Holding the reins

[mistymoon]

I have had about 8 lessons so far and my problem at the moment seems to be keeping the reins equal length and ensuring I don't pull too much that the horse stops or starts to walk from trot! Can someone please advise me? I find the lunge is my favourite lesson at the moment which I have every other week as I can concentrate on my position but would like to know if other people have the same problem too. Thanks in advance.

[Wally]

It's a common problem, don't let it get to you, it'll come in time, the thing is to imagine you are holding hands with someone, if the person you are holding hands with leaves their hand in yours all limp there's no communication. You want a gentle but firm hold with plenty of give and take.

[kathyt1]

It is very difficult to control your hands effectively until you have developed an independent seat. The lunge is a good place to do this so you are starting in the right place. Wally's description of the feel you need is spot on and if that feel is equal so are your reins.

[Flipo's Mum]

I have this problem, mostly, as far as I can tell, because my horse is very on the forehand and uses his neck and head to balance (hence his neck sways a wee bit when he moves - especially at trot). I'm constantly readjusting the length of reins to resolve it. I bought myself continental reins with little leather stops (thanks KV!) to help me gauge where my hands needed to be.
You could try asking your RI to put rubber bands round the reins where your hands should stay as a guide. Yes, the position would change if you're in trot/ canter, but somewhere to start from?!

[mistymoon]

Thats great advice, thanks to everyone. The rubber band thing is a great idea and the holding hands advice too.

[ponymagic]

Originally Posted by Flipo's Mum

I have this problem, mostly, as far as I can tell, because my horse is very on the forehand and uses his neck and head to balance (hence his neck sways a wee bit when he moves - especially at trot). I'm constantly readjusting the length of reins to resolve it. I bought myself continental reins with little leather stops (thanks KV!) to help me gauge where my hands needed to be.
You could try asking your RI to put rubber bands round the reins where your hands should stay as a guide. Yes, the position would change if you're in trot/ canter, but somewhere to start from?!

Agree with this. Rubber bands are a great idea, make sure they are on tight so they don't slip.

[essayaitch]

Don't worry about it too much the stronger your seat becomes the more independent your other aids will become. Using continental reins or even coloured reins will help gauge that they are the same length. If you cannot, look at your hands and how tight the reins look from each hand down the reins, if your hands are equal and one rein isn't sagging then they will be equal.

Make sure you keep your fingers closed around your reins, if you ride with your reins in your fingers rather than your hand or having your hands open will allow the horse to slowly make your reins longer.

[Joyscarer]

I tend to think that reins, hands and feel come after you've learnt to sit right to a certain extent. You can have the reins to a perfect length and then because your upper body is moving about it all goes a bit to pot.

Certainly when my daughter started riding she wasn't allowed reins at all until she found her balance a bit.

Then, to contrast with that I've been riding, badly, for 30 years and I use continental reins! My hands are terrible.

Enjoy doing what youre doing concentrating on 1 or 2 things per lesson and it will gradually start to click.

[mistymoon]

Originally Posted by Joyscarer

I tend to think that reins, hands and feel come after you've learnt to sit right to a certain extent. You can have the reins to a perfect length and then because your upper body is moving about it all goes a bit to pot.

Certainly when my daughter started riding she wasn't allowed reins at all until she found her balance a bit.

Then, to contrast with that I've been riding, badly, for 30 years and I use continental reins! My hands are terrible.

Enjoy doing what youre doing concentrating on 1 or 2 things per lesson and it will gradually start to click.

Thanks Joyscarer. That is interesting about your daughter not holding reins until she found balance. I tend to enjoy the lunging much more at the moment as I can concentrate on my balance rather than the horse and its weird but I find it much easier to not hold the reins. I wonder if others find that too?