Invisible cues?

Question

I was just wondering if anyone had any tips to make cues more "invisible"? such as in horsemanship

Answer 1

you have to either be a natural or really good, and have to have a feel for the horse. then it will come.

Answer 2

shifting wieght, legs, *not suggesting spurs* and just when pulling on the reins, only moving your fingers, not pulling back visably with your hands.

Answer 3

Practice, practice, practice.  First, ask your horse to respond with an invisible cue first.  If he ignores you (he will, during the first few lessons), then ask with a stronger cue.  If you are teaching a new concept, be patient and make sure he understands what he is supposed to do.  Then, look for perfection.  Take backing as an example.  In the first lesson or two, ask with a light rein cue.  If he ignores you, step it up to a stronger rein cue.  If he keeps ignoring, keep increasing the pressure until he takes a step back, then immediatly release.  If he goes forward or sideways in response to your rein pressure, keep up the same intensity until he finds the right answer.  Once he understands what he is supposed to do, then look for more, faster steps.  Remember to ask with a very light cue first, even if you are sure he won't respond, then step up the pressure.  After a few million repetitions, he will respond to your invisible cues, and be lighter and more willing to boot.  Good luck!

Answer 4

in dressage they use movements that are so small you can't even see them. many of them are abdominal muscle movements or shifts of weight. the best way for your horse to be accustom to these is to practice them frequently. and also be consistent with your moves don't get your horse confused

Answer 5

Besides hours and hours of training...going from excessive and exaggerated cues...to smaller and smaller ones based on leg pressure, seat, and  slight movements of the hands...this is what I did...

I trained them on the ground to different sounds.  For example...

If I wanted a forehand turn...I would use a kissy sound.  For my horses...that means to move the butt and not the front.

Haunch turn...I made a zzzzt zzzzt sound.

Gaits had their own command also...

walk...waaaalk on

trot...trot [good for going into a trot from a stop immediately]

lope...hup [same as above]

stop...whoa

reverse...switch [good for teaching rollbacks]

These 'noise' commands from doing groundwork...transferred into the saddle.  I only had to introduce the rein, seat, and leg cues to go along with the noise.  Over time...using the cue more than the noise.  Working to where I didn't need the noise command at all.

Answer 6

You can begin with cues and reinforce them verbally, eventually, you won't be saying anything and your horse will almost seem to be reading your mind...sometimes, just a little grunt or tiny noise that your horse is used to hearing when it pertains to a cue (no one else can hear it) and he will know for sure what  you want of him...