No.
Hint #1: If you can't keep your lower leg still and quiet, remove the spurs until you can. Spurs are a tool for experienced riders only.
Hint #2: Really, the only use for draw reins is for very short periods with a very experienced rider to fix an upside-down neck musculature caused by going incorrectly. Even then, the good riders I know don't use them and don't allow them to be used on their horses. In this case, even though the draw reins are in the "mild" side position rather than the severe "down" (between the legs), the rider is using the draw reins as well as the regular reins to cue the horse because nobody has actually taught her how to ride with two reins.
In other words, no, the horse isn't crazy - the rider is using equipment she is not ready to use. I blame...the instructor (Well, there's somebody standing in the ring watching her, anyway, that I assume is an instructor).
He looks explosive, probably from plodding around the arena in tight draw reins for way too long.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think that the rider is not ready to be using either spurs or draw reins. She has probably been told to do so by the instructor. The horse is being told go and stop at the same time. A non-reactive horse given this conflict will just stand there (You see it all the time with string horses when the beginner is clinging to the reins, kicking it in the ribs, and asking "Why won't the horse go?"). A reactive horse will go the only direction allowed to go. Up.
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