REIN CONTACT – A CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT!
Here I go again with another controversial notion – REIN CONTACT. To initiate contact with your horse, you must shorten the reins – this does not mean pull! Many riders believe that shortened reins means pulling reins. This is far from the truth.
You should aim to achieve a useful rein length that allows a secure feel of the bit in the horse’s mouth, it should be steady, which is where it gets tricky – take up the rein contact, and keep it, but you must allow and follow the horses head movement. I see all too often riders who think that a steady contact is keeping everything still – No – you must ‘allow’ or your rein will actually be on-off, on-off with the movement of the horses head.
Another prerequisite is hands that are independent of the seat so they can respond to the horse’s needs rather than using the mouth for balance.
Next, invite your horse to reach forward into the rein contact. This can be thought of as a “handshake” with the horse, where the horse comes to meet you, like when you reach forward to shake someone’s hand, they reach forward, and you make contact!
Ask the horse forward from your legs and seat. Create a millimetre of space for your horse to reach into. (from giving elbow movement – don’t drop the reins or let them through your hands!!) You should feel your horse surge forward with a lifted back, this is how you will know if you are on the right track!
Without contact, your reins will be ‘wishy washy’ and so will your rein aids. You will always surprise your horse, you may cause discomfort in the horse’s mouth and there will without doubt, be inconsistencies in your communication.
Contact can always be improved, like communication can always be improved. It develops with the goal of softness, lightness, gentleness and effectiveness of the touch.
Good rein contact makes a happy horse and taking all of the above into account, only with soft shoulders, arms, elbows and hands will you achieve a good contact.
Have fun!
Patricia – The Dressage Tipster
help@likecrystal.com
I used these tips and they worked a treat, they put more detail into what my coach was already trying to get me to do. I regularly look up your page to get more tips and hope your book will be out soon!
I’m working on it! If you have anything specific, it’s you guys that give me my inspiration for my posts so feel free to email me. Px
When will your book be available? Really like the way things are explained on this site Thanks
All my 50 years of riding life, dressage instructors have told me to ride a circle, change direction, more impulsion, make a transition, etc., etc. I am not a novice rider, have achieved a reasonable level, and competed at Badminton this year. However, no instructor has ever told me HOW to ride my horses on the flat properly. I am still at riding school level for that! Nor has anyone ever explained that it is a subtle series of delicate aids that are required to achieve each movement correctly, and exactly what aids I should be giving my horse. I ask for full explanations and get a load of hard to decipher twoddle. I can only assume they can’t explain or that it must look as if I know how to do what I’m trying to achieve, which I do not . Roll on more of your sensibly explained “Dressage for Dummies” book. That’s what I feel I need!
Thank you Gillian for that resounding endorsement. Much appreciated, if there’s anything in particular you are struggling with please feel free to email me on help@likecrystal.com Px
Love your stuff!
Plain simple down to the point explanations that don’t make you feel overwhelmed half way through the article. Great visiulation ideas also.
Struggling with inconsistent rein contact. Too much and then too little. Stiff elbows that developed as my horse keeps rushing forward after a downward transition from canter, has become progressively worse.
Thanks for very helpfull articles.
I’ve emailed you Marelein about your elbows! Hope you find something to help.
P.