Keeping hands still?

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trundle

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Any suggestions for keeping my hands still while i ride (short of tying them to the pommel)? I was doing a lot of sitting trot with no stirrups tonight, i seem to have figured out what i should be doing with the lower half of my body, but my arms flap around like some kind of deranged zombie. it affects my ability to keep a light contact on the horse's mouth, plus I look demented and untidy and I don't like it.

So, what can I do to help keep my hands still? I know the theory, i just find it very hard to put into practice. Help, please !
 
Plaster casts?
Metal braces?
Glue your gloves to your saddle, then slide your hands into them?
Did you want a serious answer?
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My hands have their own mind too!! My left one creeps downwards constantly - and only becomes level with the right one when someone comments or shouts at me for it!! They're definately not my best point.....

Sorry i have no good advice but I will be checking back on this topic myself!
 
I have same problem and been told there's no short fix. Just need to be aware - think of elbows in, shoulders back. Sorry - wish there was an easy answer. I'm getting there but had lesson today and my arms are now killing me so obviouslyt doing something different!
 
I read a very good suggestion in a magazine article once. Use a strap on the D rings of your saddle and hook your little fingers under it. You can buy straps or use an old flash strap or even a piece of string would do. I haven't got round to trying it yet but I will.
 
Are you relaxed in your shoulders and elbows?

You could try using a pen under your thumbs, as you would do if your hands weren't straight. It might make you more aware of what you are doing with your hands.
 
Same as Teapot!

I had the same trouble until I had a few lessons with Partoow. Ride with a whip under both thumbs and think about 'carrying your hands'.
 
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Are you relaxed in your shoulders and elbows?

You could try using a pen under your thumbs, as you would do if your hands weren't straight. It might make you more aware of what you are doing with your hands.

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I agree...if your hands and arms are moving too much it could be because you are not following the movement of the horse enough with your lower back.
You are probably aware of tensing and perhaps hunching your shoulders a little?
The answer is to try to follow more with your lower back...easier said than done I know
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. Perhaps if you could have a lunge lesson, and pull yourself into the saddle with your outside hand, while being really aware of following with your hips/pelvis and lower back, then you'd improve?
Another good exercise is to do circles with your hands (outwards) and to try touching your head, knees, toes whilst in sitting trot (don't fall off!)
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Are you relaxed in your shoulders and elbows?

You could try using a pen under your thumbs, as you would do if your hands weren't straight. It might make you more aware of what you are doing with your hands.

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I agree...if your hands and arms are moving too much it could be because you are not following the movement of the horse enough with your lower back.
You are probably aware of tensing and perhaps hunching your shoulders a little?
The answer is to try to follow more with your lower back...easier said than done I know
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. Perhaps if you could have a lunge lesson, and pull yourself into the saddle with your outside hand, while being really aware of following with your hips/pelvis and lower back, then you'd improve?
Another good exercise is to do circles with your hands (outwards) and to try touching your head, knees, toes whilst in sitting trot (don't fall off!)
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I was going to say lunge lessons..... honest!
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My instructor tells me to think of carrying a tray with lots of cups of tea on. Sounds silly i know but if you can drum it in well enough that you dont want to spill that tea you will more concious of your hands.

It worked for me.
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Trundle your seat is good and secure, for those that know Brooklyn will know it's like riding a rubber ball in trot and trundle has now mastered the art of sitting straight, long through the leg, opening her hips to lengthen her leg and sit deep in the saddle. She is sitting well with her upper body and strong through her back. If I put her on the lunge on this horse I would kill her! So we have the seat sorted and her work without stirrups is really good.

In fact I know what the problem is! I need to stretch her arms, they are too short! then I can tie them to the saddle and we are sorted.

In all truthfulness I put her on one of our other horses at the weekend and her hands were fine they were not moving only the amount that they should, but that was because she was on a different horse which does not have the bouncy stride that brooks has. So now I just think it is down to time which will sort out the hands as on other horses which arn't so bouncy she is fine with.
 
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My instructor tells me to think of carrying a tray with lots of cups of tea on. Sounds silly i know but if you can drum it in well enough that you dont want to spill that tea you will more concious of your hands.

It worked for me.
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But for trundle, she'd have to use images of vodka, wine and whisky for that idea to be effective.
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Trundle your seat is good and secure, for those that know Brooklyn will know it's like riding a rubber ball in trot and trundle has now mastered the art of sitting straight, long through the leg, opening her hips to lengthen her leg and sit deep in the saddle. She is sitting well with her upper body and strong through her back. If I put her on the lunge on this horse I would kill her! So we have the seat sorted and her work without stirrups is really good.

In fact I know what the problem is! I need to stretch her arms, they are too short! then I can tie them to the saddle and we are sorted.

In all truthfulness I put her on one of our other horses at the weekend and her hands were fine they were not moving only the amount that they should, but that was because she was on a different horse which does not have the bouncy stride that brooks has. So now I just think it is down to time which will sort out the hands as on other horses which arn't so bouncy she is fine with.

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Well why didn't she say?
Shoot the horse - it's the obvious solution. Or please please give her a sitting trot lunge lesson and post the video for our entertainment....
What sort of fool buys a horse with a bouncy trot, anyway?
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No, No, No! You're all so terribly wrong in this...

It's not YOUR fault! It's the horses fault. Just tell him to stop moving! Immediately you will notice a marked improvement...

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You could be right, Richard - last time i did a dressage test, the only thing I got 8 for was my halt
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Maybe this is where my forte lies...
 
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In fact I know what the problem is! I need to stretch her arms, they are too short!

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Oh thank you very much ! Perhaps i should change my name to Tyrannosaurus Trundle

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Are those arms short enough?

Maybe I'll try the image of carrying a tray covered with glasses of wine and Pimms. In that yard, they'd murder anyone who spills that lot...!
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Erm . . . . . ME! but then it does have the most enormous jump on it!

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Probably wouldn't be able to jump a pole on the ground if it wasn't for your spinning arms acting like helicopter blades to give lift.
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I have used a stick (short whip will do but I find these too flexible) to get people to keep their hands still.
I also say that you should hold your hands a little like riding a bicycle, so that you keep your hands steady and turn your shoulders to make your turns (actually turning a little from the waste) this has the action of giving stightly with the outside rein and shortening the inside rein slightly. The stick keeps the pressure equal and the hands reasonably level....
Give it a try....it might work for you
 
I've not read all the replies so I don't know if this has been said before, BUT I find that if the bit isn't effective enough I have to use a heavier contact and this makes my hands move more. If you have a bit that enables you to ride with a light contact, then it's easier to keep your hands still.
Does that make any sense?
 
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