Horsemanship

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 3:32 pm

Is there a reason while riding, to put the reins between fingers 2 and 3? IE to have 2 fingers above and 2 below?

Gaston de Clermont · Post by **Gaston de Clermont** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 3:59 pm

I was taught to put them between the ring and pinkie.
Gaston

cristofre fortescu · Post by **cristofre fortescu** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 8:37 am

I have been lucky to have learned to ride when I was young and have always ridden well train horses who neck reined well. If you are doing horsy events your hand movement while reining needs to be minimal. Because of this I hold the reins between my thumb and forefinger and pinkie and ring finger on my left hand. It may only make a little difference but sometimes that little bit helps.

Cris

paladin11 · Post by **paladin11** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 10:53 am

The reason for holding the reins with either your pinky or ring&pinky behind is just to hold the reins and keep them from slipping.

If you do a lot of jumping or keep a lot of *light* contact with the horses mouth the reins move around a lot.

You still have to constantly readjust but your finger beneath acts as a "lock".

Tristan d'Elsmere

Friedrich · Post by **Friedrich** » Fri Sep 13, 2002 9:16 pm

There are different hand holds for different riding styles.

English (between 4th & 5th for single rein) and (the second on the outside for double rein). And this is usually with close (no slack) contact to the bit.

Western which in many ways is more of a "working" method of riding. I've seen a couple of different holds pending on the type of reining you are doing. This is usually with a more loose (with slack) contact to the bit. Sometimes...

Which way are you asking?

JJ Shred · Post by **JJ Shred** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 1:12 am

A well-trained horse will respond to a slight wiggle in the reins. A light hand makes for a light mouth.