Hands!

[Bradders]

Another simple question from me

In an ideal world, where should your hands be? (And don't say - "on the reins" )

Told you it was simple!

[hackedoff]

On Johnny Depp...? 

[TashaKat]

Jensen Ackles for me 

[Bradders]

Jensen Ackles for me 

LOL - me too Or Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow!

Ask as stupid question ........

[catkin]

Thought it was with your upper arm straight down and forearms at a right angle as your feel is at it's softest then.

[ash]

Mitts off Jensen Ackles, he's MINE! 

Anyway, yes I thought it was at right angles too, with elbows by your sides, as if you were carrying a tray of champagne glasses, or in my case, mugs of builder's tea! 

[ros]

Ladies, please!!! 

In an ideal world, and assuming the horse's head is where it should be, the upper arms will be hanging nice and relaxed, and the hands and reins will be more or less making a straight (but not tight) line to the mouth.

The old school used to teach that the hands should be roughly 4" above the withers, but that was before someone decided that horses should go around with their heads between their forelegs. If you look at old pics, the head carriage was quite a lot higher than nowadays, and I'm sure the horses were lighter for it. What happened to "riding your horse on a silken thread"?

It's all relative really, and I reckon it's less about where you put your hands and more about understanding what to do with them.

[Bradders]

Thank you!

It is sort of what I thought!

[cirocco]

scuse me, but who's Jensen Ackles. Mrs thick here.


Hands..... Depends on the horse and what your doing.

For me
Hands low, sort of about the area of the front of the saddle and asking. never holding, never blocking, always soft and gentle. Shoulders relaxed.

[Bradders]

scuse me, but who's Jensen Ackles. Mrs thick here.

Shoulders relaxed.

Oh how I struggle with the relaxed shoulders bit (well, to be frank, relaxing anything is a bit tricky at the moment!)

Who is Jensen Ackles?!!!!

You need to watch Supernatural!

[crdodgeon]

Don't worry, Cirocco, I don't have a clue who he is, either! Anyone got pics???

[Bradders]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010075/

Not taken with the bearded Jensen tho! I am just so fickle

[crdodgeon]

Aaahh!!