Improve That Walk
How do you encourage your horse to walk out? By bumping with both your legs? That’s the norm in our Western disciplines— we use both legs at the same time, rhythmically, to urge our horses to extend the walk.
But there’s a better way. And it’s something you’ll want to learn in order to produce a winning ranch riding walk, extend the walk on request in a Western pleasure or horsemanship class, or just enjoy a nice day’s ride out on the trail.
The better way? To use your legs in an alternating pattern. Specifically, you cue with your right leg to influence your horse’s right hind leg, then with your left to influence his left hind. Timing is critical. I’ll explain that plus everything else you need to know to use this method to improve your horse’s walk.
How It Works
Using your legs in alternation enables you to target each of your horse’s hind legs individually, encouraging each to push off with more energy right at the point when it’s getting ready to engage. Correct timing is essential, because your horse can’t change the length of his stride while his leg is in the air, only when he’s pushing with it.
To put a fine point on it, it means you need to apply pressure with your right leg when your horse’s right hind leg has just landed on the ground and is about to push off.
How will you identify that point? By feel. When your horse’s right hind leg is in the best place to be influenced, you’ll feel your right leg swinging inward as it follows the inward movement of his barrel. That’s when to apply pressure with that leg, as if you’re trying to push his barrel to swing even a bit farther inward.
Then, with the next walking step, you’ll feel your left leg swing slightly inward and you’ll emphasize that swing with pressure from your left leg.
So you’re cueing right, left, right, left, in rhythm
Ranch riding events and pleasant trail rides call for a horse that walks out smartly. Learn how to use alternating legs to improve your horse’s walk.
with your horse’s walking stride.
Let’s use the photos to break it down.
Step 1: Average Walk
This photo shows an OK walk, but one lacking the kind of forward energy you’d want out on the trail or for an extension in a class. Note that my horse is a bit droopy, and his hind legs aren’t reaching forward the way that indicates he’s pushing off with oomph.
Step 2: The Fix
Here you can see the point at which I’m using my left leg to urge my horse’s left hind leg to push off with energy. I can feel when my left leg swings a little to the inside, and that’s when I reinforce that swing with my boot heel or spur.
That means I’ll be targeting that hind leg at exactly the right moment to increase his length of stride.
With the next step, I’ll remove my left leg and apply my right. I’ll continue like this, one leg on and one off, alternating the bumping, until the walk is as energetic as I need it to be.
Step 3: The Result
And see the difference here—my horse is really pushing off with his hind legs, and his overall frame shows energy and direction. This is a walk that will please a judge or carry you pleasantly down the trail.