My hands. Help Im confused :(

[RubysGold]

I started going to a riding school about 6 weeks back (a lot of you will know my own horse has had a lot of problems this year, and being unable to school her my position was going to pot)

I keep getting told off about my hands
I was always told to Open my inside, (which I ASSUME means to take my hand sideways so the rein is more off the neck) And then I was taught to hold my inside hand still and squeeze with my outside hand.

My instructor is ALWAYS saying "Too much hand, put your inside back to his neck and says that I need to wriggle the finger next to my little one on BOTH hands, but not so that its visible, just a "little play with them"

Im CONFUSEDDDDDD, I dont want to seesaw, and surely thats what shes asking

 

[jhoward]

id say it is correct to stop you taking your hand away from the neck.

what i think the RI is getting at.. say your on the right rein.

she is asking you to hold with your outside hand, yet play with your inside hand. the outside stops horse rushing/falling onto forhand whilst inside is asking for flexion and inside bend.

 

[RubysGold]

Thanks Jhoward, Dont know where I picked up "opening the hand" then :S I must have made that up, will try keep my hand in.
My instructor tells me to play the reins with both hands :S I have always just held with one, squeezed the other. Confusing.

 

[BlueCakes]

When I teach new starters I will teach them to open the hand. 1. Because riding school horses are generally less responsive. 2. Because new riders are less confident in telling their horse what to do. It is an effective way of having the horse do as the rider asks without the rider pulling back on the horses mouth, not being able to use their legs effectively and avoids general arguments and pulling of the mouth. When the rider is more in control with a shorter rein contact etc then obviously the openning is not needed. The outside rein is to keep the horse straight and control the bend making sure the horse doesn't over bend or drop the shoulder out.