Excellent excellent point, Robyn If someone were to borow Hunter (TWH) I would warn them not to bump him with their legs. If someone had borrowed Moony, the late great three day horse, I would have issued the same warning. A leg bump, or even a clenching of the calf muscle, means something.
If someone kicked Hunter, he'd land on the moon. I don't think I have ever actually even thumped him with my leg. I do like to put a leg on him to bend him around trees on a narow wooded trail and I move him sideways across a log road with a leg, but legs are for cues, not for holding on with. That said, I watch an adult daughter riding her very hot Anglo Arab mare (Seattle Slew grandaughter) and her legs are always resting against the mare's sides. It works - Meridian knows that when Abby asks her for something, the legs apply more pressure. Nancy
