How Much Effort Should It Be?

[Luna]

At a recent dressage competition a friend made the comment that she was more tired after riding a dressage test than after doing an endurance race.  It got me to thinking about how much effort it should be to really ride a horse with good impulsion, etc.  Does it depend on the horse?  

On the question of legs: should your legs be squeezing with every stride?  And, if so, what's the difference between this and 'nagging'?  I've just been watching the Kalman de Juranek (sp?) videos and the rider seems to ride with his legs mostly off, but making a stroking action at each stride.  However, watching a video of the Klimkes, they seem to ride with their legs much more 'on'.  Another interesting feature of the Juranek video showing an advanced horse is the half halts - you can very clearly see the horse make a kind of pause before continuing.

 

[Mandeigh]

sorry I can't comment on the video's but ......heres something your freind may be doing without even realising it....especially incompetition and it will mean she is shattered when she finishes the test.......holding her breath....especially in canter.  Unless she is on an especially lazy horse.......    

[cptrayes]

I thought the "legs off unless you're giving an aid" school was old and had been a bit discredited? I keep mine resting lightly on the side all the time.

I certainly wouldn't use my legs to give an aid on every stride - I can't see the difference between that and nagging. They will simply screen it out after a while, surely?

On the half halt, there are big half halts (obvious to the watcher) and small half halts. Perhaps they're really three quarter and one quarter halts? Depends which the horse needs which you use. I wouldn't have expected an advanced horse to need a big half halt, but perhaps he was doing it to make it obvious for the video?

C