How to Walk a Horse

Once you've mounted and adjusted your body to the proper form for riding, you are ready to ask your horse to walk. This is the simplest gait, but also one of the best for practicing new forms and commands. You also need to walk your horse during the warm up and cool down phases of training.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Give the correct signal. Trained horses know a multitude of signals based on what discipline they were trained in. However, the basic three signals that most riding horses understand are foot, weight and voice signals.
2. Use the foot signal. Exert a small amount of pressure on your horse's barrel using the back of your foot--this should be a very slight squeeze, not a kick.
3. Use the weight signal. This signal should be imperceptible to viewers on the ground. Very slightly shift your weight forward in the saddle. You may accompany this movement with a slight squeeze or movement of the thighs in the saddle.
4. Give a voice command. Many horses can recognize the word "walk," although this isn't good form is you are showing your horse.
5. Watch your form. The reins should be loose enough to give your horse's head room to move naturally. Your hips and body should naturally move with the horse, and you can achieve this by relaxing your seat into the saddle and making sure you're not too tense.

Tips & Warnings

• Never kick a horse to get it to move into a walk.