The McPhail Chair Report #11 Published in Dressage TODAY, August 1999   Characterizing the Aids   Think about ballroom dancing. The gentleman is responsible for determining the speed, direction and movements to be performed, and for conveying his wishes to his partner. The lady is expected to interpret the leads correctly and respond appropriately without hesitation or resistance. The end result is a flowing performance in which the partners communicate invisibly and move as one. Now substitute the words dressage for ballroom dancing, rider for gentleman and horse for lady. The parallels are obvious. Riders who have tried to follow an inept partner's leads across the dance floor can undoubtedly sympathize with the confusion their horses experience when they misinterpret an aid. As the follower in a dancing partnership, it's interesting to experience the range of strength and clarity of the leads from different partners: sometimes the leads are so wimpy it's anybody's guess what's wanted, while other leads are so strong, it feels like being manhandled across the floor. Dancing or riding, the requirements are the same: we need a non-verbal communication system that's clear and consistent. Even when such a communication system is present, differences between individuals will still exist. How one rider interprets a squeeze at the girth or a soft contact on the rein might be quite different from how another rider interprets it. I've often wondered how horses cope with the variation between riders. Usually, our system of aids is sufficiently consistent for an experienced rider to move easily from horse to horse with only minor adjustments. Similarly, an experienced school horse can interpret the signals from an unbalanced and inco-ordinated novice rider. One of the intriguing aspects of the science of dressage is to learn more about the aids and how they are used. How similar are the aids between riders? How does the timing of the aids differ between riders of different levels of ability, and how does this affect the horse's response? What exactly is a half halt? One of the proposed areas of research for the McPhail dressage program will be to develop the technology to measure the strength and timing of the aids. This will involve the use of special sensors to quantify the tension in each rein and the pressure beneath the rider's seat bones, thighs and calves. After the techniques have been developed, they will be applied both in our research studies and as a practical tool for helping riders and coaches. Initially, simple measurements will be made to quantify the aids and the differences between riders and horses. Some examples of the potential applications are as follows: Riders are often asked how much weight they have in each rein. This study will allow us to measure the amount of weight in each rein and to give the rider an opportunity to learn the difference in feel between different amounts of weight. The ability to stay balanced in the center of the horse is a definite asset when riding the movements. By measuring the pressure beneath each seat bone and the location of the seat bones relative to the saddle, we'll be able to take the guesswork out of this and to monitor the effect of the rider's corrections. One of the challenges for a rider that's sometimes difficult for the coach to evaluate from the ground is the ability to use the aids on the left and right sides of the body independently. We'll be able to see whether a rider can give an aid with one leg without automatically tightening the other leg. In a research setting, the ability to measure the rider's communication patterns and to relate these to the horse's responses have many applications. It will be possible explore the strength and timing of the aids, making comparisons between different riders on the same horse and between the same rider on different horses. Looking beyond the research applications, the ultimate goal is to develop a tool that can be applied in a practical manner to help riders to improve their communication with their horses. The ability to provide immediate feedback will make it a great teaching and learning tool. We are currently seeking funding to allow this project to move ahead. If you, or your organization, is interested in making a donation targeted to this study, please contact me at the address below. Tax receipts will be issued for all donations to the McPhail dressage program.   The graduate student working on this project is Wesley Singleton. Wes grew up in Spain where he competed in the Grand Prix jumper ring, though currently he spends most of his riding time in a dressage saddle. Wes did his undergraduate degree at Lake Erie College, after which he returned to Europe to work as a rider and coach in Spain and Germany. He is currently registered in an MSc program at Michigan State University. His research is directed toward developing the use of scientific techniques into practical tools for coaches.   Published with permission from Dressage TODAY magazine.