I don't hold double reins like most of you do!

[Cheltenham]

[QUOTE=awesomenessity;8946910]
I’m a jumper rider (hello from the other side… lol) just chiming in to say I hold my Pelham/elevator/etc etc reins crossed, only with the “curb” rein between my top two fingers and my snaffle through all four fingers. Like you said, because it’s one bit it’s hard to separate out the two actions, so my curb/gag rein is basically just used as brakes when I need it. That’s why I keep them between my top fingers, because a horse pulling like a freight train to a jump is just going to rip your pinky off :lol:[/QUOTE]

I actually started with jumpers. If your horse is pulling like a freight train, a bit is not the fix. Take a look at Eventers like Lucinda Green, Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke…or classic stadium like Bill Steinkraus.

I still enjoy a pop round a course.

I’ve worked with racehorses as well, turf and harness…bits do not fix your problems with contact and rate. Your weight/body / biomechanics do. It’s physics.

[Velvet]

I prefer holding them with the curb under the pinky and have also been told I was wrong, wrong, wrong, by BNTs. Crazy. It works better for me. I have less of a hold on the curb, which is the way it should be! There’s so much power with a curb, you really have to be careful. I’d rather open my pinky a bit and have it super soft than have it held in my closed fist with my ring finger. I think it should be left to personal preference. I’ve never understood the attitude these days that says there is only one correct way to do anything and everything.

[awesomenessity]

[QUOTE=Cheltenham;8946983]
I actually started with jumpers. If your horse is pulling like a freight train, a bit is not the fix. Take a look at Eventers like Lucinda Green, Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke…or classic stadium like Bill Steinkraus.

I still enjoy a pop round a course.

I’ve worked with racehorses as well, turf and harness…bits do not fix your problems with contact and rate. Your weight/body / biomechanics do. It’s physics.[/QUOTE]

It was a lighthearted joke about jumpers? Yeesh. I am well aware of how biomechanics work, the only lessons I take right now are dressage lessons with a biomechanics fiend. Just thought since someone asked about Pelhams I would respond as someone who uses a Pelham more frequently than a purely dressage rider would. Going to go back to jumper land now…

[RedmondDressage]

[QUOTE=Cheltenham;8946983]
I actually started with jumpers. If your horse is pulling like a freight train, a bit is not the fix. Take a look at Eventers like Lucinda Green, Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke…or classic stadium like Bill Steinkraus.

I still enjoy a pop round a course.

I’ve worked with racehorses as well, turf and harness…bits do not fix your problems with contact and rate. Your weight/body / biomechanics do. It’s physics.[/QUOTE]

I do have to laugh a little at these kind of assertions. My now retired PSG horse is a freight train. He is very well trained, obviously, and goes in the double or the snaffle… But holy hell I don’t think anyone short of a body builder could stop that horse in a snaffle if he wanted to go. I would be happy to let anyone come out and take him say… foxhunting… In the snaffle and see how much your understanding of physics helps you :lol: And god help you if he gets that massive neck down for a feel good buck… Sometimes you need a little leverage, nothing wrong with that in certain situations.

[sortofbyx]

This is interesting to read. I started with the curb under my pinky because it felt more natural to me, but was corrected to hold the curb one up above from the snaffle between my ring and middle finger. I do have to be more conscientious when shortening to only shorten my snaffle, but otherwise feel like I’m able to isolate each rein fairly independently.

[MissAriel]

I am a long way from needing to worry about a double, but I am enjoying the different viewpoints and experiences. I had no idea there were so many variations, each with their own proponents.

[belgianWBLuver]

[QUOTE=Foxtail;8946565]
I use the Fillis hold. I like to keep the snaffle aids and the curb aids as far apart as possible.[/QUOTE]

I also prefer the fills method. It’s clarity for me makes it seem easier and I simply have to adjust from the wrist to command more snaffle or curb. ( my curb has a slight slack in it when ny wrist is straight ).
However I’ve used the OP’s method as well, especially with horses that are so light and confirmed in their connection.

[Cowgirl]

Once you have broken or dislocated your pinkie because of a bolting/spinning/spooking horse, you will NEVER hold any rein around your pinkie again!

Curb on top or curb on bottom–shouldn’t matter if you ride the horse on your seat.

[Velvet]

Your pinky is no more at risk than your ring finger. That makes no logical sense.

[vagabondrider]

Any fans of the 3:1 style?

[RPM]

Double-Bridle Dressage Article

Interesting article, including a section on the eight (8!) ways to hold the reins–

http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2014/11/03/double-bridle-instrument-understanding

It’s a good dressage article but it doesn’t address the showing of hunters in double bridles, or the old days when children were taught to ride using double bridles.

I’m also looking at pictures of classic Saddlebred champions and their riders, and recent photos too, and the reins look crossed to me (snaffle rein under little finger, curb rein between little finger and third finger). As do the reins in the SRS photos I’m seeing. And modern-day English show hunters.

[Foxtail]

[QUOTE=vagabondrider;8947945]
Any fans of the 3:1 style?[/QUOTE]

You know, I remember reading somewhere ages ago about a rider who uses it to test for balance and straightness issues, and for the life of me I can’t remember where I read that. Although that did get me thinking about how useful 3:1 could be. Wish I knew someone personally who rode like that who could show me.

[Mondo]

I’ve tried just about every way you can hold them, including the 3-in-1. For me the most comfortable and easiest to use is snaffle rein between pinkie and ring finger, and curb rein between ring finger and middle finger. Reins therefore crossed. I think you should use the hold that works best for you AND your horse. I might change my preference if I found a different hold worked for a different horse.

[SendenHorse]

This isn’t anything new, there have always been these different ways. Do what works

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=Foxtail;8946565]
I use the Fillis hold. I like to keep the snaffle aids and the curb aids as far apart as possible.[/QUOTE]

My first exposures to double reins were with pelhams and I was taught to hold the snaffle rein outside the pinky and the curb between pinky and ring finger. However, the Fillis hold is the one that always made the most sense to me. (But I haven’t ridden with anything but a snaffle in decades.)

[vagabondrider]

[QUOTE=Foxtail;8947962]
You know, I remember reading somewhere ages ago about a rider who uses it to test for balance and straightness issues, and for the life of me I can’t remember where I read that. Although that did get me thinking about how useful 3:1 could be. Wish I knew someone personally who rode like that who could show me.[/QUOTE]

I had a horse who did really well with the 3:1 method. He could be tricky in the contact & he seemed to like the stability from the curb when used that way.

[alibi_18]

[QUOTE=vagabondrider;8947945]
Any fans of the 3:1 style?[/QUOTE]

I use the 3:1 with younger/new horses to introduce the double bridle. (I keep the 3 reins in my outside hand. - and switch when I change side.) I allows me to really use the inside rein and/or the curb independently.

Right now, I ride my mare (who tends to curl) on the snaffle with a driving rein. It really helps our connection. I might try the Fillis version when I go back to her double bridle after Christmas.

I believe everyone should try different techniques. It really helps seeing what works for the horse and the rider. (or what doesn’t!!!)

[alibi_18]

[QUOTE=Foxtail;8947962]
You know, I remember reading somewhere ages ago about a rider who uses it to test for balance and straightness issues, and for the life of me I can’t remember where I read that. Although that did get me thinking about how useful 3:1 could be. Wish I knew someone personally who rode like that who could show me.[/QUOTE]

Try it!

[gypsymare]

I sometimes fox hunt in a Pelham with the curb usually much looser than the snaffle. I prefer it under my pinkie as I find it easier to shorten quickly when I need brakes in a pinch.