Between leg and hand

[Stella2]

Can someone explain this term and then tell me how its done?!

Thanks,

Ann

[ros]

I understand it to mean that the horse is light and balanced, attentive, and ready (physically and mentally) to respond to whatever aid you give him. It's intrinsically linked to being "on the bit". Someone else will explain it better.

As for how you do it - oh dear! It happens when everything's going swimmingly and you
and your horse are floating along happily in tune and the birds are singing... Help, someone!

[Stella2]

What I have in mind is that 'between (eg) inside leg and outside hand'!

Ann

[Mehitabel]

this means that you're using your inside leg to create impulsion by asking the inside hind leg to come up and under the body, which gives a longer stride with the hind legs, and so drops the back end and lightens the forehand. you then contain this with a contact on the outside rein which stops the horse falling out through the outside shoulder.
if a horse isn't responding to light leg aids, it's sometimes described as being behind the leg, and if it's ignoring rein aids and going round like a camel, it's called above the bit/hand. so being between the leg and hand means going nicely off the leg but not shooting off and ignoring rein commands.

[Stella2]

Es, great explanation.

thanks

Ann