need help!

[twinkle11]

when i am riding i always start with holding my reins fine about five strides in two trot they have got twice as long then i end up with arms everywhere trying to get them back to where i want to hold them (if that makes sense)please help i just want to be able to keep my reins. any suggestions or exercises i could to would be great thanks! :)

[stormchaser]

Have you got good gloves? They help with grip and you won't get tired hands so easily. Rubberised reins or reins with some grips help too.

[SA rider]

This is a really common one, don't worry it happens with everyone. My instructor would yell at me to `stop fiddling', which meant I was trying get my reins back after letting them out.
It just takes time really. I imagine my elbows glued to the front of my waist and really concentrate on maintaining a consistent contact and trying hard to use my body and legs to bend my horse rather than using my reins to do it. This seems to mean my hands are much quieter and then I stop fiddling and letting reins in and out.
At first it makes you a little bit rigid, but after a while, once you've got the `no fiddling' habit you can become more elastic.
Remember to use plenty of leg to move the horse forward into the contact that you are maintaining, then you won't have the problem of the horse constantly moving its head position, which doesn't help with the whole `fiddling' problem.

A separate tip is that you could put a plaiting band on each rein where you have contact, so you can see straight away if your hands have move away from them.

[Skib]

Gloves, yes definitely. But I think all riders find the reins need taking up from time to time - as you change gait or alter speed within a gait. I am taught to ride with my upper arms hanging straight down from my shoulders and the weight under my arms. So I may need to adjust my reins rather than stretch my arms forward.

My teacher taught me that to shorten reins up, you must never fiddle with one hand at a time or let go of either rein. To be sure not to lose hold of the rein, you must hold both reins in one hand, while you slide the other hand down. Then do the same again, taking the reins in the other hand to shorten the second rein.

If you practice this, you'll find it works well and you wont be so worried about your reins. And it can be used either for a definite readjustment. Or for surreptitious rein shortening out hacking, when you aim to control the horse's forwardness, without pulling on the rein and giving him pressure in the mouth to fight against.