How to Steer, Brake, and Accelerate: A Beginner's Guide

Riding your pony with control and harmony is a beautiful and rewarding experience, but it comes with the responsibility of understanding and mastering the essential aids of communication between you and your pony — the three basic steps, to begin with, are turning left and right — steering, the stop aids — brakes, and the go button — acceleration. Just like riding a bike, these three elements of control are crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable ride for both you and your pony and those around you.

By refining these three basic steps, you’ll not only enhance your riding experience, but also build a stronger and more communicative bond with your pony. Remember, effective riding is a partnership, and by investing time and effort into understanding these elements, you and your pony can work together, building grace, harmony and confidence.

In this article we will cover the basics of steering, brakes and acceleration, hopefully providing you with the knowledge needed to ride with confidence and success.

Steering: Turning left and right

To steer your pony with precision, it is essential to communicate clearly through your reins, body position and leg aids. Begin by holding the reins evenly and maintaining a soft, consistent contact with your horse’s mouth. Avoid pulling too hard, as horses respond best to gentle and subtle cues.

Start with a balanced seat and a relaxed, upright posture. To turn left, for example, gently apply pressure with your left rein, asking your pony to shift his weight, look and bend in that direction. Simultaneously, slightly give with your right rein to enable him the freedom to turn his body. Maintain leg contact to support the turn, with your left leg (inside leg) at the girth area and your right leg (outside leg) slightly behind the girth area to help support his hindquarters from stepping out. Once he moves in the direction asked, return the reins to a soft, even contact.

Effective steering is the foundation of many of the higher movements needed to build your riding prowess on.

Brakes: Bringing your pony to a halt

Being able to halt your pony safely and smoothly is a skill every rider must master, and how effective you are is very important for maintaining control and safety during a ride, particularly when in a group. When you want your pony to stop, apply gentle pressure to both reins simultaneously. He will either slow down or stop, depending what pace he is in. Avoid abrupt or harsh pulls, as this will create quite a discomfort in your pony’s mouth. Sit up straight, engage your seat, distribute your weight slightly backward, and stretch your legs down, not forgetting to lower your heels.

By establishing a good understanding between you and your pony through clear communication and trust promotes a responsive and willing partnership.

Acceleration: The go button

Just as in riding a bike, your legs play an important role in making your pony move forward. By sitting up straight and applying a gentle tap, tap, tap with your lower leg, with a slight release of the rein whilst still maintaining a soft contact with your pony’s mouth, should be enough encouragement for him to move forward. Do not keep your leg on.

Remember, each pony is unique, and understanding their individual responses to your aids is key to becoming a skilled and considerate rider. Consistency is key to any training, so embrace the journey of learning and growing together, and you’ll find that the art of harmonious communication between you and your pony becomes second nature in your equestrian pursuits.

Article: Catherine Shelley - NCAS EA SSTA/ CE Level 2 General Coach, NCAS Level 1 RDA Coach, Dip. of TB racing - Melton Equestrian accredited with EA Ready, Set, Trot program.

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