Posted by Katie It sounds like you're doing really good in your lessons so far - keep it up! I've got a few suggestions for you... To keep your hands in the proper position, try this little trick. I used to have the opposite problem of yours (I'd raise my hands higher than they should be, but this little trick solved it)... Holding your reins properly and your hands properly, stick your pinky fingers out and down. Rest them so that the tips of your pinky fingers just touch the horses neck. Focus on keeping them in that spot, but do not "set" your hand there... you still need to give & take with the reins to follow the horses motion. Once you've got the feel of where you hands should be, you can put your fingers back to where they should be! Every now and then, as a check, stick your pinkies out again and see if your hands are where they should be. If not, make the proper adjustments. See if that helps.. As for keeping your fingers closed on the reins, it should become second nature. Your reins, in the simplest form, are your steering and your brake. If you drop your reins (or lose them) you've also lost your steering and your brake. Not a good thing to have happen. Keeping your fingers closed around the reins is also important if you're riding a horse who likes to pull on them. He or she could pull the reins right out of your hands, leaving you without steering and a brake again. When you check to see if your hands are in the right spot (see above), it's also a good time to remind yourself to close your hands on the reins. It might be helpful to pick a spot in the ring or arena where you remind yourself to check everything (ie: the corners)... this way it becomes a pattern... you know that once you approach a corner, you should check your riding position. About arching your back... if your back is either arched or overly rounded, you won't be able to absorb the shock of the horses movement. This will most likely make you bounce during the trot and canter. Take a deep break and relax when you ride. Think about sitting deep in the saddle and sitting tall, but not arching your back. You can even check this in the corners, too! Hope I've been some help. Katie
on 10/5/2006, 7:02 pm, in reply to "Reins"
206.172.139.186
Hey Chelsea,
Good luck and let us know how it goes,
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