What is 'sawing'?

J

JenNewgirl

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Jun 30, 2006
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Sorry to sound like a total novice but I have seen this phrase used a fair bit and cannot find a definition on the internet. What is sawing in reference to horse riding? I know it has something to do with the way people hold the reins but I just want to make sure I know what it is, and why it is detrimental to the horse? Thanks for your help :D
 
It's where you bring your right hand back, then your left, then your right, in a sawing action on the reins - It basically pushes and saws into the horses mouth, it's not very nice. It's used to get a horse to bring his head down and to slow down a fast horse - But it mainly relies on the pressure and trust that the horse will need to get away from the pain in his mouth to get it to work.
 
Vimto 92 There is a difference between pulsing down the reins and sawing. Pulsing, is basically squeezing gently but sawing is where you physically move your hands in a sawing action and it's alot harder on their mouths. but I don't know how you have been tought lol xxx
 
mazda said:
Vimto 92 There is a difference between pulsing down the reins and sawing. Pulsing, is basically squeezing gently but sawing is where you physically move your hands in a sawing action and it's alot harder on their mouths. but I don't know how you have been tought lol xxx
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Fair enough, we were taught to use each hand alternatly, gosh..... I think I may have been sawing!:( :eek: :o Dont hurt me people, I guess I was totally unaware, I ahte being hard on a horses mouth.... guess Ill be more aware next time.:o

I didn't do it majorly and definately not aggressive or bring my hands really far back.... Some may call it fairly strong pulsing.... or minor sawing. :(

*runs off and hides*

Vic
 
I'd just like to point out its not a habbit, just happened in rein back, I wasnt vicous at all! No way!:o
 
vimto, don't hide! They don't mean in rein back, but doing it all the time to 'get the horse on the bit' - some people use their hands 'left-right, left-right' to pull the horse's head in and down instead of using their legs to make it work from behind correctly, thus creating a false outline.

Dead giveaway - you can see the horse's head wobbling from side to side with the hands...won't fool a dressage judge!
 
When i reign back, I pull back on the reigns, and squeeze with my legs... Sawing is when you alternate pulling your hands back quite quickly, to influence the horse to drop its head, and appear to be on the bit, when in reality, its head is down to avoid the bit, and he's still dragging himself along.
 
Vix, did you see Hickstead? There was one rider who sawed all the way into one of the jumps - You could quite clearly see their shoulders moving from side to side and the horses head moving too.
 
This is something I dont practice. The only time I've done it was to slow down a very strong horse who was threatening to 'take off' with me.
 
My dressage instructor told me to use my hands in this manner, but by opening and closing the elbow, to bring my horse's head down. He has a tendancy to stick his nose in the air and stop listening to me, so for the last few weeks we have been working on ways to encourage him to drop his head. Once he comes down onto the bit and starts paying attention, he then brings his hind legs under him and really tracks up. Leg and weight aids don't make very much difference to his head carriage.

What should I be doing instead?? :confused:
 
Okay thanks, Hickstead riders, I mean come on lets be honest, many of them were very rough HG90! Especially where they keep trying to shorten there reins and tugging and flapping there arms everywhere!:(
 
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