Your reins should create a straight line from your elbow to your horse’s mouth.
When the reins get too long, your hands are either too low or they get up way too high. You lose your leverage, your guide and effectiveness.
Your reins are a steering wheel. A horse carries most of his weight in his front end, so most of your guide and your balance is in the front.
You want light contact on the horse’s mouth and drive from his hind end.
Use your leg as your gas pedal to control how much drive you want. Keep an even amount of pressure on your horse and do not move your legs back and forth.
I have kids who ask me all the time, “Are my reins short enough?” and yeah, standing there they are, but in the pen when you’re moving, you have to feel and be able to adjust your reins for whatever maneuver you’re performing at the time.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article with Bennie Sargent for AQHA
