Hands?

[NZhorserider]

Hehe, sorry to bug you guys again, but now I'm thinking again!
(I know, I shouldn't )

My old instructor always told us to hold our hands up and when encouraging the horse onto the bit, to raise up and back so the horse isn't forced into a contact.

Also, she always said to raise the inside rein when turning.

Then I had a lesson with an instructor who said to bring the reins down and back. Is it me, or is this force?

She says to bring down the inside rein when turning.

Which one

[Ipsa]

Well I keep my hands level unless there is a specific reason not too and then it's just for a moment and then release.
I also ask with a squeeze of the fingers and then think forward with my hands for the horse to take the contact forward.
When I was learning I was taught to open the inside rein when turning not pull it back and down.
Do you get the NZ Horse & Pony as there is an interesting article in the December issue from a training session with Michael Putz and some of the NZ eventers and it discusses contact. Might be worth a read for you.

[Claire Louise]

And welcome to the joys of riding instruction. Basically when riding your hands need to be extreamly flexible, The english tend to keep there hands up any one taught with a european dressage back ground may lower slightly more and every instuctor teaches the next generation what they found worked for them. There is no hard and fast way to do anything. By lowering your hands you begin to emulate side riens as long as you keep the contact soft this should encourage play in the horses mouth and is often used with young horses to get them to work in a long and low outline. If you are collecting your horse together then you start to lift your hands to encourage a higher head carrige.

Does that help???

[horsemad]

Hi NZHorserider

I share your confusion! I think 'contact' and correct hand position are very difficult things to teach (and to learn!). I know a good, 'elastic' contact when I see it in other riders, but I couldn't really put into words what these riders are doing. All I know is that it just looks 'right', and I can imagine how it must feel (but can't seem to actually achieve this with my own horse most of the time. )

I seem to do a lot of fiddling with reins, and adjusting my hand/arm position, without getting the desired result... I also find it difficult to hold the reins firmly, without tensing up my arms and shoulders.

I don't know if it is something which comes with experience (ie you learn to feel what is right), or whether it is one of those things that some people never quite master. From watching the international showjumpers at the Belfast Show on Sunday, there seems to be a huge variation in hand position. A lot of them have a nice elastic, steady contact, but some seem to have quite rigid, inflexible hands.....

[Claire Louise]

I have to agree many so called profesionalls look very ridgid not only in there hands but in there entire positions, Must work for them though cos other wise they wouldn't be on telly. I think it is definatley experience though, Finding the right feel is important in all aspects of riding and when you find it I think you will know.