horse and the rider's body language are different, shoulder and hip positions, as are the weight aids. Your explanation discusses an extreme, however, in some situations, it is appropriate to use indirect weight aids, There are also differences as to use direct or indirect weight and rein aids. When a horse bends, he raises his inside ribcage, so if for instance doing 1/2 pass, into the bend, by putting weight on the inside, the direction of movement, you make it harder for the horse to lift the ribcage and keep the bend.

@RossJacobs

5 жыл бұрын

I totally disagree with you. It is a far bigger problem for a horse to carry a rider whose C of G is out of balance with theirs than it is adjust for the ribs. I don't agree that the ribcage is lifted in the bend. This is a myth perpetuated by some people, but it only occurs in horses that are out of balance. Secondly, the leg yield can be performed with or without bend, but in training there is far more to be gained with bend than without because of the potential for a horse to learn to soften to the inside rein. In addition, whether with a bend or without, the principle is the same that the rider's C of G should as closely align to the horses of C of G as possible to help maintain balance.

@jrjibs

5 жыл бұрын

@@RossJacobs I was referring to subtle weight shifts not extreme shifts or out of balance such that the whole centre of gravity is compromised. If you don't consider a horse lifts it inside ribcage when bending, then stand a naked horse square back engaged and bend it evenly through neck and body, observe ! Dressage today Apr 10, 2017 - "The leg yield is an exercise done at the walk and trot. The horse should not have bend in the body as he moves sideways away from the direction of his flexion. The horse's front and hind legs should cross in relation to the angle of the leg yield." If you have ridden advanced dressage or western reining patterns or can demonstrate correct shoulderin and halfpass without a bridle then I am sure we could have a meaningful discussion about weight aids and body language when riding.

@RossJacobs

5 жыл бұрын

@@jrjibsthe horse does not lift through the ribs, but it does roll the ribs because of the shift in C of G. The reason it does this is because their is almost no bend through the body due to the way the vertebrae are structures. It is another myth that horses bend significantly through their body. They can bend a couple of mm from wither to croup, but that's about all for most horses. So in order to stay balanced a horse shifts the C of G and rolls the ribs. Secondly, I also am not talking about monumental shift in C of G. Even subtle shifts have major consequences for balance because of the bulk and length of the horse. I think you are stuck on the old wives tales of how horses move that are no longer relevant because we now understand the structure/function of horses in a way that the old dead guys did not.

Thank you, as always... very well explained. The rationale may also be related with the presure point opossed to the direction you want the movement... it may also be related with trying to keep a balanced center of gravity... doesn't this last point have some sense?

@rlews1531

4 ай бұрын

yes, this is interesting. You shift you weight only after he starts moving laterally. If you shift your weight prematurely then you are blocking him. In fact, Ross's logic would seem to indicate you shift your weight slightly to the inside as you ask, and only when he start moving laterally do you shift your weight again but this time in the direction of the movement.

Hi Ross, thank you for explaining this stuff so clearly. My question is that if the horse is falling in on the circle then I have to keep my centre of gravity 90 degrees with the earth and not align it with the horses centre of gravity I suppose. Nicole

@RossJacobs

5 жыл бұрын

Hi Nicole. If your horse is falling inside the circle you may want to leg yield it back out to re-establish the line of the circle that you had in mind. To do that I suggest you put your weight in the outside seat bone as the horse leg yield to the outside. Once your horse is back on the circumference you wanted, bring your weight back to neutral to maintain the correct line of the circle. I hope that is clear.

@nicky4672

5 жыл бұрын

Yes that is very clear! Thank you for your quick response.

Hi Ross. Could you just answer how you should weight the seat during shoulder in. Ie, the body is at an angle but the feet are going straight forward.

@RossJacobs

5 жыл бұрын

Gill, it is the same as in a leg yield. That is, the rider should shift their weight a little into the seat bone that is in the direction of the horse's travel. For example, if a horse is flexed to the left, then in the shoulder-in the horse is moving to the right to the direction of bend - even though there is no crossing of the legs. Therefore, the rider should add weight to the right seat bone to align their centre of gravity in the direction of the movement of the horse's centre of gravity. I hope that is clear.

@strawberrysummerX

5 жыл бұрын

@@RossJacobs Super, thanks! :)

@comesahorseman

5 жыл бұрын

@@strawberrysummerX: a good question, shoulder-in still mixes me up sometimes! :)

@ellieelizabeth5627

5 жыл бұрын

@@comesahorseman I'm glad you said that! Misery loves company and I'm the misery. I'm just learning this shoulder-in, shoulder-out technique and you would think that my dumb self would grasp it by now. My instructor works hard with me and so does my poor horse. My horse is a very good boy and doesn't throw me off for all the confusing aids I give him, at least so far, lol. Well, nothing worth having is simple right? I will keep persevering and Ross Jacobs videos are a HUGE help. 😁

Hi Ross :) I was riding today, and i watched this video erlier today so when riding this question appeard in my head. If im riding in a left circle and want to increase the circle then i push the inner leg to make the horse increse the circle. but how do i put my weight? to the left or the right? Because i want the horse to stay in the left circle and as i see it at the same time to the right to increase the circle. hope you understand how i mean :) thanx in advance.

@RossJacobs

5 жыл бұрын

Leo, if you are on a left circle, but want to expand the circle by leg yielding your horse to the right, then you should put more weight on the right seat bone until the horse is on the new line you want it to follow, then shift your weight back to follow the circle to the left.

@rlews1531

4 ай бұрын

Well, this would negate my comment above. So is the idea, that the initial weight shift encourages the horse to come underneath you? Perhaps with work he would find that answer and then move to come under you but you keep in out there until you're satisfied with the circle@@RossJacobs

could it be possible that if you load the side of the horse that is moving away that you make it harder for the horse to move correctly in that direction?

@RossJacobs

3 жыл бұрын

A rider should adjust their seat so there is more weight on the side the horse is travelling. Eg, if the horse is moving to the left in a leg yield, the rider should place a little more weight on the left seat bone - visa versa when travelling to the right. This is to help align the rider's centre of gravity to the horse's centre of gravity as closely as possible to make it easier for the horse to carry the rider. I hope that is clear.

@rlews1531

4 ай бұрын

Well, he's saying the same concern. When asking for the lateral, if you move your weight it would seem to initially inhibit the shift but I guess you inside leg is designed to get him moving and he will immediately find that a good response feels right to the horse since the unbalanced is fixed by following our direction. @@RossJacobs