Holding a contact properly.

[PinkFairy]

With the horse I've just started riding, I'm struggling a little to find the right length of rein to be able to hold a proper contact with him.

At times, they are too long and flap against his neck but when I shorten them, I feel like I'm tipping forwards til he pushes his head up and my reins seem to be back to being too long!

On our last ride, I experimented with the length and found that he leaned on my hands a lot, but if I lengthened them too much and he got a bit too excitable, I had no proper contact, therefore having to shorten them again.

I've no idea if any of this is making any sense but can anyone give me any tips? I've got a few freelance instructors to look up so I can book a lesson on him but I feel like a complete numpty - I used to be much more confident and now I feel so rusty!

 

[letrec_fan]

I used to do the tipping forward thing without even realising. Keep them shorter but hold the rein softly on the middle part of your finger not holding it really tight into your hand. Sit back and bring your elbows back to your side. Hope that helps.

 

[PinkFairy]

I tried that too, holding him a little lighter and bringing my arms back and sitting back til I could feel that I was actually sitting on my bum lol. Not long after that, I could feel him start to jog, shortened my reins and he went back to walking.