Hands!!!

[rossa]

Hi everyone

I'm just looking for some advice on hand position when riding. My instructor tells me to keep my hands up and together so i 'catch' the horse. Could anyone post a picture of a rider with their hands in the correct position so i can get an idea of how much i need to alter my own position, as i know i currently hold my hands too low. An d what exactly does she mean by 'catching' the horse?

Cheers

[Trewsers]

Hmm, don't quite know what she means by hands up - as my teacher always taught me to keep my hands low and so that I could stroke Storm's neck with my little finger - hence keeping them quiet and not pulling on her mouth. Am sure somebody on here will point you in the right direction though! :)

[Mary Poppins]

I always ride with my hands too high, especially in canter. My instructor told me that I should be able to touch my horses neck with my thumb at all time and that they should stay much stiller. By holding them high there is much more temptation to move them about and not keep a consistent contact.

[AllEquestrian]

im guilty of having my hands too low (see pic below). but in my opinion i think thats preferable to too high, but then again there is obv. an optimal place...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a34/helena88/varras062.jpg

[kedwards]

There should be a straight line from your elbow to the bit. If you extended your index finger, you'd be pointing straight at the horse's mouth. Most of the time this will mean your hands will be just above and in front of the withers, but they should follow the horse rather than being fixed.

[ponylover88]

...

[AllEquestrian]

ive been taught to ride with my hands with my thumb to the top (as if i was carrying 2 cups of coffee)

i heard somewhere or read somewhere that doing that forces your elbow by your side and makes your arm tense, so i dont do that on purpose. if you watch some of the top show jumpers, few of them will do that.

[ajhainey]

But a lot of dressage riders do go for thumbs on top still - it's a tidier way to ride if nothing else (no need to move elbow in and out to get flexion).

Theres not really anything wrong for the horse with keeping hands low (as far as I know) and it's often used when trying to encourage the horse to do something - but hands low pull YOU forward and really doesn't help with getting a nice balanced position and a good rein/elbow line - it's my biggest flaw (accorrding to my instructor anyway - I've no idea how she chooses between them myself :D ).

Depending on your build/horses build you'll need different heights but there is nothing wrong with overcompensating for while and keeping hands high - have someone take photos and I bet you'll be suprised how low they still are!

For some examples:

pretty low, but perfect for this horse/rider - check the rein/elbow line..http://www.mdallamore.f2s.com/Cae%20Iago%20II%202004/slides/Vicky&Jack.html

Similar height above wither but totally wrong for this horse/rider combo (too low)
http://www.mdallamore.f2s.com/Cae%20Iago%20II%202004/slides/EllieOnGemma.html

And one of me - too low as usual - see the 'break' at my wrist?
http://www.mdallamore.f2s.com/Cae%20Iago%20II%202004/slides/MeOnDobbin-PubRide.html

For the thumbs on top/to the side discussion - compare the first photo to this one http://www.mdallamore.f2s.com/Cae%20Iago%20II%202004/slides/VanessaOnMerlin-PubRide.html - you can see the 'break' again but this time it's caused by 'nessa having her hands in 'pram pushing' mode..

Hope they help - and if I'm wrong sorry! I'm not claiming to be an expert just happenned to have lots of photos handy!

aj xx

[Rojeth]

i used to ride a lot of schooly cobs, that would dag on the forehand. I had to keep my hands really high otherwise they would pull me forward. I was also always told that your elbow should be by your side and bent. you are tense when your elbow is straight, and this can pull you forwards. i was told to try ad rest your elbow on your hip or something.

i know thumbs should be upwards, but i dont always get that right.. it is easier when half halting if they are.

[SarahC]

As someone else has said, there should be a straight line from elbows to hands to bit. There should be a bend in the elbow, if your hands are too low, your arms will be straight and it will interupt the flow making your hands fixed and as a seperate entity to your body. Elbows should be by your side, but not resting on any part of you. Feel the weight into your elbow (this takes away any tenseness in the arms). There should be a flow from bit to hands to elbows and through your body so that you are not working in seperate sections and no part of you becomes rigid.

And yes, thumbs on top, but not like you are pouring cups of tea ie: thumbs pointing downards or with thumbs pointing upwards (again this interupts the flow). A straight, level line from your arm to the tip of your thumb.

S