Driving people - tell me about contact

[Toffee_monster]

Hope someone can give me some pointers here please
Ive Just broken in my pony to drive and he is going forward nice and confidently and steering / voice commands seem to be good, however I feel like my contact is a bit all or nothing. I drive coachman and would love to do some showing in the summer with him.

How do i keep the outside rein contact to push him into it ?

 

[lazybee]

I drive coachman too. I'm not really sure what you mean though? Do you mean for the one handed steering section?
I don't show, but do a lot of driving. If I need to turn sharply, I steer with the fingers of my right hand on top of the left handed coachman grip.

The best way to practice rein techniques and contact with coachman is to rig up two pulleys (washing line pulleys are good) to a wall then to pass a rope with a weight attached to each through them, then tie the ropes one to each rein. Make sure the weights are at the same height/level. then take up the reins in your coachman grip. Turn your wrist left and right and make sure the weights both move the same amount. That way you will be sure to put even and not too much movement through to the driving bit. Much easier to do than to explain