Oh dear- I'm rubbish

C

Cash

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Today my fab instructor filmed me riding as she said it'd be a useful way for me to correct my own faults, as she said (quite rightly) it's all very well following instructions but you need to know exactly what you're aiming for.
Just looked at the vids and I am horrified
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my hands move around SO much (which I'd known was a problem, have been working v hard on it).
Very demoralised as my horse went really well for him and I felt like we'd really made progress- guess it's just a reminder there's still much more to be made!!
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Tips for keeping hands still??
 
I'm no expert by any means... but... don't think of it as trying to keep your hands still exactly... this will make you fix your hands against the horse and probably make them move more! Try to imagine them as soft and flexible so they can move with the horse's movement and give and take the contact as needed... make sure they are up off the neck slightly and independent from the seat... don't over-think it... just relax and keep your hands soft...
 
No idea. Good luck! Having just watched a vid of me on Dizz yesterday - I thought I'd relaxed quite well. Hm. Not sure that 'relaxed' includes having shoulders so in front of the movement. Ah well.

Hang on in there hun, it will get better
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Depends in which way you are moving them - are they bobbing up and down, is one going sideways, are you fiddling with the contact etc?

I have a habit of letting my reins get long when I'm doing flatwork - some of those reins with leather stops on them have helped solve that problem as they make me more aware when I'm letting the reins slip, without making me fix my hands.

If they bob up and down, trying to touch the horse's withers with your little finger helps you to become aware of that. One going sideways? I like the whip held between thumbs to help hands become a pair - this happens to me too!
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Oh, and having to wear white/light gloves for BD helps - even if you aren't planning to compete, a pair of light coloured gloves means that your hands catch your eye if they start to become wayward
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Now that you have seen yourself on film and you are more aware of your hands moving about a lot, I bet you will rectify the problem yourself. I have a tendency to be round shouldered but I really thought that I was sitting up much straighter - wrong! Saw myself on video and it gave me the kick up the backside to improve my position.
At least your horse was going well - you can't be doing too much wrong!
 
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