Okay, so, today I want to talk about this thing called “front of horse.” Now, I’m no expert, but I’ve been doing some practicing with my own horse, and let me tell you, it’s been a learning curve!
I started by just trying to get my horse to move forward when I squeezed with my legs. Sounds simple, right? Well, it wasn’t. My horse seemed to have a mind of its own. I’d squeeze, and nothing would happen. Or worse, he’d go sideways, backward, anywhere but forward!
- I tried different pressures, different positions, everything I could think of.
- Read a bunch of stuff online, watched videos of these fancy riders making it look effortless.
- Talked to some other horse folks, got some tips, some were helpful, some… not so much.
Then, one day, it just kind of clicked. I was riding, and I really focused on sending my energy forward, not just squeezing randomly. I imagined pushing him forward with my legs and my seat, like I was guiding him with my whole body, not just my calves. And you know what? He responded! He actually moved forward, nice and smooth.
It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But it was a start. Now, I’m working on making it consistent. I practice every day, trying to get that feeling of sending him forward, of him being “in front of my leg,” like the books say.
The key, I think, is to be patient and to be really present with your horse. It’s not about forcing them to do anything. It’s about communicating with them, about building a connection.
I still have a long way to go, but I’m learning so much. And it’s not just about riding, you know? It’s about understanding another being, about working together as a team. And that’s pretty darn cool, if you ask me.
My understanding
Basically, “front of the leg” thing means your horse goes forward right away when you give a little squeeze with your legs. After days of practicing, I finally got it!
