Numpty 'outline' question...

[Sarah1]

Hi

Please could someone just explain something for me regarding the elusive 'outline'?!

Well I know a true outline comes from the back to the front & requires impulsion which is created by legs & seat but my question is what do you do with your hands?!

Last night I was schooling my lad & he's been a bit of a nightmare recently in there so I rode him forward and ignored his head, just keeping light contact, not really closing my fingers on the reins etc., then I popped him on a circle, again on a long rein & not messing and after 20 mins of trying to coax & cajole him into behaving I got fed up and just took a firmer contact, kicked him on & tried squeezing each rein in turn and lo & behold he was better behaved!?! And dropped lovely & soft & I could give my inside rein & he stayed in position to boot!

Do you think I'm being too soft with him & he's taking the p with me? I've always had in mind that your hands should be soft but does it sound like I'm being ineffective with them?

Thanks

 

[caz81]

It's hard to say without seeing you ride but there needs to be a certain amount of contact on the reins to contain the impulsion created from the hindquarters. Obviously the lighter and softer the hand the better. You cannot "hold" a horse in an outline. I always tend to work my horse in on a longer rein to allow him to stretch down and warm up his muscles before taking up a contact and working him in an outline. Ideally, just the slight shortening of your reins coupled with the leg aids should be enough for your horse to come into an outline but all horses differ depending on stage of education etc... Gentle squeezes on the rein to encourage your horse into an outline are fine but you must soften the contact as soon as your horse yields to the pressure, thats not to say you "throw away" your reins, just soften your hands.