Give & Retake reins

[PePo]

So, Pete & I are giving a dressage test a bash this weekend and only just got around to reading the dressage test ...

One of the movements is give and re-take the reins in trot.

How do you all give and re-take your reins in a dressage test? Pete's more than used to working without a contact, but not sure the "dressage test" way to show this?

How much 'give' is usual - just a little or until my arms straight?

 

[Tir]

I have done some writing for a few judges so have a prettt good idea what is being looked for. The thing i wrote more often than anything else was 'not really shown', so it does need to be obvious. The movement is basically designed to show that you are not holding your horse up, in, or stopping it bogging off! Then they are looking for balance and rythumn not to change at all.

I do a very obvious smooth slide of the hands forward making sure there is slack in the rein, holding for a few steps, then take it back just as smoothly and tend to score quite well doing this.

 

[newforest]

A few strides is all you really need to do.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Yes, just sort of offer my hands forward until the rein is slack, count 3 steps, take them back