That darned outside rein!

[Tootsie4U]

I hear it in my sleep - my instructor yelling at me "outside rein! outside rein!" Its always been something I just cant seem to get a grasp on *pun intended* Either Im throwing it away, or I find it lengthening.

Does anyone have any good tips or exercises for me to use? Much appreciated

[Mehitabel]

how about a bit of tape wrapped round it roughly where you're meant to hold it - or 2 bits with 1 where you have it at its longest and the other at its shortest. then you can occasionally glance down and check you're not sliding and identify when you are.

[CityGirl]

Oh Es - what a brill idea. I actually have the opposite problem & find myself shortening too much coming up to the jump. This may be just what doctor ordered.
Hmm... think the school will mind me putting bright coloured tape on their reins??:D

[Tootsie4U]

OOOhhhhh - on the reins.... :rolleyes: I was thinking you meant to put it on my elbow! :rolleyes: Sometimes, I swear... :rolleyes:

So what would you do with a collapsing shoulder? - mine first, his later. Thats more of my problem. I give too much with the angle of my upper half. If I try to remember to hold my shoulder back, it makes my body stiff and rigid.

:rolleyes:

[Mehitabel]

:D been a long day, has it? ;)

does it collapse in and forward? think about lengthening the ribcage on that side. it might be a twist somewhere - do you see a chiropractor or similar? if it's just a bad habit, then try making a mental note to remind yourself about it at certain points in the school - to begin with, for example, A, C, B and E. then when you're consistently not collapsing round 1/4 of the school, just remind yourself at A and C, then just A, and hopefully by then you'll have retrained yourself. i am doing this at the minute for my collapsing and it is working slowly...

do you do it sitting on a chair or walking? it is your mouse arm that stretches too far forward? if you can also try to retrain yourself off the horse it will get easier.

[TBEventer2002]

Oh, I can't remember a single lesson with my previous trainer when she didn't yell, OUTSIDE REIN! LOL I had a horrible habit of bringing my elbow forward. I ended up having to carry a large bottle between my elbow and side to keep me from letting my hand drift forward. ;)

[Lucas]

If visualization works for you, try to imagine that you have a big rubber band attaching your outside elbow to your body. That worked to help me anchor my elbow to my side without getting tense.

[kedwards]

I also find that exercises like spiraling in and out on a circle help to entrench the inside-leg to outside rein feel.

[virtuallyhorses]

Have you tried riding with only your outside rein? Its one of those exercises from hell that are great! Begin with the simplest one which is spiraling out - flex the horse correctly then drop the inside rein and ride the spiral out on the outside rein.

Then move onto riding circles at the trot (20m first) , flex your horse inside then drop the inside rein completely and ride the rest of the circle - repeat until you can ride entire circles with your horse on the track , correctly flexed on only the outside rein.

move up to canter and walk (which is the hardest) on various circles - remember to do both sides.

[entreat]

You could try coordination excersises off the horse like drawing a star on some paper with your right hand, then do one with you left & compare them (I've been doing this for 2 days - damn funny!). Repeat the excersises with all sorts of patterns and words, etc. Also bounce a ball with your right hand, and then your left. Make little goals for your self like "ten proper bounces without nuffing it up", that way you can judge how your weak side coorindation is going.

Combine with what everyone else has suggested, and you may just have this problem licked!

-Jenn

[sallym]

What worked for me was to think "inside leg to outside rein" and it just sort of fell into place.

[Dizzy]

Toostie, try this experiment. You'll need a friend to help.

Get 2 lengths of string and tie them around your thumbs, have your friend hold them as riens and hold your thumbs out in front of you. Your thumbs are each end of the bit, walk forward, close your eyes, and respond only to the rien pressure.

Don't walk into any restriction and fill a slack rien by advancing your thumb and turn in that direction.

Once you've felt what rien contact feels like, swap places. Hold your 'riens' correctly, and don't allow your hands to pull back, keep your elbows beside your hips.