Who does this? I was surprised to see this at a recent show - a certain trainer’s riders swap the bight of the rein to the outside when they change direction. In my mind this creates unnecessary movement to the horse’s mouth - why do that? It looked busy and not so good for the equitation. You?
I have seen this done and was instructed to do this, I forget the reasoning behind it as it was years ago. Maybe it had something to do with getting the reins off the shoulder and out of the way if you wanted to use the crop. I was also taught to carry the crop on the inside. This was eons ago. When I was a sprout.
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I remember learning which side it’s supposed to be on (the outside I guess?) but I don’t actually bother switching it. Mine is just on whichever side it happens to land!
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Traditionally, It should be on the right.
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I learned to have it on the left as a child (not in the American system) and then was trained that it should be on the right. Who knows???
I’ve always got it on the right. My jumping bat usually stays in my right hand unless I’m on a horse that drifts left.
If I flat with a dressage whip it switches so it’s always on the inside.
I always have it to the left…drives me bonkers if it’s right as I carry my crop in my right hand. But in an undersaddle class, I don’t carry a crop and put it to the side where the judge isn’t (inside if they’re outside of the ring…I want a nice clean line from bit to hand lol)
I was taught bight always on the right. Whip always on the inside unless there is some issue - ie if horse is drifting left down the line, bat stays on the left.
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Mine is always on the right. It is also often flipped over the rein (to hang on the outside of the rein). If I don’t flip it over, Odie’s shoulder nearly always pushes the buckle underneath my numnah, and then the reins are stuck. It irritates me beyond rationality. Doesn’t matter what length reins, or if I’m riding dressage or jumping. It always happens.
Back in the olden days, judges stood in the middle of the ring for the under saddle classes. At that time it was common practice to keep the bight to the outside in order to present a better picture to the judge. While I don’t always do it, I do find myself slipping back into that habit sometimes. The few times the judge has come into the ring for an under saddle class I always switch it.
Correctly switching the bight should not add movement to the horses mouth.
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One of my standard questions when Judging IEA is asking what the excess part of the rein is called. Not too many know! Interesting to see a post on it.
I have always placed it on the the right, although I see it just as much on the left in recent years.
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If I’m riding without a whip, I keep it on the right, with a whip, whip on inside/bight on outside.
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Traditionally bight on the right so that the excess rein did not tangle with a rider’s sword/scabbard/weapon/whip. Also the reason for mounting from the left. so that the sword/scabbard/weapon/whip did not have to be swung over the horse’s back.
Bight under the rein to keep the bight contained and in more recent times so the bouncing of the bight on the rein is not transmitted to the horse’s mouth
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The problem with this theory is that you are not supposed to be using your crop on the shoulder.
I was taught the saying ‘bight is on the right’.
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I was taught it should be on the right so as not to get your foot caught in it while mounting and dismounting to the left.
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I too learned in the 60s that the bight is always dressed to the outside to present a cleaner picture to the judge who was usually in the middle of the ring. Agree as well that it should be to the off side when mounting.
This , of course does not apply to over fences classes
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Yes, bight on the right…but I am guessing most judges will not notice whether it is on the left or right…or care one way or the other. That being said, as a judge, I do not want to see riders switching their bight back and forth. Pick a side and stick with it.
Traditionally, soldiers carried their swords on the left. Manes and bights traditionally were on the right so as not to interfere when a soldier drew his sword.
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Growing up I was taught bight to the outside and remember learning to subtly switch it with changes of direction, particularly during flat classes.
I always have it on the right when mounting for safety’s sake, but after that…I couldn’t tell you! Just not on my radar these days I guess!
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The issue with having the bight on the side away from the judge is that very few judges work from the middle of the ring. And when we sit outside many of us watch you most on the far side of the ring, so then it is technically on the judges side. truly i think few judges really care.
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Oh gosh, I always keep mine on the right side. If it flips left by accident, I flip it back right ASAP! Just cannot stand the feeling of it on the left. This is such an interesting thread; I’ve never really put any thought into the bight at all!
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