Having a hot mare who would take off as soon as the reins were given, I learned to wait until the end of the ride, when she was nice and relaxed, to cool down on a long rein while practicing steering with just my legs/ seat. It seems she actuality enjoys this part of the ride, listening attentively to my lightest cues to turn, circle, leg yield, spiral etc. I now feel comfortable giving her the medium loose rein on trail rides, where I can regain contact quickly if needed, but give her the freedom of a fiddle-free hack.
I ride the majority of the time on a loose rein, but I do alternate between contact and loose. I ride with a neck strap, which my horse responds to very well, and that helps with stopping, turning and backing. I ride in a Dr. Cook's bitless and a dressage saddle My horse is almost 20 and it's taken many years to get to this point. She was a spooky and reactive mare for years and made me feel nervous. Over the years, and lots of ground work and relationship building, she is a different horse now with only an occasional spook. I'm A LOT less nervous and it helped her tremendously with her confidence. :-)
I broke out my last filly with no “contact” in the traditional sense. I rode on the buckle 95% of the time, only taking up one rein at a time, when needed, and releasing at the appropriate time. She can now ride both on a drape and in contact in a snaffle and a curb. Riding on the buckle taught her balance, relaxation, and accountability for her feet and body. It also gave me practice for my balanced seat. 😉
Great description. I’m a visual learner so the exercises are important for me.😊 (I was a bit distracted by your position as the saddle appears crooked - leaning more to the right.)
I ride western lazy seat, along a route that covers a dirt road through the country with a short span on paved road. Mostly I ride with a loose rein, if and when I see a situation develops that tells me to shorten the Reins I take up slack the way you showed.
What's this two hands on the reins thing? How do you grab the cantle, horn, night latch, work a gate, grab a drink out of your saddle bags or swing a rope with both hands on the reins? 😉
Learning to steer with my legs helped me get more comfortable with a loose rein as well. I trust that he's going to turn on my leg cues so I can lower the reins and not have to worry that he's going to take off.
My mare was trained Western and has taught me (an English rider) to ride on a loose rein. She quickly lets me know when there is more contact than she would like.
I'm always being told not to throw my horse away because he needs my support. After he learns can ride on lose rein....don't understand that either....but do like yr exercises..
I don't know how I shorten my reins, I do it without even thinking about it, I hope I am doing it properly, it seems pretty smooth when I do it, but I really don't know how I do it, haha! I will have to pay attention tomorrow, I hope I am doing it if not correctly, then at least comfortably! Comfortably for the horse, I mean, of course!
Just my thought, I give my mare the reins to allow her to move in her natural frame, to relax, and as a reward. There's a time and place for following the contact down, but that's typically during schooling as a stretching/ contact exercise. I wouldn't want her trying to relax, cool down, or go down the trail while trying to maintain an unnaturally low headset.
Horses of every discipline should be able to be ridden on a loose rein. It gets them listening more to the subtle aids like your seat and legs. If you are having to have constant contact with a horse to keep them from running off, then you have to really go back to the basics. A human can't overmuscle a horse and attempt to "stop" them. They should be able to control their own gait, and not have to be micromanaged. A horse ridden on a tight rein is very unpleasant to ride and it's unpleasant to the horse. The more the horse is able to control their own emotions and speed, the more relaxed they will be. Learned this from Warwick Schiller
Just heard from a gal who says she has been reprimanded by dressage trainers for ridding on a loose rein. They told her that it ruins the horse's back when they're not collected properly if you're riding at the trot or canter. I thought these trainers have lost their way and should go back to basics!.😂
Having a hot mare who would take off as soon as the reins were given, I learned to wait until the end of the ride, when she was nice and relaxed, to cool down on a long rein while practicing steering with just my legs/ seat. It seems she actuality enjoys this part of the ride, listening attentively to my lightest cues to turn, circle, leg yield, spiral etc. I now feel comfortable giving her the medium loose rein on trail rides, where I can regain contact quickly if needed, but give her the freedom of a fiddle-free hack.
I ride the majority of the time on a loose rein, but I do alternate between contact and loose. I ride with a neck strap, which my horse responds to very well, and that helps with stopping, turning and backing. I ride in a Dr. Cook's bitless and a dressage saddle My horse is almost 20 and it's taken many years to get to this point. She was a spooky and reactive mare for years and made me feel nervous. Over the years, and lots of ground work and relationship building, she is a different horse now with only an occasional spook. I'm A LOT less nervous and it helped her tremendously with her confidence. :-)
Very helpful! My horse spooked while I was on a loose rein around the farm.
I broke out my last filly with no “contact” in the traditional sense. I rode on the buckle 95% of the time, only taking up one rein at a time, when needed, and releasing at the appropriate time. She can now ride both on a drape and in contact in a snaffle and a curb. Riding on the buckle taught her balance, relaxation, and accountability for her feet and body. It also gave me practice for my balanced seat. 😉
Great description. I’m a visual learner so the exercises are important for me.😊 (I was a bit distracted by your position as the saddle appears crooked - leaning more to the right.)
I ride western lazy seat, along a route that covers a dirt road through the country with a short span on paved road. Mostly I ride with a loose rein, if and when I see a situation develops that tells me to shorten the Reins I take up slack the way you showed.
What's this two hands on the reins thing? How do you grab the cantle, horn, night latch, work a gate, grab a drink out of your saddle bags or swing a rope with both hands on the reins? 😉
Learning to steer with my legs helped me get more comfortable with a loose rein as well. I trust that he's going to turn on my leg cues so I can lower the reins and not have to worry that he's going to take off.
My mare was trained Western and has taught me (an English rider) to ride on a loose rein. She quickly lets me know when there is more contact than she would like.
I'm always being told not to throw my horse away because he needs my support. After he learns can ride on lose rein....don't understand that either....but do like yr exercises..
Needing to hold reins for support is plain bogus. Horses should be able to carry themselves, and it's better for them.
Can I ask you how do I keep my hands still win I ride my horse thank you Nannette
I don't know how I shorten my reins, I do it without even thinking about it, I hope I am doing it properly, it seems pretty smooth when I do it, but I really don't know how I do it, haha!
I will have to pay attention tomorrow, I hope I am doing it if not correctly, then at least comfortably! Comfortably for the horse, I mean, of course!
The saddle was off center to the right.. shouldn't the horse follow the contact down as you lengthen the rein?
Just my thought, I give my mare the reins to allow her to move in her natural frame, to relax, and as a reward. There's a time and place for following the contact down, but that's typically during schooling as a stretching/ contact exercise. I wouldn't want her trying to relax, cool down, or go down the trail while trying to maintain an unnaturally low headset.
Horses of every discipline should be able to be ridden on a loose rein. It gets them listening more to the subtle aids like your seat and legs. If you are having to have constant contact with a horse to keep them from running off, then you have to really go back to the basics. A human can't overmuscle a horse and attempt to "stop" them. They should be able to control their own gait, and not have to be micromanaged. A horse ridden on a tight rein is very unpleasant to ride and it's unpleasant to the horse. The more the horse is able to control their own emotions and speed, the more relaxed they will be. Learned this from Warwick Schiller
Ride most of the time on a loose rein.
My goal is to ALWAYS ride on a loose rein.
I like your video it will help me ride my horse my horse like a loserian
Just heard from a gal who says she has been reprimanded by dressage trainers for ridding on a loose rein. They told her that it ruins the horse's back when they're not collected properly if you're riding at the trot or canter. I thought these trainers have lost their way and should go back to basics!.😂
Breathing on rythm with his steps? I would get a panic attack from that
Silly English riders and your short reins! (Just teasing