How do you hold/ride with two reins correctly?

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sue_ellen

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My friend has a mare who, when she bought her was ridden in a pelham with roundings. She has got her in a snaffle but we are hacking to a local show in a couple of weeks and I suggested she should enter her in a showing class. My friend said she doesn't go on the bit very easily and I just said "Why dont you ride in the pelham with two reins?"

Bless her, she got so excited at the thought of having a go (she gets very nervous at shows, hunting is more her thing!)

Now, I know a lot of you are wonderful competetive riders, so please dont judge us two old birds for getting all excited and dithery at the thought of the local show!

She is not a heavy handed rider and wont be hauling the mare round, but the mare does respect the pelham and goes really nicely in it.

So, can anyone enlighten me please?

Thanks!
 
I am sure there are probably pictures of this on the web that will explain far better than me but I will try.

Snaffle or Bradoon rein (one nearest the corner of the mouth) you hold normally. Curb rein goes around the outside of the little finger and lays inside and alongside (touching) the other rein
 
mcnaughty said:
I am sure there are probably pictures of this on the web that will explain far better than me but I will try.

Snaffle or Bradoon rein (one nearest the corner of the mouth) you hold normally. Curb rein goes around the outside of the little finger and lays inside and alongside (touching) the other rein
Click to expand...


^^^ this is actually incorrect its the bradoon rein that goes under your little finger and the curb rein in the normal rein position, this means you can ride mostly off the bradoon rein and the use the curb rein as a back rather than constantly.
 
The reins should cross with the snaffle (bridoon) rein on the outside of the curb rein. So that the snaffle rein is round your little finger - It is useful to have 2 different types of reins for each bit so you can tell them apart easily (I use a laced rein for the snaffle and a plain rein for the curb but different ppl have different preferences)
 
There are several different ways to be 'correct' I use the snaffle rein below little finger and curb/gag as normal but these can go up a finger each or there is another way but that is rarely taught :)
 
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