What is the outside leg of a horse (the term used when riding)?

Question

I horseback ride but my previous riding instructors weren't certified or anything, so they just taught me and a couple other people and never instructed me about this stuff. I also just started taking lessons from another lady and she says my balance is way off. My first lesson we had to pretty much start from scratch because I was having a hard time telling the horse what to do, applying pressure, reins, etc. I like riding but feel discouraged about this, and of course it's hard to practice if she lives 45 min. away and is hardly available. I don't own or lease my own horse either that I could practice on (i'm only 15). Any comments would be appreciated! Thank you

Answer 1

Your outside leg is the leg closest to the fence or the outside of the arena. For example, if you are trotting clockwise around an arena, your outside leg would be your left.

And the best advice I can give to you is don't get discouraged. If your instructor sounds harsh, the best you can do is listen to and consider her corrections. About you being unbalanced: i was too for the LONGEST time. My first years riding was without an instructor, and I rode in a western saddle that kept my legs too far forward. When I got a new saddle, the habit stayed with me, and this is called muscle memory. Your previous riding instructors probably didn't correct you on your balance (since you said they weren't certified) and you developed a habit that may take a long time to correct. It took me forever to change how I sit on a horse and become more balanced, because of muscle memory. Keep taking lessons, though, and you'll correct it in time.

Take it slow with everything else. You want to develop the RIGHT muscle memory rather than the WRONG muscle memory, and your instructor can help with that. Applying pressure and reins will come with time. And don't worry I live 30 minutes away from my barn too so we're kinda in the same boat. If riding horses is truly a dream you want to fulfill, strive for it!

Answer 2

an precise turn comes maximum from the legs and physique, no longer the bit. to coach throughout the time of the middle of the hoop, you will flow your exterior leg a tiny bit decrease back and carry on with rigidity, yet save a small quantity of rigidity on the girth with the interior leg. this would inspire the pony to bend around your leg, as adversarial to making a leg yield. Open your interior shoulder, and permit your hand to stay with. in no way carry your quit the pony's neck to ask for a turn, a action like that would purely be used on runaways for emergency combating because it particularly is harsh. and in no way forget, do no longer drop touch with the exterior rein or you are able to run in to a plenty sharper turn than you have been awaiting!

Answer 3

You have to get the horse on the correct lead leg. The lead is always to the inside of the ring. If you are going clockwise, the right leg is the lead , and if your are going counter-clockwise the left leg is the lead. A good horse will learn this on their own. You may have to help an inexperienced horse to find the right lead. Leaning to the correct side as you start them forward may help. If this doesn't work, stop them, and start them again.

Answer 4

The outside leg is the leg on the outside of the arena. Other than that the above answer is correct

Answer 5

The leg closest to the outside/ fence of the arena.

Answer 6

the two answers above me are correct