I’m familar with holding the reins english-riding-style, one in each hand, and see the Achenbach method for driving, both reins (lines) in the left hand with the right hand holding the whip and playing a supporting role. I’m just getting started and am thinking that I should make a rein board and learn the Achenbach method. Does that sound correct? How do you hold the lines?
I’ll preface by saying I’ve only driven in work horse sorts of situations (heavy horses doing farm work and pulling people mover vehicles) and not show or pleasure. I learned to drive from an excommunicated Amish guy I worked for. For all I know, I could be totally off base.
I had to look up pictures of Achenbach. I guess I sort of do? My personal style seems to be whatever configuration gives the desired comfort and safety at that particular moment. Generally, my left acts as an anchor and the right moves more. I keep both hands on the lines the majority of the time of if I’m driving a wagon but I don’t usually cross the line Hungarian style (I just learned that! Lol) For farm work you do need a free hand to manipulate equipment, etc. For plowing, you actually drape the lines over your shoulder because you need both hands to operate the plow unless you’re the size of Alexander Karelin. (Obviously, you never join the ends of the lines together for safety’s sake. I use Velcro dots to hold the flat side of the lines loosely together to help keep them from slipping.)
From what little I read I could see where learning to use the Achenbach rein board would be helpful with a 4-in-hand due to the differing angles the teamster has in relation to the front and back team and weight of the lines. For example, I’ve found if I’m driving in a parking lot it’s best to have the team’s front feet almost hit the curb before turning. Otherwise, you run one side of wheels onto the curb. I imagine the physics of a 4 in hand would require even greater advanced planning. Can’t hurt to play around with the Achenbach system!
When I drive single or a pair, I hold the lines just like I was riding. Lines through the pinky. My husband is not not a rider, just a driver. He holds them like driving reins. Straight through his hand. It really is personal preference. We have both won (and lost lol!) reinsmanship classes, so as long as you can keep an even feel and keep a nice drive, hold the lines however you like!
Now saying that, once in a while my husband does do Achenbach and hold them in one hand. He finds he can get a softer feel with the ponies. He only does this for a short period of time and once the ponies are warmed up. But that’s just what works for him and it depends on what he is working on. You may be asked in some pleasure classes to drive part of a test one handed, so it is good practise for sure!
You would get bonus points driving Achenbach in a reinsmanship class (so I’ve been told), but of course only if its done really, really well. I have never done this as I don’t practise it enough so I’m not very good at it!
Rein boards are really good tools. Make sure the rope and pulleys move really freely. My instructor has us have the bit very close to the ground because then you feel the clunk of it hitting if you let one side move down too much. Really enlightening how much the bit will move when you move your hands even a little.
I hold the reins the same way I do when I ride. I learned the “farmer” way from, well, farmers but since I drive dressage/CDE I want that same contact and connection.
The Achenbach and Hungarian techniques are fairly advanced.
As I started to work with this, I found the Hungarian technique to be better for my hands. I see a lot of men using the Achenbach style but when I do it, the skinny crone claws at the ends of my paws are not thick enough to make tilting my hand forward/back affect the rein in any meaningful way. Hungarian, however, where the whole width of your hand separates the reins works much better for me. It is very good for steady straight contact - much like using a bridge when you ride. And do use your right hand to make bigger movements.
Not to steal the OP’s thread, but I’ve been interested a very long time in setting up a reining board. Could someone point me to some good resources for doing so? TIA!
OP - I’ve driven both with both methods DiamondJubilee described - straight through the hand, and like a riding rein. I don’t feel as though I have a strong preference for one or the other, and I agree that in a reinsmanship class, whatever you do, you should do it well, so whichever method works best for you is what you should use.
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Thanks, everybody. For a rein board, search YouTube for “rein board.”
Late to the discussion. Over the years, we have used all the rein styles, sometimes on the same day!
The first consideration with rein holding, is to NOT be annoying the horse constantly. Your hands and arms need to be steady. You send much BIGGER signals to the driving horse with the longer reins, than what a riding horse feels at the end of 2-3ft rein lengths. Then consider your type of driving, what you are doing with the horse today, Dressage, bending for short sessions or a trail drive of miles. You want his bit feel to be consistant, not holding him up or no contact, one side pulling harder than the other. I think of it as talking, he lightly feels me on the reins, head out or in a more collected frame. He gathers himself if I take up rein. I am NOT busy with my reins to the bit, all the time so he learns to ignore me.
Horse can’t be expected to “be on the bit” or be collected for miles of driving. But for short ringwork sessions, he should be developed enough to manage that kind of “putting himself together” in short sessions. So you need to learn, then practice various rein holding methods that will work comfortably doing these types of driving. Changing between them helps prevent stiff hands, arms, as you go along.
I did not see any mention above, of driver managing their whip along with the reins. You “should” have your whip in your hand all the time you are driving. It is one of our few Aids in Driving, so having it ready to use is important. Having whip in one hand, reins in the other, allows INDEPENDENT rein use when signaling the horse. If you have a rein and whip in the same hand, horse gets bit signals when you use that whip. You drop the contact or pull the rein, when whip is moved. Happens EVERY time whip moves. This is the main reason for developing one-handed rein handling for driving.
We prefer Achenbach for our main rein style, probably because it is so adaptable to the Driver. Both husband and I started with “plow reining”, one in each hand, no whip anyplace! We learned Achenbach style, holding our whip too, when we joined a Driving Club. We took lessons at a Clinic, then read up on it. Sure it felt awkward at first, lots of fumbling but we just kept at it. HORSE liked it much better, went better for us. Achenbach just got easier with practice and time. We could touch her with the whip as needed for turns, bending, keeping our forward while collected, without dropping her rein contact. And the independent whip could be used on stray dogs while driving down the road so she never missed a beat!
After we found CDEs, we learned other rein holds, which worked better for us, in parts of the competition than Achenbach did. Hungarian comes in handy in quick turns for cones, with our Multiples. Tandem was another BIG learning curve, they react so fast!! My point is to practice all the one-handed methods until they are comfortable, automatic for you. Then practice them with reins in right hand, whip in your left, until you are pretty smooth that way too. It allows your hands to relax, rest during longer driving sessions. You can still drive even if one hand tires, or gets injured while at an activity. I have seen fly bites, bee stings happen at picnic drives. Or your arthritis flares up. Changing to your “other” rein hand lets you keep driving.
Ultralite Whips sell lovely whips that are very light, easy to carry for long times without tiring your hands. A point to try, is moving your hand up the whip stick, so tip is not pulling down on you. Top heavy whip is very tiring to your wrists over time. Adding a bit of weight to the whip butt end, can balance it better. Make it easier to carry for long times. Experiment! We almost always grasp the whip stick higher than the “handle area” because the whip tip with lash length for Multiples, balances better in our hand.
Rein boards are an excellent tool to practice with. You can make very simple ones, inexpensively. Get practice reins the same width, thickness, as your driving reins so they feel the same on the horse. Wear your gloves, they add friction for taking reins up or letting them out as you wIll have in real driving. Hold the whip in practicing, use it like in real driving, do bending touches on the opposite side across the reins, stepping sideways touches without moving the reins! Wear a hat, laprobe now and then at the reinboard, in a vehicle, so you are comfortable with them at a show. Husband had to practice wearing his hat to get used to it, not be distracted by the feel on his head while driving. Now he wears hats, helmets all the time!
We feel the one-hand rein holds are not “advanced” driving skills. Good for any level of driving! Just a better way of doing things, because they allow independent use of reins and whip handling. Horse gets clearer signals, can respond easier to each seperate cue you give him. Knowing and being comfortable with more than one rein handling method allows you to better tailor rein handling to your present driving situation.
Thank you for the great reply goodhors. Encouraging and intimidating. May I ask one more kindness? Where can I get more information on rein handling? I’ve got “Carriage Driving” by Bean and Blanchard, which seems a good start, and have seen one fee-based on-line driving trainer who looks very good. What else is there? I’m in the middle of nowhere, but with the help of a very knowledgable horseman/rider, and want more information. Thanks a million!
PS: I really liked the “Don’t annoy the good horse”
