Soft hands and relaxed wrists

[Bertie]

In my lesson this week, my instructor kept saying "realx your wrist and soften your hands" I don't know how I've got into this bad habit but am aware of that I lock my wrists when riding.

I tried so hard to keep soft wrist and hands throughout the lesson but did keep locking when not concentrating - what can do to stop this.

[Nikki Lou]

I find it really hard to think of relaxing my wrists so instead I try and think more about the feel I have on the reins trying to make it soft and relaxed.

Most instructors are very helpful if you ask them, they can show you what they mean. In fact mine loves me asking questions even if sometimes I feel a bit silly.
:D :)

[Bertie]

Thanks Nikki, I'm normally very aware if I seem to be too harsh on the mouth but last night the instructor (not normal one, as she was on holiday) kept saying shorten rein, realx wrist and soft hands. I wante dto talk to her after the lesson but she had another lesson straight after so couldn't I'm going out on a hack on Sunday morning so will see if I can grab her for a word then.

When I shortened I felt I was too harsh on my contact then and caused my horse to fight me and the bit alot.

[Maria]

Hi Bertie

Some people find it helpful to think of holding a baby bird in each fist. If you fix your wrist and clench your fists you'll squash the baby birds. But if you think of just closing your fingers to contain the birds it might help you to ease the unnecessary tension in your wrists etc.

[galadriel]

Hmm...I wonder if the stiffness you wer feeling originated in your elbow.

If she wanted you to shorten your reins, and then you felt like you were being too harsh, then you may have needed more give in your elbows. Your elbow is allowed to swing forward and back to follow the movement of the horse's head; a lot of people think that the elbow must remain fixed by the torso, with no give.

So when your reins are tight enough to have a bit of contact, your hands--from the elbow--must follow the horse's head. It's not a huge amount of movement, but it is noticeable.

When you do have that contact, in order to use the rein, squeeze your hand closed like squeezing a sponge. Rather than pulling back on the rein, just "sponge" repeatedly. And when you are not giving rein aids, hold firmly between thumb and forefinger, but relax slightly the other fingers.

[hometrotter]

Like Galadrial said, it's the elbows. If you can think of the elbows as being in charge of the reins and not the hands if may help your wrists to relax. It is very hard to clamp down on the reins with your hands and keep your wrists relaxed so, too, like Sally Swift says, hold the reins like you are holding two baby birds. It is best to practice at the walk too because the horse has more head bobbing, it is a slower gait and you can be relaxed.

http://home.netcom.com/~tdmt/hometrotter

[Hels]

Can't remember where I got it from (probably Sally Swift) but I find it useful to think of weights dangling down from my elbows. It make you relax your shoulders and arms.

[Bertie]

This week I had my usual instructor back and mentioned how I had a problems the previous week with wrists etc and asked to watch for this particu;ary.

I tried not to think about to much and tried to relax and have a natural hand position, she too mentioned to give slightly more with the elbow and she said my wrists weren't too bad this week and I hardly stiffened them up, hopefuly with a couple of more weeks I can get out of this bad habit before it really sets itself in stone.