Hands

[magicmouse]

Hello,

Every time that I have a riding lesson, my instructress yells, 'HANDS!' at me - but refuses to tell me what I'm doing with them! The only time she didn't yell at me I was riding with a ridiculously short contact, which Mouse hated and he kept bucking. How can I get her to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Whenever I ask, she just goes, 'Look at them and you'll see.':confused:

Also, what are the correct aids to canter on the right lead? It's Mouse's worse side, and I keep messing up the transition, so we end up on the wrong leg, disunited, or on the wrong leg AND disunited!

Sarah

[joosie]

When my instructor yells "Hands!" at me it is because I tend to turn them down rather than thumbs on top. She says if I was carrying mugs of tea it would be all over the horse :D
Next time she says it, take a look, and check if your thumbs are on top.
She may also mean that they are too low or too high, but I think it is probably the thumbs.

[magicmouse]

Thank you! I'll remember that next time that I ride, and get mum to check up on it.

Sarah

[Wally]

If an instructor yelled that at me I'd stop, turn in and ask what do you mean?

Yelling hands is NOT instructive.

[SupaTania]

When my instructor yells hands its because they are down by my crotch, rather then up by my belly button where they should be, at least for now...

sometimes she asks if I need a boyfriend, to take care of that problem for me :)

[Vicki&Milo]

Also, what are the correct aids to canter on the right lead? It's Mouse's worse side, and I keep messing up the transition, so we end up on the wrong leg, disunited, or on the wrong leg AND disunited!

Sarah

In sitting trot (which is obviously the same on either leg) you need to position slighty to the right (left shoulder slighty forwards, contact through right rein, support with left rein, right leg on the girth), obviously this is why a corner helps. Then you need to create impulsion with your right let on the girth, and use your left leg behind the girth to encourage mouse to strike off with the correct leg.
If you are continually getting the wrong lead, try a pole at 45 degrees across the corner and being firmer with your left leg. It's be worth lunging mouse to to see if he's the same then. If so, it might be a back problem which makes it difficult. If not, its more likely to be linked to your balance and aids.
Vicki xx

[Wally]

Right lead, on right rein, advance your right seat bone, try from walk, aply your inside leg, only at the girth while keeping the contact and bend with the reins.

[knockaroo]

I must say I find it worrying that your instructor shouts faults at you and fails to contructively explain or show you where you are going wrong, and then surely they should show you way's of correcting a fault, then once you have been shown it might be acceptable to remind you that you've slipped back into an old habit by using an assertive loud voice rather than just shouting at you.

[joosie]

I think she's just encouraging Sarah to think for herself! I would prefer an instructor like that to one who just told me what I was doing wrong without making me think about it first!

[nutterinnewquay]

Hiya, well first youre instructor should be telling you what you are doing wrong thats what we are there for, how else are you going to learn???Also there is no need to shout at you far enough if you were doing it all the time if you knew what youo were doing wrong but you dont.She could be shouting hands for many different reasons,youre hands should be up with thumbs on top,i tell my lot to keep there hands a fist distance from from the pommel and a fist distance apart,youre reins could keep slipping making them to long,you could keep shortening them or you may be over exsagerating(cant spell,not my best subject at school!)youre hand movement for example in canter pushing youre hands back and forth to much.There are so many things she could be getting at so i suggest you ask her to explain herself as that is her job!!!!! good luck let us know how you get on

[Rarah]

If you are paying the instructor then explain to her that you need her to spell it out to you (that's what I do with mine when she's being cryptic :rolleyes: ).

At the end of the day, she's working for you.