Getting in time at the walk means applying rein and leg aids at the exact moment the horse's hoof is coming off the ground and free to move, as when it is on the ground, the horse is unable to respond to an aid to move that hoof. Below we break down exactly how to time your aids to influence specific hooves at the walk, so you can build the foundation for effortless communication with your horse. Timing your aids correctly at the walk allows you to influence individual hoof movements, leading to precise and effortless communication with your horse.  When you understand when to apply an aid, you can: Create a more active walk Guide the horse's movement with precision Improve responsiveness in turns and lateral movements The key rule to remember:  You can only influence a hoof that is off the ground! Note: Make sure to read our article Timing and feel: The key to effective horse training to understand the WHY behind practicing good timing.  Now, let's dive into the HOW. F...

Timing and feel are the two concepts every rider needs for effortless communication with a horse: timing is knowing the precise moment a horse can respond to an aid, and feel is the subconscious ability to apply that timing. The good news is that timing can be learned through practice, and feel develops naturally once good timing becomes automatic. Below we explore preparation, footfall awareness, the power of the release, and how feel develops over time, so you can understand the "why" behind effective horse training. Why are timing and feel so important? To answer this question, we'll be exploring the following areas of communicating with horses: Preparation Footfall awareness The power of the release Developing feel Preparation A horse must be mentally and physically prepared for a request before the cue is given. If a horse is distracted, the request will be ineffective - like asking a student a question while they're daydreaming in class. Example:  A rider prepar...