Horse Care & Riding : How to Hold a Horse's Reins

[cmaurisset83]

g rien comprit a ce quel dit !!



[trizan123]

That IS what I do, lol :P

[PenguinPownage]

I originally learned english so i hold my reins like this but now I do natural horsemanship/western

[horselover5504]

Thanks it was very usefull! I've been riding waestern all my life and I want to learn how to ride English!

[embobba]

Im starting horse riding lessons on saturday (in 3 days) and i just wanted to get an idea and this was perfect!!

[pnkrockerchik762]

whats the difference between english and western?? and yes im a beginner in riding

[musicislife2211]

@pnkrockerchik762 The difference is mostly in the saddle, in my opinion. A Western saddle has a horn, whereas the English one does not. Also, western saddles are typically harder to fall out of, just because you have the horn to hold on to if the horse shies, or catches you by surprise. English riders are forced to rely more on their own balance to stay in the saddle, and it's a slighter built saddle. IMO western is good for building basic balance, but english is good to build your balance on.

[neonrider333]

@musicislife2211 why does it matter?

[musicislife2211]

@neonrider333 i was answering her (i'm assuming pnkrockerchik762 is a girl, at least) question. i don't really know what you're referring to when you ask why does it matter.

[AZ0920515]

wat a pretty horse! I love riding horses and patting them!! they r such lovely things! i just wish i had a horse of my own..

[bilihuset]

she can ride on me

[poppyando]

@bilihuset your an asshole

[bilihuset]

@poppyando why that. I love riding girls

[LaFeeDeForet]

The horses colour is so beautiful! :)

[moinuddin2]

amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



[torytrom]

@Psychis09

im pretty postive the most dangeros sport in the world is cheerleading.

google it.

[CatMaster87932]

@torytrom Noo, I think it's Sky Diving.

[michellehorsefan7]

@torytrom

BAHAhAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA now thats funny. All Cheerleading is is a bunch of high chicks wanting to look like little whores, come on.

[torytrom]

@michellehorsefan7

Don't laugh at me. I do not cheer. Im simply stating a fact. It doesn't matter what kind of people they are, the fact is that their sport lands alot of them into hospitals because they are performing extremely difficult gymnastic stunts with no protective gear on.

And let me guess, you aren't exactly the "cheerleader type". They stereotype you, and you stereotype THEM back,

This is a horseback riding video. Not a dissing cheerleaders one.

[TheCarlyPersonal]

wat a lovley horse! :)

[Susukeyup5555555]

I prefer holding them in one hand...

[horsequeen20]

@Susukeyup5555555 Maybe b/c you do western i do english riding you?

[TheStormrider98]

foaming at the mouth can mean alot of things mainly because they have just been running adn somtimes the bit dus nt fit properly some people in england whip horses if they are lazy and dont do wht there told bt im sure some people in america do to i dont whip my horses coz most of tem are very young i dont agree with the jockys whiping the horses so much but they have very hard skin and hardly feelit if they get whipped on there rumps.

[MoNaZandAED]

Pretty horse! ;D

[4everhorserider]

piano hands are not comfy!!!!!!! lol.

[rodeoqueen1300]

ok, why do people dog on the opposite riding style all the time? they are both equally hard and equally enjoyable! if you ask me, western riders are extremely talented and english riders are extremely talented. ANYONE who rides horses is extremely talented. its a hard, yet very rewarding, sport. which is one of the many reasons its the second most dangerous sport in the world. but hey, thats the thrill of it. i love to just hop on a horse, warm up and head off on the trail one handed at a run :)

[Psychis09]

@rodeoqueen1300

what's the MOST dangerous sport in the world?

[CornSnake43]

@rodeoqueen1300 I completely agree.

People only say ride western or ride English because that's the way that they do it.

[suchandidiot94]

erm yeah your right western in a more relaxed way of riding...but no need to dis english becos western is YOUR way,...some horses arent fit and they huff and puff...so do humans? and also some breeds of horse naturally tuck there necks in, if you knew enough about horses you wouldnt critisise other riding ways...in no shape or form does english harm horses its just a more intense way of riding rather than just sitting there relaxing =] just MY opinion

[TheStormrider98]

i totaly agreee with you no offence but most of the top competers like in the olympic the english allways beat the americans no offence its just riding in england is more of a sport or hobby and are horses arnt used to extreme heat but i bet if ur quarter horses were put in our cold weather they wudnt do very well either so thrs no need to say tht only my opinion i hate thees riding vids thr crrap if u wannna no how to ride go to a stables lol

[CherrieCupcakeKerrie]

@TheStormrider98 I'm confused, what are you saying? O_O Isn't it colder here? Or are you talking about southern people? I personally think the best competitive riding is in the North East, or the East coast in general for the U.S. Western/southern people use them more for labor, they need them to survive. I must admit, the U.S. has some of the best horse breeds.

I was wondering this: Is it cheaper to maintain a horse in England than it is in the U.S.? It seems so common over there.

[dorothee98]

my riding instructor told me to put 3 figers on the top of th reins and the other to fingers under the reins for my whip is that right?

[buffguy0]

You dont need a whip unless your some kinda jockey!

[dorothee98]

well the horses i ride need whips even mi trainer sayz so

[horseridingbuckaroo]

actually, many peopl who ride english do u a whip. i even use a whip in western because my horse is stubborn.

[Beastgal1765]

Many riders use a whip english or western depends on the horse. But they dont whip their horse like a jockey at all. Even with my stubborn ex-racehorse I don't whip him like that.

[BreyerLover2585]

Buffyguy0|You use whips just encase a horse is refusing to do what you the horse to. I really don't know what else it's for I just started riding English so.

[Dolphin8050able]

Do you have to wear those clothes she was wearing when you have a horn on a saddle? Cause when I ride,there's a horn the saddle and I bought a show coat and boots and breeches. ....So can I still wear those clothes when there's a horn on the saddle?

[horsyhugger24J]

if theres a horn it would mean you have a western saddle, and western and english have different show clothes so if you wanna show english you should have a saddle without a horn.

[WindWolfProductions]

if you're going to show your horse, then no; but otherwise it's okay.

you're riding in a western saddle(with a horn).

in this video, the girl is in an english saddle.

and there's different apparel for both :)

[DakotaAndTiffany]

the horn means its western but you probably know that :P

And you could but not in a show they have different show clothes

[horseridingbuckaroo]

a horn on the saddle means it is western riding. for western u wear jeans, approved cowboy boots with a 1 inch heel and a helmet. before riding, i would suggest research!

[thomasstep1]

Some Australian saddles have horns...

[merjemizkool]

those reins are too short they should be in front of the pummel

[luvsean13]

well i've learned two ways , if the reins are shorter than the ones you had on that horse , for a racing horse, you make a loop and hold it in your hand but have your pointer finger in the loop. for a trail horse with shorter reins you hod them with your hand in a fist.

[ArabKate]

Horses reins should be as loose as possible, you are just holding your horse back with short reins, i do natural horsemanship and can ride with no reins when I want, give the poor horse a break, it already has its mouth shut and a bit jammed into it

[ilovepreciousjim]

yeah that might be for western but not english you want a light contact with the horses mouth and if you disagree with this i sugesst looking a vids of pro riders

[tigercub888]

my old teacher said it was like holding a little kid's hand when crossing the street. you want to keep constant contact (you're not going to let go of the kid's hand). but also careful not to pull hard at the kid's arm, or yank her around. that's a good comparison. (this was in england -- so english riding, obviously). only use force if the little kid is about to run out into traffic -- or, if your horse is really not listening and doing something dangerous.

[CherrieCupcakeKerrie]

@ArabKate I think many people will disagree on "Western horses look happier than English". If you haven't noticed, most horses are trained English. I love both styles, I prefer western when on trails but English when training and competing. They're meant to do different things, so why do people love to fight so much about them?

[Alicetaylorx]

I do piano hands sometimes :S

I forget not to becuase I play the piano alot.

[flamingpoet6887]

i used to have the same problem

[xmisshowmanx]

I always ride with my hands down, and thats how my instructor has told me too, then i see a fair amount of people riding with them up, i cant really change because ive rode with them down for years and years, does it REALLY matter?

[7flyinghecks]

Yes and no. If you are getting what you want out of your horse with your hands down, then it is probably fine unless you show where the judge will be critical of hand position. It is also good to know how to ride with your hands in different positions because when training a young or novice horse you may have to move them up or down to encourage correct headset until the horse masters it and you can ride in a more normal position.

[TeenageDirtbag88]

Im a bit tha way too. One of my instructors encourages low hands while the other suggests high. They have both trained their horses that they own and both of the horses are collected nicely and are quiet as well. So I dunno, I think I prefer low hands but I don't know if there is a wrong or right coz both horses that were trained differently are both beautiful horses to ride.

[ilovepreciousjim]

the correct way to hold the reins is to have your knuckles facing out like your holding to icecream cones side by side but you want bothe your hands to be on each side of the withers

[ArabKate]

actually i do natural horsemanship which is a way nicer way to ride horses, total control with no contact, and its not hard to learn, also u will see western horses look more happier than horses ridden english way

[Beastgal1765]

Thats not true at all about western and english ArabKate. I used to ride western and my horse hated having the saddle on his back. He is trained western but you could just tell he didn't feel comfortable and the saddle with great. I went english and he gives it his all. He loves it! Horses that ride english always seem happier. And natural horsemanship has nothing to do with type of riding I use natural horsemanship and ride english about to learn to jump. I mainly ride bareback.

[horseridingbuckaroo]

actually, its not proven that horses who do english are happier, its your opinion. my opinion is that english riders hold the reins to tight and hurt the horses neck ... trust me, i hav been to many shows where horses are breathing hard after a walk/jog class because the reins are to tight and their head is uncomfortable. western is a very relaxed and it gives me pleasure to have a fun relaaxing day with my horse on the trail ... he loves it!

[Beastgal1765]

Yes that is true that its an opinion thing. But it can also depend on the horse and how its and trained and what it prefers. Take a western horse and ride it english it will be uncomfortable. Take a english and ride it western it will be uncomfortable. But some english horses are fine with how the reins are. They aren't tight just more close contact with the bit and many horses show no signs of discomfort and a proper rider will try to correct the discomfort. But yes it is and opinion thing. :)

[TwistedTemptress]

a horse with its neck and head in the 'on the bit' position is not uncomfortable, nor is its breathing in any way affected. its blindly ignorant western riders who don't know enough about english riding that ruin the reputation of what is a very fun way to ride. And if you can't see the subtle insult there, I mean western riders like you.

[horseridingbuckaroo]

actually i do hunter for 4-H ..... not only western, so i do have english experience. Yes, i mainly ride western, but i have to do hunter. i choose not to b hard on the horses mouth or hold the reins so short that he foams at the mouth ... it is not an insult, but simply an opinion if you read the comment.

[TwistedTemptress]

Horses that are foaming at the mouth, as a general rule, are not doing so because the reins are too tight. They are 'working' the bit, which is actually a really good sign of the horse being responsive and accepting the bit. Its not a bad thing.

[DakotaAndTiffany]

Yes because kicking the crap out of horses to make them go faster makes them happier :/

[runningmustang]

how short is she planning to get the rein? gees.:S

[the1andonlyamy]

I think that it was bad that she said you could hold the reins wrong at the start. its best to start correctly!!

[mollypony]

i like that one thank you xxx :)

[joejonastohearts12]

everybody knows how to hold reins...

[7horselover7]

she has no idea whats shes doing

[youwhoo888]

Actually this is the right way, lol. She's described it perfectly :)

[micpianotuner]

Hi I´m mic. This lesson I liked most because of piano hands : ) I play a little....

Do you have a homepage from the stable you work? Thank you very much for the friendly lessons that I can study during having no horse. You are great , regards mic .