Artificial Aids

Artificial aids…what are they? How should they be used? Are they humane?

There are so many thoughts and opinions in the world about artificial aids. Some people believe they are a necessity for an obedient horse. Others think they are inherently cruel. Many believe that they are used for punishment or reinforcement or that they are only needed for naughty or lazy horses. Often these preconceived beliefs about morality surrounding artificial aids gets in the way of their effective use. My mission today is to open your mind to the many effective and humane uses for these tools.

What are artificial aids?

Artificial aids are are communication tools that are not already part of our body. The first things that might pop into your mind are whips and spurs. Martingales, side reins, training clickers, lunge lines, and training halters can all be considered artificial aids as well. Some of these items might evoke a reaction from you, either positive or negative. But the fact is, they are all tools that can be used for good or bad.

Natural aids, however, include leg, hand, seat, voice, or even breath. These are the aids that are part of your body. If you were to ride with no equipment, this is what you would be left with. These, too, can be used for good or bad.

Are they humane?

The first myth about artificial aids I want to dispel is that they are inherently bad or good. They are simple tools, and tools on their own are not moral or immoral. It is the way they are used that makes them good or bad, effective or ineffective. A harsh hand can be just as damaging to a horse as an improperly used spur. A poor seat can hurt a horse as badly as a poorly used training halter.

The second myth about artificial aids, especially whips and spurs, is that they are used to punish a horse for not listening to the natural aid. You put your leg on, the horse doesn’t go forward, you use the whip or spur. This also does not have to be true.

How should they be used?

From now on, I want you to think of your whip, spur, or any other device you may use (ear plugs, training fork, martingale…) as a communication tool to more clearly articulate to your horse what you want them to do. They are not there to force an outcome, punish your horse, or be stronger. They simply exist to open up lines of communication that you don’t have with your body alone.

For example, your leg itself is rather large and blunt. In the best of cases, it can squeeze or kick with some accuracy, but is only as strong or precise as you are. In the worst of cases, it bounces around, grips the horse for balance, or kicks with every step. Now adding a spur may not solve a bouncing leg, but it may help a rider who grips because they lack physical strength, as they are now free to use their leg to balance properly rather than wrapping it around the horse all of the time. A spur can also help an already quiet leg to give a more targeted cue to a horse, putting pressure in exactly the right place to elicit a response, rather than the large, blunt leg which puts pressure over a large surface area.

We can also talk about whips in the same way. Rather than thinking of a whip as something to intimidate a horse or force them to work, let’s think of it as a way to add pressure to body parts that we can’t reach with our legs or hands while sitting squarely in the saddle. A well used whip can communicate to horse whether we want their hind end, rip cage, or shoulder to move off of our leg pressure. A skilled rider can ask with their leg and seat first, and then use the whip to make the message clear to the horse by tapping them on the bum to say “tuck this under” or on the rip cage to say “move off my leg here.”

A properly utilized artificial aid can be used to help the most elite performance horses to do their job better, a trail horse learn to place feet correctly on a rocky trail, or a liberty horse understand body language cues.

No horse should be afraid of an artificial aid. They should not be exploited to force a result from a horse. Instead, think of these aids as a way to send a clear signal to your horse so that they know exactly what it is you are hoping they will do. If you are able to get a desired result with natural aids alone, more power to you! But don’t let stigma around artificial aids deter you from using them as a tool to help your horse understand you.