Right rein/left rein question

Trinket12

Trinket12

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So in my lesson today, we were coming up the quarter line and my coach was telling me 'more right rein' so we'd be straight and less drunken like :-) If i'm honest, I'm not entirely sure what she means, does she mean more pressure on the right rein? And if so, what does that do?

I meant to ask her after my lesson and then got distracted and forgot!
 
And I do usually, it wasn't really until after the lesson that I started to think I'm not sure if it means what I think it means. Was just looking for some clarification now I had had the time to think about what I was doing.
 
If someone says to me more rein its usually a cue to shorten one or both reins. I have a habit of being a bit too soft and letting them slip through my fingers. What helps is putting markers or knots on your reins to make sure you are even in both reins as that is the ultimate aim.
 
madamebonnie said:
If someone says to me more rein its usually a cue to shorten one or both reins. I have a habit of being a bit too soft and letting them slip through my fingers. What helps is putting markers or knots on your reins to make sure you are even in both reins as that is the ultimate aim.
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Thanks! I think that's what I do too, I'm trying to keep bend in my elbows so sometimes my reins are too lose (I have short arms!).
 
Riding has such odd phrases and idioms. So it could mean a number of things. I know how it happens, you’re so focussed on stuff you sometimes forget to check if a thing means what you think it means. Best to check with your ins though as what we think it means might not be right!
 
Trinket12 said:
Thanks! I think that's what I do too, I'm trying to keep bend in my elbows so sometimes my reins are too lose (I have short arms!).
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I am long arms and still trying to bend my elbows! Not going to lie its difficult keeping short reins, soft hands, bent elbow, stable contact and bend all at the same time! If you are working off track then you will be working on striaghtness. Try keep everything even. Put the tape on your reins and loop your leather on your cheek peices in the keepers so you can more easily visualise if your horses neck and head in straight. Dont try correct thing too much without chatting to your instructor first but really concentrate on what is happening at the moment. Which rein are they heavy in? Which way does they neck bend? Which rein do you give away too easily?

Also top tip for bent elbows...think about your shoulder blades being back and down and then think about your thumbs on top. Like magic your whole arm is in a better position.
 
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