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Elite Veteran
Posts: 682
  
Location: Northwest | I'm naturally a very quiet rider. In all actuality, I do better on a free runner but right now I'm on a ratey guy. How do you learn to ride more aggressively? I kick but "not hard enough" or "not enough". Is it all mental? Are there rider "drills" / tricks etc etc? I NEED HELP! |
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  Independent Cuss
Posts: 3977
 
Location: Dearing, GA | I need help too! I can hustle home, but I need help between the barrels! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I have found that it is not about kicking harder or more but "sending them the energy" so to speak. I am not great at it but have observed my girls drive with their seat and hips, lots of smooching, sometimes a pop with a quirt between barrels. Their best runs were where they stayed quiet but drove them hard at the same time. It was also important to look past the barrel to get them by it while driving all, the way to your spot. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Get a loud friend. |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Nita - 2016-11-29 6:37 AM Get a loud friend.
This ^  |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | From my own experience, either you can ride a push style or you can't. I went from a free runner to a push style. Had a horrible time trying to click with him and finally decided to sell to get something that suits my style more. |
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 Zeal Queen
Posts: 3826
Location: TEXAS | It may sound crazy but I became a much more aggressive rider when I switched to a treeless saddle. There's just something about them that has made me more aggressive....I think my comfort level in them. They really hold you and hug you! I feel more secure in mine
Edited by slacy09 2016-11-29 8:15 AM
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Member
Posts: 20
| I have the same problem. I've been told lots of slow work on the pattern and drills to get your muscle memory in check and so both you and your horse are comfortable with what you are doing. Also, do things that scare you a little like breeze your horse across a (safe) field - I'm still not as aggressive as I should be on my ratey horse but I would always be scared to run her anywhere but the arena. So becoming more confident as a rider at home first helps, if that makes sense!
Also following for any other tips! Those ratey horses are tricky buggers to ride sometimes! |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Paige Hauf - 2016-11-29 8:41 AM
I have the same problem. I've been told lots of slow work on the pattern and drills to get your muscle memory in check and so both you and your horse are comfortable with what you are doing. Also, do things that scare you a little like breeze your horse across a (safe) field - I'm still not as aggressive as I should be on my ratey horse but I would always be scared to run her anywhere but the arena. So becoming more confident as a rider at home first helps, if that makes sense!
Also following for any other tips! Those ratey horses are tricky buggers to ride sometimes!
I agree with this and it's really helped me.
What happens when you don't drive him, just slow? Hit barrels?
On mine we hit, a lot. A good clinic with Chris Martin and identifying the way to fix that went a long way, then I had to figure out where my spot was regardless of the arena and ride to it, in slow work, in warm ups, and in runs. Once I was confident I could get that accomplished being more aggressive started to get easier when I wasn't fretting about the rest of it.
Breezing helped too, knowing what he felt like when he was really cranking, I also try to breeze them before I go in to run, like a couple drags out. Seems to help flip the go switch and free them up.
ETA: when it comes to aggressive riders on push style horses I really like Sarah Rose McDonald on Bling. She drives that mare with every ounce of her being, but maintains a stable base through her seat and thighs for the most part. I dislike seeing air between the thigh and seat, I just feel like every time you come down on your horses back like that it must take their breath for a moment, plus if they move while you're in the air, you come down off balance potentially. Not saying everyone doesn't get launched at some point, lord knows I struggle to stay with my big horse when he gets with it, but I wouldn't aspire personally to make that a part of your style. I'm not sure Sarah so much kicks hard as she just HUSSLES every single step.
Edited by OhMax 2016-11-29 10:13 AM
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Nita - 2016-11-29 6:37 AM Get a loud friend.
Best answer ever |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Watch the NFR girls. Especially Sherry Cervi. She hustles the whole **** way. I remember watching the NFR one year and it REALLY dawned on me how much they were hustling. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I agree with the bbs.....kicking isnt really being an aggressive rider all.it does is knock the wind out of your horse....keeping things forward and get off your arse...:)...m |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| I have the opposite problem, when I switched to a free runner when my main mount was lame I hustled him way too hard and we blew barrels. Before I run I just think about how every thousandth of a second counts, and focus on hustling. I don't kick the wind out of one, and I rarely use a whip, but I can one to hustle. I think the run to first barrel is a major key, the girls who don't ride HARD to first usually lost alot of time there, it also tells your horse you mean business. If you have a ratey horse, look deep into your pocket and drive your horse forward with your body energy, I use my arms alot and I know some people don't do that but it really works for me. I would reccommend breezing and doing drills at home to hustle and get your horse sharp, focus on getting them responsive to your body language. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Idaho | I am a pretty quiet rider, I rarely ever wear spurs even though I do on my current horse only because I desensitized him as a baby to a point where if you don't have spurs, he is completely oblivious to any leg cues lol It was a rooky mistake on my part lol
But I always carry a quirt when I'm running, drive with my seat and squeeze with my legs. I ride push style horses, I just can't handle free runners. But you just need to keep on driving them with your body. I use a quirt before I turn to run to the first barrel, and sometimes are the 2nd and running home. But I do it so I'm not beating them, usually one or two pops and they will get the point. No need to keep popping if they are running for you :)
Edited by DashNDustem 2016-11-29 12:29 PM
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