Very unsteady hands

[EventPony]

When I ride, I cant seem to keep my hands independent from my body. They move as much as my legs!! I try to keep them still and i cant! how can I keep them still? thanks!

[heland]

Have you tried threading a length of bale twine through the D Rings of your saddle.

This seemed to help a person who was riding at my last yard. When you have the reins in your hands, just lightly hold the twine with you little fingers.

Hope this helps..

[Mehitabel]

put a neckstrap on your pony, and keep yur little fingers tucked under it when you ride. this will make you much more aware of what your hands are doing, and make you keep your reins short enough that you can guide the pony with very subtle rein aids. another good exercise is to balance a whip across your wrists and concentrate on keeping it there.

[kedwards]

You might want to ask your instructor for her opinion. If it's a matter of your seat not yet being secure or steady, than it may be more effective to work on that first. If your seat is fairly steady, and it's really just your hands, then ideas like have been suggested her might help. One of my instructors would have us ride with our pinkies touching the cantle. To do that, your hands need to be a little lower than you might otherwise want them, but it does really make you focus on keeping them steady.

[Wally]

Kedwards, surely you mean pommel! to get your fingers to touch the cantle you need your hands behind your back!

It's all down to moving with your horse, you need to know from scratch how to move with the horse, the moment you do your hands and legs will stop waggling about. Get Heather's book, start from there.

[kedwards]

Oh my, I'm more certain everyday that I'm getting presenile dementia. Thanks for the correction Wally, I did indeed mean pommel.