Reins in 2-point (jumping) position?

[Scarlett 001]

Hello all,

This is a followup question that arose out of my thread on how to shorten reins. Within that thread, I got confused regarding the issue of whether or not I am supposed to shorten the reins for 2-point position. I had thought so, but there was some indication this may not be the case.

I want to start a new thread to explicitly address rein position for 2-point position. Should I shorten the reins? And if so, by how much? How far up the horses neck should my hands be?

Thanks! :)

[SwiftwindSpirit]

I don't think you're actually supposed to shorted your reins when you go in to 2-point position. Just keep them the same length as when you are in the normal riding position. Otherwise, if you shortened your rein every time you went into 2-point you'd be forever shortening and lengthening your reins. However, I could be wrong..

[IrisSilverMoon]

YOu do have to shorten your reins. Of course this depends on where your hands are going to be over the fence. You will have to shorten them a lot for a short crest release with the hands half way up the neck of the horse, alternately if its a long crest release you wouldn't have to shorten them so much because your hands are farther down the neck.

The way to tell if you need to shorten is if there is any sag in the reins, they shoudlnt' be tight, but they shouldnt' be floppy either, if they are floppy its a lot easier for the horse to decide he doesn't care what you say and go ahead and do what he wants. So if you can feel the horses mouth you are fine.

Of course another thing to remember is that over the fance you'll have to give some rein as well when your horse bascules to avoid hitting him in the mouth, as you come down you can sit and shorten your reins again to prepare for the next fence. So essentially you are shortening your reins a lot during a jump course.

[Scarlett 001]

Thanks IrisSilverMoon. Your answer helps.

Right now I am just going into 2-point position to practice the position and am not actually jumping (I have jumped in the past but not yet with my new instructor). So it seems to me as if it would be a useful exercise to practice shortening the reins by varying amounts so I get used to the feel of shortening either a little or a lot - that way I will have this shortening of reins thing sorted out by the time I start jumping and can readily adjust the rein length according to the situation.

Thanks!

[Scarlett 001]

Originally posted by IrisSilverMoon
You will have to shorten them a lot for a short crest release with the hands half way up the neck of the horse, alternately if its a long crest release you wouldn't have to shorten them so much because your hands are farther down the neck.


Me again. Meant to ask this in my last post but forgot - when do you use a short crest release vs. a long crest release? Is this to do with the height of the jump?

[IrisSilverMoon]

I think its just what you personally like...I usually use an automatic release where you have a straight line from the elbow to the bit, short and long releases breaks that line. Automatic release is a little harder (supposedly, i started out with an automatic release), and something you're supposed to use once you've been jumping for awhile. When you start jumping I expect your instructor will let you know how to do each release properly and which one she would prefer you use.

[arabluvver]

I had the same question...so I watched the better riders in my group lesson. It seems to me that you ride up to the jump with shorter reins to begin with, then release with those, or else you would be busy shortening your reins while preparing for the jump-not good. But yes, you do have to shorten your reins-if you reach up for a big release without short reins you just 'drop' the horse (the sudden slack in the reins) just as they need the extra guidance (and do not need the added confusion/surprise from suddenly slack reins). Hope that helps a bit!! :p
PS As to how far up the neck, my instructor always told us halfway up the neck, but I'm not a big fan of her.

[IrisSilverMoon]

this is probably better than describing...

long crest release...

http://www.horsecity.com/images/062602/longcrestrelLR.jpg

short crest release...

http://www.catchride.com/judge/judge/july/img173.gif

automatic crest release...

http://www.rediff.com/sports/pix/eventsho.jpg

[SwiftwindSpirit]

Sorry, I think when I typed my answer above, I didn't really understand what you were talking about (also, I think it was pretty late). I think I was trying to get on the same track as Arabluvver. You are mainly only in 2-point position when you go over the jump, so of course you'd have your reins shorter in advance, and not actually shortening your reins the second you get into the 2-point position.

You would have shorter reins while going over the jump in your 2-point position, but you must either do a short crest release or a long crest release so you do not pull the horse in the mouth with the riens, and so you do not restrict him from properly jumping over the fence.

[kedwards]

I agree with Swiftwind, adjust your rein length to begin with, then give and take over the jumps with your release. This holds true whether it's a crest or automatic release, as the whole point of the release is to give the horse room to stretch.

That said, there may be times when you need to slip the rein, in which case you will need to gather them back up as you rebalance after the jump.