Want to ride like the pros? Then you need more than hands—you need your whole body working in harmony with your horse.

Riders who rely only on their reins often end up with stiff, frustrated horses. But riders who steer with their seat, legs, and eyes build better communication—and better results. In this post, you’ll learn how to guide your horse more effectively using subtle body cues.

🔁 Why Body-Based Steering Works

Your horse can feel a fly land on their skin—so they can definitely feel your shoulder twist or a leg press. Steering with your whole body helps you:

• Stay more balanced

• Give clearer, gentler cues

• Keep your horse softer and straighter

• Ride with more flow and confidence

🧭 Step-by-Step: How to Steer With Your Body

1. Start With Your Eyes
Look where you want to go, not at your horse or the ground. Your body follows your gaze—and so does your horse.

2. Turn Your Shoulders
Your upper body should align with the direction of the turn. If you're turning left, your left shoulder leads the motion.

3. Use Inside Rein Gently
Think of your inside rein as “guiding,” not pulling. Slightly open the rein to suggest direction, not yank the horse’s head.

4. Add Your Inside Leg
Press gently at the girth with your inside leg to encourage bend and forward movement through the turn.

5. Support With Outside Aids
Your outside leg stays back slightly to support the hindquarters, and your outside rein helps maintain balance.

🧠 Try This Exercise: The Cone Weave

Setup:

• Place 4–6 cones in a straight line, spaced 3–5 meters apart.

Drill:

• Walk through the cones using only your eyes, seat, and legs. Keep your hands steady and quiet.

• When comfortable, try at the trot.

🎯 Challenge: Can you weave through all the cones with one hand holding the reins?

💡 Tips for Success

• Think "lead with your body, not your hands."

• Keep your seat soft and centered.

• Practice riding patterns—circles, serpentines, figure-eights—to build feel.

• Praise your horse when they follow your cues without resistance.

🎁 Want a Visual Aid?

Download our Beginner Riding Skills Poster or get the full Flatwork Basics Guide from The Digital Stable to support your progress with diagrams, rider checklists, and challenges.