Very dumb question...Humor me.

starsnrunes

starsnrunes

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 June 2010
Messages
377
Location
Sheffield/Rotherham
Visit site
Ok so I walked past the schoolearlier and one of the girls was giving her friend a lesson, which she often does, and the girl wass holing her reins upside down (everytime i've seen her ride she has been) so asked if i could say something (because it really annoys me and i had to fill haynets so couldn't just walk away) popped down and showed her. However when i was explaining why, the only thing I could think to say was it'll give you a bit more control (not that she can control a horse at all...and she want's to buy one, but thats another rant i try not to get started on)

So why is it that we hold the reins the way we do? Was i right on the control issue?

To me it's just automatic and the way I was taught...i probably couldn't even make myself hold the reins upside down, but have no idea why it's automatic for beginners as it can't be very comfortable.
 
Erm. I'd guess? LOL. I've never thought of it tbh.

I'm trying to imagine holding double reins like that now. LOL. XD My head hurts XD
 
Sort of right.

Think about half halt or a slight minor adjustment. When the rein is passed through via the little finger you can gently tweak the rein, and the mouth become easier to "feel". If you hold reins upside down the thumb would clamp the rein, which would deaden the mouth, and i cant figure out how you could tweak a movement/speed?

So yes its sort of control, but the movement id imagine would have to be harsher/more aggressive if reins were upside down.

Anyone care to try tomorrow and see? :)
 
It's so that you have a lot more precise control of the rein aids. When the reins pass through the fingers, as said above, the amount of movement needed to steer/slow down etc (should be) negligible, compared to the backwards movement of the hand/lower arm/elbow/shoulder/upper body to get the same response, which of course would be ruined by everything being thrown out of balance!!!
 
Sounds like the person 'teaching' does not have much of a clue either.

Thinking about this from a purely mechanical point of view (sitting in front of computer holding an imaginary set of reins). If you hold the reins upside down, then the only way you can adjust the reign is to either rotate your hands backwards, which is limited, or to move you whole arm, rather like steering a 'soap box' go-kart with two bits of string.

No chance for those tiny subtle adjustments that we make almost automatically.
 
NeilM said:
Sounds like the person 'teaching' does not have much of a clue either.

Thinking about this from a purely mechanical point of view (sitting in front of computer holding an imaginary set of reins). If you hold the reins upside down, then the only way you can adjust the reign is to either rotate your hands backwards, which is limited, or to move you whole arm, rather like steering a 'soap box' go-kart with two bits of string.

No chance for those tiny subtle adjustments that we make almost automatically.
Click to expand...

Is it possible that the rider was practicing "frying pan hands" ? I was taught to do this now and again to teach about better contact with a mare that struggled with taking a nice contact, and it forced me to give more thru the elbow and keep a firmer grip with my fingers (I had a tendency to let the reins slide thru my fingers too easily and lose any contact I might have had).
 
Sorry to drag up a post from yesterday, but it's the first chance i've had to sit down with the computer today.

No PucciNPoni, she was just letting her ride like that.

NeilM said:
Sounds like the person 'teaching' does not have much of a clue either.
Click to expand...

I don't think she does, and most people on the yard seem to agree with me, yet somehow she places well at shows, and its not because of the horse. :confused:
 
shellonabeach -that's exactly the deal! :D I find it really difficult to ride like that, and haven't done it for ages -- but as an exercise it was brilliant.

However, it does seem to be the automatic way that anyone who is new to riding wants to pick up the rein. Why...I dunno. I can remember being young and the first time I was sat on a horse, that was pretty much what seemed right to me to do...but that was mainly cos I watched lots of Little House on the Prairie and that was how the driving rein was held! LOL Even if you only ever saw the opening credits, there's Michael Landon with reins upside down in his hand. And I had the same confusion when I started driving Morgan horses in my teens - that the reins aren't actually held like that! So I blame Michael Landon, personally! :P

I guess I just assumed that the person "teaching" was someone that knows better. The way I imagine it: someone who has been riding for even a short amount of time will know that the normal way to hold the reins is thro the ring and pinky and then up thru thumb and index. Even a novice should recognise that the otherway is "upside down!" and hopefully correct it. However, someone with actual training experience might know the upside down method for getting a better contact and might teach this as an exercise (and a newbie rider, not fully understanding that this is only an exercise might just pick this up as a habit going forward!).

Or have I read far too much in to that! LOL
 
I am a carriage driver and it drives me mad when people hold the reins like this. It is amazing how many riders will pick up driving reins and hold them upside down. The scary thing is when I correct people I am teaching they say that is how they ride too! Now, I am sure this cant be right but how come they dont just automatically pick up the reins correctly even though they are a bit longer.
If you look at travellers driving, they drive like that and their horses heads are often right in the air because they have no feel from their hands.
 
Sorry, straying slightly off topic but on the driving rein handling I found this which I found kind of interesting

http://www.tandemhillfarm.com/Tandemhill_site/Achenbach.html

I thought achenbach style was also up from pinky and out thru the thumb ring finger, just all the reins in one hand. I've never actually seen it in use. I drove with an open hand style. I long rein the same way.

I couldn't find the equivalent link for riding and holding reins, but I did see lots of references to Argentine way of holding reins. Apparently it's common to not only hold the rein upside down, but also in one hand. Polo players especially do this, and do it with four reins, so achenbach style if you like!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top