Good hand position

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kat2290

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I have been having riding lessons for about 2 months now (total novice) and today I had a lesson at a new school with a new instructor. I've always thought I had quite a good hand position while riding, I always have my thumbs on top and I *think* I manage to keep a good contact most of the time (for a beginner anyway!), but the instructor was telling me today I have my hands too low. This is probably true if she is pointing it out...but the way she was telling me to hold my hands didnt feel right at all. Basically I had my arms bent at 90 degrees at the elbow, which made me feel like I had a disjointed straight line from my shoulder to the bit...if you get what I mean? Unfortunately there weren't any mirrors around the school so I couldn't actually see what I looked like, so whether or not if just felt like this because I don't normally have them in this position I don't know.

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody could show me some pictures of videos of a good hand/arm position so I can work on it in my next lesson :)
 
Carrying your hands too low is a very common fault. You should have a good bend in your elbow and feel as though you're carrying your hands in front of you.
 
I don't have any pictures unfortunately but I get taught to 'carry' the bit in the corners of the horse's mouth.

I used to carry my hands really low (practically by the withers) and so for a while she made me ride with my hands higher than my elbows! Made me think about where my hands were and more often than not when I thought I was carrying my hands really high I was in fact carrying them in the correct position.
 
Shoulders should be loose, elbows to your side and not tensed, there should be sufficient bend at the elbows to create a straight line from the bit along the reins through your forearm to the elbow. And yes, thumbs on top:)
 
As an instructor I find this a very common problem with Novice riders. It's the left over from learning to keep your balance in the early days.

You carry the hands at a height that allows a straight line, elbow, hand, horses mouth.

So if the horse raises it's head then your hands move up, if it lowers it's head your hands will come down.

But all the time it's

Straight line, Elbow, Hand, Horses Mouth

Any change in your position will feel strange initially. Your instructor has obviously picked up on this.
 
Here's what a straight line looks like... google is your friend! :)

HandPosition.jpg
 
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Thanks everyone!

I think i may have been confusing myself thinking I need a straight line from shoulder to horses mouth when it should just be elbow to horses mouth... :rollseyes:

Thanks tallyho I did see that picture while googling before but was hoping I would see some of you guys :D

I definitely felt like I had my hand higher than that this afternoon, I would say the bend at my elbow was probably not far off 90 degrees so would that be too high?
 
Pah! Me?? Last time I posted a pic I got a bloody infraction!!!! Admin are a bit "thenthitive" about pics you know... :D
 
This forum is backwards to say the least if you're more likely to get an infraction from posting a picture of yourself on your on horse than if you take a random picture off google!! Not that I think there's anything wrong with taking pics off google though...just sayin'!
 
Well I thought it was my photo but apparently you cant post photos that have been taken professionally even if it was at a poxy little show :rolleyes:...

You'll have to read the rules I'm afraid.

Most of my photos are taken by other people as I'm usually on my own. Grrrr.....
 
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