Vocal cues: kissing and/or clucking etc
What are some people’s thoughts on kissing or clucking at your horse for transitions? How about saying “walk, trot, canter” out loud? Or does it not even matter?
If no vocal cues then, how should you communicate with your horse while longing- Or is it okay to "talk" in this case?
I’ve just started riding lessons a couple months ago and want to form the right habits from the beginning so in the future I don’t end up having to correct/gag myself. I know some people are adamantly against it, which makes sense for things like dressage competitions but I’ve read comments about whole barns of lesson horses that respond to just kissing or clucking or both. So I’m pretty confused about what is right or if there is even a right way to do it. My personal opinion is leg/rein cues first with limited/minimal vocal cues… but then again I’m the newbie :P
UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the great comments so far- lots of good food for thought! I’m interested in doing endurance so vocal cues don’t matter a huge deal out on the trail of course but I guess the idea of seamless communication with good, solid quiet riding is a goal that I’d love to achieve.
If no vocal cues then, how should you communicate with your horse while longing- Or is it okay to "talk" in this case?
I’ve just started riding lessons a couple months ago and want to form the right habits from the beginning so in the future I don’t end up having to correct/gag myself. I know some people are adamantly against it, which makes sense for things like dressage competitions but I’ve read comments about whole barns of lesson horses that respond to just kissing or clucking or both. So I’m pretty confused about what is right or if there is even a right way to do it. My personal opinion is leg/rein cues first with limited/minimal vocal cues… but then again I’m the newbie :P
UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the great comments so far- lots of good food for thought! I’m interested in doing endurance so vocal cues don’t matter a huge deal out on the trail of course but I guess the idea of seamless communication with good, solid quiet riding is a goal that I’d love to achieve.