My blog used to be at another address on the web, but that is no longer accessible to you (and sometimes not to me!), so I'm digging into the old blog posts to put some of the oldies and goodies here where you can read it. Our first old-new one is about steering a horse with reins.
Steering a horse with reins sounds so easy... but it is not just a matter of tugging on my right rein to turn right, or the left to go left! In this photo of Spaten and Alex galloping, you can see his good contact with Spaten's bit and mouth through the reins - he is keeping equal tension on the left and right reins since he is galloping in a straight line. They have such fun together, and after some practice with me, Nils, Blossom, Patrick or Britta, you'll be steering and riding well too!
The first thing we have to understand is that the rein in the direction we are turning is the inside rein, and the rein on the outside of the turn (not the direction we are turning) is the outside rein. Understanding the inside and outside rein and how they help horses and ponies know which way you want to go will make your riding easier and more fun!
Riders use two basic rein aids in turning: the direct rein and the indirect rein. The direct rein works directly from the front to the back, pulling gently towards the rider's body. The indirect rein is used to move the pony's weight, or block the outside shoulder from going the wrong way.
When you want to turn me, or any horse or pony, to the left, your left rein is the direct rein. Pull the left rein towards your body, straight back, never up or down, by just squeezing the rein with your fingers. This left direct rein invites me to turn to the left (the inside). Your right (outside) rein is used as an indirect rein when turning left: put pressure on the outside rein and hold it to let me know you do not want me to go to the right at all. I like to think of the outside rein as blocking my direction on that side, or as Emily says "make a wall on the outside so Biscuit won't go to the right while you are trying to turn left."
One thing I feel when riders are learning to turn is floppy reins! If our reins get too long I can't tell what you want me to do or where we should go. Keep a contact, or a feel, of my bit and my mouth and I can better feel (or "hear") what you are asking me to do. Also, when the reins are too long your hands will go all over the place in order to make me feel your rein aids - behind your hip with your elbow up in the air to take up the extra rein, or even on the other side of my neck when your outside rein is too long in a turn. If it helps to stop and shorten your reins when they get too long, that is ok!
Remember that the bit, while a very gentle snaffle, is still a piece of stainless steel in my mouth. The old term "hard mouthed" refers to a horse who has become callous to the bit, and that happens with too much pulling on the reins. Please keep in mind my soft, willing mouth, and we'll turn left and right with no trouble, and it will be fun!
Important thing to keep in mind: ask me to move forward at a walk or trot before you turn us, keep your reins a good snug length, and we'll go places - left and right - at the walk, trot, canter and gallop! Here are the steps for turns:
• Legs on to go forward
• Ask with direct rein (left to go left, right to go right)
• Stay steady with the indirect rein (right when going left, left when going right)
• Keep your legs on my sides to tell me to keep moving forward.
Emily sometimes says it's like steering a bicycle: if you don't keep the bike moving the bike can't turn.... same with me - if you just pull on my reins I won't turn unless I'm moving! :-)
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