So, I got to ride yesterday and I was absolutely horrified to find that I couldn’t remember what to do with my hands. I wish I could repeat my freshman year at the barn and pay so much closer attention and practice so much more…I was such a fool.
I think I have a tendency to switch between direct reining and neck reining when using two hands. It’s not good. It confuses the hell out of the horse. So, I’m gonna run through this.
In order to turn to the right, direct reining, you want a lift of your right hand towards your left shoulder, without crossing over the saddle horn or the mane. With your left hand you “guide” or maintain slight contact to keep the horse from turning to far to the right. Your legs should be urging the horse forward while encouraging a bend in the spine with your inside (right) leg adding slight pressure at the cinch, your outside (left) leg slightly away from the body creating an “open door”. If you open the door too far, your horse will move sideways instead of forward, so you want to keep that energy and that motion moving forward. The same process for a left turn only reversed, obviously.
When neck reining with two hands you want the horse moving off of your rein instead of following it. You’re going to lay the left rein against his neck, without pressure on the bit, by moving your left hand towards your right shoulder. If he doesn’t turn and move away from that pressure, you’ll use your right hand to correct and draw his head gently to the right. So, your hands will likely move in unison, remaining mostly the same distance apart.
Maybe it’s just a matter of muscle memory. What used to be a reflex is now forgotten.
I rode Billy bareback and it was kind of uncomfortable…It took me a while to relax and get back my balance. He kept just gravitating back towards Annie. I also rode Sugar (Annie’s little sister, Zoe’s, horse)…And I liked her a lot better than Billy, but don’t tell Annie I said so. Maybe just because of the saddle. I felt way more secure, lol. I got her to walk, trot, and canter. She even followed me a little when I got off. She seemed to like me a lot. They all said she was really good for me :) I was so happy.
I got to try egg and spoon, which I had never done before. It’s a pretty typical kind of relay race at 4-H, open, and fun shows. I’ve never showed before. Mona and Annie were talking about letting me show Annie’s been there, done that, 19-year-old QH, Billy, at walk-trot on April 25th, lol. I’d be terrified, I think. What do I have to wear? I’d have to get my hat shaped and stuff…I don’t think I have a shirt that fits me right now, either…I dunno. I think it would be nice to do it with people who know exactly what’s going on, lol! It’d probably be good for me.
I’ll have to think about that…
