Step #2. Apply Natural Aids
Make sure you're sitting in a proper horsemanship position with your ear, shoulder, hip, and heel in alignment and your lower back flat, relaxed, and a vertical position. In this position, feel how your back and hips move laterally (side-to-side) and vertically (up-and-down) with your horse as he walks.
Begin to exaggerate your movements so that your hips and legs are swinging with your horse's barrel. Feel your hips as they move forward and down one at a time. When your right hip lifts, your horse is pushing off with his right hind leg. As your right hip rises, your left hip drops so that your left leg closes beside your horse's barrel.
Goodnight likes to exaggerate this movement to show how the movement of your horse affects your position. Notice how her right hip rises and her right leg moves away from her horse as her left hip and leg drop down close to her horse's side (Photo 2A). On the next step (Photo 2B), Goodnight's left hip rises and her right leg falls closer to her horse.
Important: If you're not feeling the movement in your horse's back, you may be riding with your pelvis tipped forward. When your pelvis is in this closed position, you can't feel your horse's back movements. To fix this position flaw, simply sit back on your seat bones (visualize sitting on the back-pocket stitching), and relax your lower back.
Now that you understand this natural cause-and-effect, you also know the proper timing to apply natural aids and prompt your horse to lengthen the walk. When each leg closes against your horse's side, it's time to apply lower leg pressure, cueing him to move forward with more energy and impulsion. Because your hips are moving in a side-to-side fashion, your horse understands that he's to remain at a walk.
Continue to alternate your leg aids in a natural rhythm and gradually apply more leg pressure. When your horse responds by lengthening the walk, soften your leg pressure, but continue the rhythm with your seat. Your horse should maintain your rhythm.
Note: Depending on your horse, you may need to add a little bump with your calf to get the response you're looking for. Don't worry if he mistakes your cues for a trot; simply correct him with your seat and hands. Bring him back to a walk, and ask again for a more energetic walk. In time, and with consistent corrections, he'll understand what you mean.
Step #3. Keep the Pace.
Once you ask your horse to speed up, he should maintain that speed until you give him a new cue. Notice in Photo 3A that Goodnight's right hip is raised (note the fold in her vest on her right), but she isn't exaggerating her leg position as shown previously. Her horse is moving forward nicely as shown by his leg placement. Two of his hooves are on the ground, one is ready to step down and one is pushing off, showing that he's in constant motion and not walking slowly as in Photo 1A.
If you find yourself applying leg pressure with every step to keep your horse moving ahead, you're "pedaling" your horse. Goodnight notes that horses are trained to continue performing a task until they're told to do something new. If you're not getting any speed response from your horse after applying your leg aids, he's learned that he doesn't have to respond. There's no consequence to staying at the speed he chooses and he's being willfully disobedient. If he's been trained not to obey in this way, he might need a gentle spank with the reins or a crop.
Either of these artificial aids will simply reinforce your leg aid and train your horse to listen to a cue as soon as it's given. Use only the amount of pressure necessary to motivate your horse to try harder. A soft bump may be all the pressure required.
To reinforce your leg aid with reins, hold them in one hand, and pick up the tail with your other hand. After asking your horse to move forward with your leg cue and getting no response, gently flop the rein tail beside your right leg or toward his hindquarters (Photo 3B).
To reinforce your leg aid with a crop, simply carry the crop in your non-reining hand, and have it ready to bounce on your horse's barrel, right where your leg cued him. Start with the least amount of pressure, then escalate the pressure until you find the amount it takes to get a response. Don't continually use the reins in the same way if the pressure isn't causing an effect. Increase pressure until you see a result.
Important: Goodnight says she often sees riders pull back on the reins as they apply an artificial aid. You've asked your horse to speed up, so make sure that you don't pull on his mouth, giving mixed cues.
Once you're riding in rhythm with your horse, and he's responsive to your speed-up cues, you'll have a trail partner who can cover ground while you ride in comfort. Keep your hips swaying from side to side to feel your horse's rhythm, then apply leg pressure only when needed; your horse should come to the rhythm of your seat.
Once your horse knows the drill, you shouldn't have to exaggerate your leg movements or rely on further artificial aids to get the ground-covering walk you desire.
