Wobbly hands!

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Lauren_abigail

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Hi all,

I've noticed that I can't seem to keep my hands still when riding - a friend videoed my last dressage test and I have been analysing and criticising it (as you do) and I can't stop staring at my horrible wobbly hands! (please see link! https://www.facebook.com/dee.cline/...506155011/?type=2&theater&notif_t=like_tagged)

Has anyone got any advice as to how I can keep my hands more still?

I'm sure my poor boy would appreciate me not bouncing about on his mouth!

Thanks :)
 
Balance strap on the d rings of your saddle (baler twine will do at home) and hook your little fingers under.
Plus work on core engagement and being able to isolate and influence different parts of your body independently
 
Can't see the video, however the key to still hands - and everything else for that matter! - is core strength :)

My daughter would like her hands to be stiller, she works with no stirrups, concentrates on using her core to stay balanced, and makes sure her shoulders and elbows are soft. All of which are helping - you could also try riding with a whip horizontally between your thumbs.
 
Can't see video. KEy to me is to establish what is causing your wobbly hands, your hands are attached to:
1) Your body (core strength needed)
2) Your elbows (that may be flapping, surcingle round the elbows helps to think about this one ;) )
3) Your fingers (are they twitchy, riding with 'fists' so you are not tempted to finger twiddle)
4) Your horses mouth/head (if they are not steady then you get ttricked into being not steady, some sort of fixing (whip between thumbs, bailer twine on a balance strap etc)

There are others but these come to mind. The elbow one was my realisation a few months ago because the bailer twine/whip one didn't work becasue it wasn't really my hands moving it was my elbows!
 
Thanks all, I will try all of the above!

I'm going to an equestrian pilates session tonight so hopefully I can start some work on my core.

I think Batgirl, you may be onto something there with the elbows thing - I noticed yesterday my elbows were turning out sporadically, perhaps me concentrating on them will fix the problem?!
 
I, too, hate, hate, hate my hands. They used to be good, and light, and often commented on. I have numerous tests from my yoof with compliments about my hands. 18 years off and almost 5 years in and those blooming hands seem to have forgotten their former glory and like to rise and fall and cross and open at random. I do as much core work as I can but they still seem to have a mind of their own.

Then we started working at elementary, which means very much driving from behind up into the bridle. And the more she sits, or, lightens the forehand, the easier it is to keep my hands still. Well, we should see that at Novice, too, but we've thrown in some fancy footwork, too, so ele.

And then I read this and the pennies positively rained down. Hurrah! They are almost still! Almost...now just to get the shoulders back a bit more. She'll probably sit better then, too.

http://dressageaholic.com/2015/01/04/handsandarms/
 
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