Position of reins in your hand

[exracehorse]

Might sound a crazy question. I’ve been riding for yonks. I hold the reins with all my fingers. Thumbs on top. But i watched my daughter riding my horse ... I’m out of action .. and she holds the rein between her little finger and ring finger. Thumb on top. Hope that makes sense. Should it be a closed hand or in fact only three fingers with thumb ?

 

[babymare]

3 fingers and thumb for ?

 

[exracehorse]

3 fingers and thumb for ?

Why not wrap all the fingers around the rein. Why between the two small fingers ? I feel so silly as I never realised I was doing it incorrectly.

 

[PapaverFollis]

So you can use your stronger and more easily controlled ring finger to give rein aids. Rather than the little finger. Secure the length of rein between thumb and first finger. Use the ring finger to use the rein.

 

[babymare]

Hey it maybe me that's incorrect lol. Just how was taught. Also I think it helps to give softer hand movement. ?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It depends what I am doing. If I am hacking or doing flat work with a single rein then it's 3 fingers. When galloping it's 4 and a half bridge - my hands are too small to cope with a full bridge ???

Double reins then my snaffle rein is 3 fingers, curb rein 4. I don't cross them.

 

[babymare]

So you can use your stronger and more easily controlled ring finger to give rein aids. Rather than the little finger. Secure the length of rein between thumb and first finger. Use the ring finger to use the rein.

much better explanation than mine ?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I hold my right rein with ring finger and thumb but my left with 2 fingers and thumb because I have bad arthritis in the ring finger and it hurts. Felt odd to start with but I’ve got used to it now and the horses don’t seem to notice.

 

[exracehorse]

Thanks guys. I never realised. I’ve ridden that way for so long it just felt correct. Funny enough .. my horse was throwing some shapes four weeks ago during his canter work and I broke my little finger plus two metacarpal bones in the hand ! So with jumping ... it’s still the same ? Between the little and ring finger ?

 

[exracehorse]

 

[holeymoley]

I’ve always ridden with the reins between ring and little finger and thumbs on top.
Double reins I’ve been told all sorts, I preferred as above with the snaffle rein and the curb behind little finger but told it should be the curb at the ring finger and snaffle at the little finger. They cross over this way... who knows!

 

[Kat]

I do rein between ring and little finger if I am riding with single reins. This is the correct way, check out the diagrams in any horse riding manuals.

With double reins I hold the snaffle rein as usual and the curb between ring and middle finger.