Finally...

Venus · #1 5th Oct 2002, 03:29 PM

got my hands on a copy of Enlightened Equitation. I had a hard time finding it in Canada and it was almost like fate when I walked into the tack shop last night to pay for my practice ride and saw the owner putting a copy on the shelf!!

I was up till 1:30 last night reading and have already made it to chapter 7! LOL Thank you Heather for providing such an easy read and explaining things in such a way that the ACTUALLY make sense!

My coach really is great but it is nice to read a book when you are nowhere in the vicinity of a barn or horse and soak it all in without a million other distractions and things to think about. My only complaint is that it seems tooo short! LOL

I do have a question...it is with regards to holding the reins. In chapter 5 in the sections on hand aids, the picture shows the reins being held around the outside of the pinky and up through the thumb and first finger. I have been taught that the "correct" way to hold the reins was to have the rein go through the pinky and the ring finger and up through the thumb and first finger. (my god that reads funny). Are the reins being held like this in the picture because it is a double rein?? or is that still the way you would recomend holding a single rein?

I hope that makes some sense! LOL

Venus · #2 5th Oct 2002, 03:31 PM

Ohhhh...one other question.

Heather, any chance that you ever make it over to Canada (Toronto in particular) to do clinics and lectures??

Wally · #3 5th Oct 2002, 04:01 PM

Just had a quick look at chapter 5. The pics. are of Heather holding double reins.

Now there are MANY ways to hold double reins, all correct, some favoured by some folk others by other folk. The Spanish riding school favour the 3 in 1 position. ie you hold three reins in one hand and only one in the other. I've tried it and didn't really get anywhere!!!
The most popular way to hold double reins is for the curb rein to go between your little and ring finger and the top rein to go under your little finger. This makes the reins cross over when looked at from the side from the ground....if you see what I mean.

If you pick up the top rein and make all your fingers go round it then pick up the bottom rein normally this will give you the most common double rein position. It is most important to keep your thumbs on top, like holding two mugs of tea otherwise the rein action will not be clear.

Venus, where in Toronto are you, My brother lives in Whitby/Brooklin area.

mikka · #4 5th Oct 2002, 05:12 PM

I, too, recently saw Heather's book in our local tack shop (hope H is getting her royalties - I should check out their mark up!)

Wally, I've tried holding pretend double reins by looking at the pictures in H's book and don't know how anyone can ever get it right, nevermind being effective with them. It must take a lot of practice?? Mind you, I can't chew gum and walk at the same time.

FRED · #5 5th Oct 2002, 06:23 PM

I treasure my EE book too.

Have you tried using the NR Search box and typed in 'Reins'.
If you limit the search to EE or training of the rider,there are some great threads and replies on this subject.

I just read one of my old posts,every one is soo polite and didn't pick me up on one point...nope I have never 'plow reined',I ment to say 'neck rein'

This was Western ridding of course.

Venus · #6 5th Oct 2002, 06:40 PM

Thanks Wally! That makes perfect sense. I currently ride with a single rein and have a slight "pinky" issue. LOL My instructor likens it to drinking a spot of tea because my pinkies often stick straight out! HA HA I cannot count the number of times I have practically thrown away my reins over jumps!

I am VERY concious of having a soft hand and often OVER compensate for it. I like the idea of practicing by having somebody hold the bit area as if they were the horse. This might be the way to go when trying out a double rein.

Wally, I currently live in Pickering which is actually about 15-20 minutes west of Whitby/Brooklin.

Mikka, I paid $43.50 Canadian which was a few bucks more than the price listed on the book itself. But, well worth every penny.

Fred, thanks for the tip..I will check that out!

BlueSky · #7 6th Oct 2002, 06:47 PM

Yay for you!

I also got it as well, on friday. ^_^ It's so brilliant, isn't it? Unfortunately, I've not had a chance to try out all these ideas yet - knowing my memory, I'll go to ride in the school, and forget what exactly I wanted to do!

Heather · #8 8th Oct 2002, 10:48 AM

HI Folks,

Glad you all like the book! Many thanks Wally for your excellent explanation in my absence- I do rue the fact that you live in Shetland, when we badly need another EE teacher like yourself here on the mainland!

Heather

Venus · #9 10th Oct 2002, 03:01 AM

Tonight was my first ride since reading EE and oh man I actually noticed a difference. What a great ride. We started on a left rein and I was instantly able to get my horse into a working walk (this is VERY rare for him as he usually pokes around). Being in such a nice working walk, the transition into the trot was almost seamless. He was on the bit and his hind end was engaged (not as much as I would have liked but..hey...it was our first kick at the can).

We switched to the right rein and unfortunately I did not have as much luck getting a nice working walk and trot out of him. But, we did have a really nice flowing canter. Until a horse in the inside arena spooked him and he went one way and I went the other, causing me to position myself for a nice round of star gazing! LOL The fall knocked the wind out of me but I feel ok. May be a bit stiff in the morning but thems are the breaks.

Got back on and did have some luck getting him working on the right rein.

Anyhow..wanted to report..now I am off to re-read a few chapters before bed!

Heather · #10 10th Oct 2002, 11:19 AM

HI Venus,

Never been to Canada yet, although I would love to! I am constantly being asked to go to the US, and even there, I am having trouble finding the time to go, and to Australia, and to the Continent, and to Hong Kong and to South Africa........................!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe one of these days!

Really glad that the book is helping though-

Heather

Kerry's Partner · #11 11th Oct 2002, 10:00 PM

And to add to all that you've all said I would add that I find the book is brilliant because during our little steps onward there's a new insight gained by re-reading the pages and chapters in the book!!!!!!!!!!!! So yes it is clear and concise and puts things simply. BUT, also, (imo ) it is also very very deep and complex. The brilliance in it is that it is both things at the same time.

Rachel C. · #12 12th Oct 2002, 09:26 PM

My Enlightened Equitation book is still at the front of my bookcase! I am going back to using pure EE techinques for the next month, because I am beggining *hides behind nearest tree* heavy handed. I ride a real "leaner" of a horse, and find it hard to keep light hands, although I can when I put my mind into it. EE always sorts me out in the end

What I find does improve my horrible hands is imaginingmy arms are made of bungee elastic, frommy shoulder all through to my fingers - it really loosens my arm up, and consequently ferdie goes much much better.

Wally · #13 12th Oct 2002, 09:49 PM

Yep, I know the feeling well. Read....inwardly digest....think, why didn't anyone tell me this before, it is SO easy....well simple, no images, just plain speak with reference to parts of the body with which we are all familiar!

I rode one of our old trekking horses, only ever done trekking with novices on his back. First time I used Heather's turning methods he reacted as if he had been working like this all his life.

The arm thing you mention Rachel C. One thing I find is so common is the stiff wrists, draw a line down the back of your arm to the back or your hand. I find so many fok have a sharp angle back on themselves at the wrist instead of a gentle , very gentle rounding of the wrists round the body. So many more tendons and muscles are needed to break your wrists outwards than are needed to let your wrists gently curve around you as if you are hold ing 2 mugs of tea and about to drink them from each hand. Breaking your wrists outwards causes so much tension all the way up to your neck, by relaxing your wrists your whole upper body will change.

Rachel C. · #14 13th Oct 2002, 08:39 AM

My wrists dont tend to lock outwards - but I sometimes start to pram-push, which makes my shoulders and elbows tense, and it all travels down my arms, into my hands, and I get heavy handed

I've attatched a picture of my awful hands.....

Heather · #15 13th Oct 2002, 09:11 AM

Rachel,

Your overall seat looks very nice!! Turn your hands so that your thumbs are uppermost, and your wrists are very slightly rounded inwards, kleeping the line soft- your hands are currently in the 'pram pushing' position and it is very difficult to keep a light and elastic contact.

Heathre

Rachel C. · #16 13th Oct 2002, 06:21 PM

Thanks.. I will be chanting "keep my thumbs on top" for the next few weeks!

Kerry's Partner · #17 16th Oct 2002, 01:32 PM

And, I just have to add (following Sue Carnell's advice re my own hands, wrists, fingers): relax them too (the joints I mean). Kerry responds instantly!!!!! Her response is totally amazing. What a difference EE makes!!!

Monty · #18 16th Oct 2002, 05:00 PM

You lucky,lucky long-legged people!! My little tootsie just peeks out from below my saddle flaps. And it always looks worse, because I have to use the caged endurance stirrups, because it is impossible for me to keep my heels down, except in walk, because of my disability. Dave is making my saddle with the flaps a whole 3" shorter than Heather's!!
Regardless of the pram-pushing syndrome, you look so elegant Rachel.Wally and Heather both do to. Aaaaah! Sigh! Need me pins stretching!

Rachel C. · #19 16th Oct 2002, 07:07 PM

Being 5'9'' with very long thin beanpole legs only has benefits for riding, in everything else I am impossible, I can't get trousers at all easily, I tower over everybody in my class at school, and I look silly on horses under 15.2hh!

We could always put you on the mediavel rack Monty - and stretch you out

I'm sure you'll look great in a shortened saddle anyways!

Wally · #20 16th Oct 2002, 07:11 PM

Picking myself up from the floor at this minute, sides still heaving with mirth....... elegant is not a word I have ever heard used to describe any part of me or my antics.....brick built outhouse and sack of poo tied in the middle is more like it!! Honestly Monty, what gave you that impression?

Heather yes, oh to sit on a horse like that.........

The only thing Heather and I have in common on a horse is our stirrup length is the same.