So, I have learned both methods of asking for flexion. Open rein - open the inside rein, get response as capture in outside rein, return to neutral then ask for a little more forward. I learned this more as an initial way of softening and bending the greener horse. Also learned lifting or turn the knob to ask for flexion and softening on the inside rein. Both are looking to rebalance the horse.
So which do you use? Do you find one better than the other or better at one gate than another?
For my horse, lifting inside rein getting softening seems to work better than open with respect to softening the poll, jaw, particularly to the left. Same in all gaits, though I mostly do it at the walk as part of our warm up, less in trot and canter. For reference, he is an aged horse, still doing 4th-psg work and some Piaffe/Passage.
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