So how do you actually use more leg?

[Mandeigh]

I think lesson plans are very useful in a group setting, particularly for time management and if you are having to work to a particular progression schedule.

[sandpiper]

It's an interesting thing about riding school 'plods'.  I used to keep two of mine at a riding school and one of the ponies there seemed to be totally immune to the kicking of the kids who rode him, he needed a lot of 'leg and stick' according to the instructors to get him moving at all, poor b****r.  I just thought of him as totally dead to the leg and beyond repair.

I used to hack out with the kids and see him doing his own thing, ignoring all their aids.  But once I got the opportunity to ride him out with another girl, and all I did was use my leg in a slightly different position and this pony was forward going and good as gold with the lightest of touches!

It just goes to show that he did indeed switch off to the instructors' commands of 'leg, leg, leg' or 'give him a smack!' but was still responsive to a sympathetic rider.  I was glad to hear he was eventually sold to a lovely girl and hope he had a happy life!

[WendyP]

There are some good riding schools out there, I do know one in my area where they instructors school (& compete) the riding school horses. Personally I think they delight in beating people in competitions with their riding school horses as people are so rude about the riding school horse.  People insult Pi as well "well he's a riding school horse, what do you expect....." attitude.

I used to keep Pi at one and definitely there was a lesson plan as instructor would come in and start the lesson explaining what would be covered that lesson.  My current instructor trained there and she arrives for my lesson with a plan.

Pi lived there for years but it went down hill and I foolishly on advice of vet that he do more work allowed him to be used.  In 3 months he was ruined and I removed him.  2 years down the line he is fine to hack, he's fine to school with me but put someone on the ground watching him and he grinds to a halt, he literally has a lesson complex. Instructor & I find it better for her to follow up with a lunge whip and I think we are now a good way to breaking the cycle and its taking a long time although he is partly hampered by his bone spavin.

I use what I can only describe as busier aids. I use my legs with lots of really quick squeezes remember to release them when I get a response and praise him. I really only need this approach for the warm up now. It did take me a long time to stop niggling him though! 
I cringe every time I hear people suggest spencering.