THE LEG - In the official system
What does official dressage teach us about the use of the legs?
Riding literature is full of expressions like “energetic actions of the legs”, or “graduated action of the legs,” suggesting that there is a relation between the strength of the action of the rider’s legs and the energy of the horse’s response. This is a misconception. If it were true, jockeys would ride with long stirrups and would attend bodybuilding classes. When one pushes a horse with the legs, he goes forward, and so does the bit. Now if you push and pull together you give your horse two opposite orders: “Go and Don’t Go” and he can only be confused by the contradiction.
Most of the time he will obey only one of these two orders – the one that fits his character best. All you’re going to get is a dull horse who will respond with less and less generosity to your leg aids. Or, if the horse is more forward going by nature, he will obey your legs and put up with your hands’ pulling and will become heavier and heavier on the bit. Or both.
