new vid - update! :)

[shoveltrash]

thanks for the clarification Trudi .  so just yesterday i was actually playing with this, shortened my reins a bit but then felt the contact was 'hard'  . 
 
as for the whip change, i've been practicing , and i think it's a bit better - doing the 'over the top' change similar to what is described by Freedom & Janehon!  thanks so much for the descripts

My only query is, are you showing your ducklings?!! All the time.

what do you mean by "ducklings"? (sorry if i'm being dim!)

[hilary]

No  -  I think it is a mary Wanlessism , or such like!
IMagine you have two little fluffy ducklings in your hands -  dont let them escape, but dont throttle them either. Now pretend you are showing your duckings carefull to someone ( ie offering them slightly forward) ,as you do that feel which muscles are working in your arm  -  should be your triceps ( back of upper arm). Now bring your "ducklings an inch back towards you. Feel which muscles are doing the most work, and it is your biceps ( front of upper arm).
If you are using your biceps you are pulling ( even if your hands are not moving backwards), and if you use your triceps , you are not pulling.
Ask Nico if he notices a difference.

Sorry, am pretty useless at explaining things in the written word !!! 

The reins are your fluffy ducklings -  dont throttle them , but dont let them get too long either!!

[shoveltrash]

ah!!!!!!!!!!  NOW i get it
and that's actually a fantatic description - thanks for taking the time to write it
i think you've actually pinpointed my niggling issue hilary!  now i can't wait to ride again and experiment with the *ducklings*

[Peaches]

I was taught the ducklings thing (but with chicks instead...not literally, obviously  ) when i was little too It's something I used myself when I was teaching my neighbour the basics riding before she could get lessons at a school. I'm forever dropping my chicks though  ride with my hands too open 

[Trudi]

  well done Hilary, that was much better than I was putting it  it's not about you shortening your reins in the first place but not letting them get longer. I was taught from quite young to keep my hand in a fist with thumbs upper and fingers closed....in later years I've adapted the style of keeping the reins between thumb and fore finger with the rest of the fingers loose and able to play gently on the reins, just stopping having the 'fist' helped me relax my fore arm. Just try it sitting at your computer, last three fingers rounded into a fist (not tight) or out and playing 

[shoveltrash]

'had a big *lightbulb* moment yesterday
checked & rechecked my 'hands', then remembered the EH axiom of "droppable forearms" - which ties right in with this: 

pretend you are showing your duckings carefull to someone ( ie offering them slightly forward) ,as you do that feel which muscles are working in your arm  -  should be your triceps ( back of upper arm). Now bring your "ducklings an inch back towards you. Feel which muscles are doing the most work, and it is your biceps ( front of upper arm).
If you are using your biceps you are pulling ( even if your hands are not moving backwards), and if you use your triceps , you are not pulling.
Ask Nico if he notices a difference.

hilary you were so right about my biceps!!! once i regained 'droppable forearms' and stopped being stiff, my horse actually softened and seemed to say THANK YOU .  once again, trying too hard for the perfect position .
i was indeed using my biceps, and Nico says 'thanks' for you guys helping me figure this out .

[winnieandben]

    I was working hard on this out on hack today and got a lovely soft trot with no rushing 

[hilary]

Droppable forearms  -  I'll remember that one