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Think of your cues as communication rather than pushing mechanical buttons.
The pressure needed to press a mechanical button is dependent on the resistance the button provides. For example: Is a weak spring holding the button in the neutral position or is a strong spring employed. It is somewhat understandable than people may think a similar situation occurs with horses depending on what the horse is accustomed to feeling.
Thinking of cues as a means of communication calls for a different way of thinking. Every rider's cues are somewhat different even if applied in approximately the same place. Mitigating factors may include the length of the rider's legs, the circumference of various leg parts, muscle strength, etc. These differences may be thought of as different accents or dialects even if the same approximate word is being employed.
An old television commercial said: "If you want someone's attention, whisper." The meaning was that one didn't need to shout (use a great deal of force) to get a point across.
The less intensity is employed, the easier it is to make distinctions or subtle differences. Timing of cues can also make a big difference. For example, a horse's foot can only move when it is off the ground. Therefore, applying the cue as the foot is coming off the ground generally proves more beneficial than when the foot is firmly planted on the ground. Of course it takes time for cues to transform from a thought to muscular action, so timing may be thought to vary.
Again, thinking of communication, the respondent may not understand the "word" being use, so another similar word may need to be employed. "Listening" to how the horse responds should tell you if you need to try a different "word".
The pressure needed to press a mechanical button is dependent on the resistance the button provides. For example: Is a weak spring holding the button in the neutral position or is a strong spring employed. It is somewhat understandable than people may think a similar situation occurs with horses depending on what the horse is accustomed to feeling.
Thinking of cues as a means of communication calls for a different way of thinking. Every rider's cues are somewhat different even if applied in approximately the same place. Mitigating factors may include the length of the rider's legs, the circumference of various leg parts, muscle strength, etc. These differences may be thought of as different accents or dialects even if the same approximate word is being employed.
An old television commercial said: "If you want someone's attention, whisper." The meaning was that one didn't need to shout (use a great deal of force) to get a point across.
The less intensity is employed, the easier it is to make distinctions or subtle differences. Timing of cues can also make a big difference. For example, a horse's foot can only move when it is off the ground. Therefore, applying the cue as the foot is coming off the ground generally proves more beneficial than when the foot is firmly planted on the ground. Of course it takes time for cues to transform from a thought to muscular action, so timing may be thought to vary.
Again, thinking of communication, the respondent may not understand the "word" being use, so another similar word may need to be employed. "Listening" to how the horse responds should tell you if you need to try a different "word".
