What is the correct position for your pinky finger? I was told when doing ridden dressage that the pinky is the easiest finger to break so it should be outside the reins. (reins enter between thumb and forefinger and exit between pinky and ring finger)
I have noticed a lot of drivers use their whole hand. Which is “correct”?
Wow, I’ve never been told that about the little finger, not once in 40 years. I had always been given to understand that the reins run as they do between small and ring fingers because it gives a finer movement, and because it allows for the two reins of the double bridle in the future.
As for driving – I think you’ll get a variety of answers, and that is because there is a variety of styles. Though I started out holding the reins as if I were riding – run between pinky and ring finger – I’ve gradually moved to the Achenbach method of one handed driving, with the right hand to assist and to manage the whip. I know people who “plough rein” – reins run over the hand under the thumb.
You’ll find strong opinions on this topic!
My coach allllways says “Throw away the pinkies, the pinkies are no good”
Well I’ve been driving over 50 years and I’ve not the faintest idea what the OP is talking about.
However I do know the “Correct” way to hold the reins:
for a single or pair:
In your left hand,
The nearside or left rein should be over the forefinger.
The offside, or right rein ordinarily between the 3rd and 4th fingers. I ordinarily put it in between the middle and 3rd finger but I’ve got big hands and decades of driving multiples!
Both reins should be held firmly into the palm of the hand by the lower 3 fingers. Or lower 2 fingers if you hold them like I do ordinarily.
For a team or tandem:
Nearside lead rein over the forefinger of the left hand.
The offside lead rein between the forefinger and middle finger.
The nearside wheel rein directly under the offside lead rein between the forefinger and middle finger.
The offside wheel rein between middle and third finger.
All reins held firmly into the palm of the hand by the fingers, the thumb resting lightly on the top of the rein.
Thomas, many of us here in the US are started out (right or wrong) using a two-handed rein grip with a rein in each hand, and in that case, we are taught to hold the reins pretty much like we do when we are riding - with the rein going from the horse’s mouth to between our pinkie and third finger, then over the first finger and anchored by the thumb. The hand is held in a fist so that the the first three fingers help secure the rein.
Does that make sense?
[QUOTE=MauryaMarie;4580188]
What is the correct position for your pinky finger? I was told when doing ridden dressage that the pinky is the easiest finger to break so it should be outside the reins. (reins enter between thumb and forefinger and exit between pinky and ring finger)
I have noticed a lot of drivers use their whole hand. Which is “correct”?[/QUOTE]
The pinky should be outside the reins and kept closed not pointing up in the air like we are drinking a glass of vino 
The whole hand is not correct for either riding or driving.
[QUOTE=nfld_pony;4580986]
My coach allllways says “Throw away the pinkies, the pinkies are no good”[/QUOTE]
Eh?
Sorry, I’m not getting this. The little finger is never “thrown away.” From its position outside the rein it helps to control the hand’s position on the rein, and provides an element of leverage for subtle motions. And it is one of the “three lower fingers” (thank you, Thomas) that hold the reins.
Your explanation is MUCH better than mine. Thank you!
This is what I’m doing. Thomas, is this what you described? But I also hold the offside line and whip in my right hand in front of and very close to my left hand.
http://www.horsedrivingtrialsclub.com/Achenbach%20figure%201.gif
http://www.coachmansdelight.com/CGuidePage.asp?pg=GUI25&k=27
Yip
Oh, and to answer the OP, I never use my whole hand if two-handed reining. I always have the rein between my ring and pinky fingers as when riding English. I personally feel it gives you more hold if the horse should fling his head or something. The lines/reins are less likely to go straight through your hands and become too long too fast.
I am really new so that is IMHO.
Yip
[QUOTE=MySparrow;4581791]
Eh?
And it is one of the “three lower fingers” (thank you, Thomas) that hold the reins.[/QUOTE]
Hey, do you think I might get to be a Driving Instructor or be any good and compete high level :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=hitchinmygetalong;4581743]
Thomas, many of us here in the US are started out (right or wrong) using a two-handed rein grip with a rein in each hand, and in that case, we are taught to hold the reins pretty much like we do when we are riding - with the rein going from the horse’s mouth to between our pinkie and third finger, then over the first finger and anchored by the thumb. The hand is held in a fist so that the the first three fingers help secure the rein.
Does that make sense?[/QUOTE] In the sense that it’s articulate and a proper sentence that I can make sense of then … YES 
In the sense of a posting on a driving forum asking “What is the correct position for your pinky finger?” then it makes no sense whatsoever to describe how to hold the reins to ride a horse.
But for those who want to know how to hold riding reins I can switch to “Riding Instructor” mode:
Put your hands forward as if to play a keyboard ;). Take hold the reins with 3 fingers of each hand - leaving thumb and little finger on the outside. Separate your hands and turn your thumbs upwards.
Can we go back to driving now though :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=Thomas_1;4583520]
Hey, do you think I might get to be a Driving Instructor or be any good and compete high level :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
I should think you might, Thomas, if you keep on working hard.
Being someone who is usually driving Saddlebred and Hackney Pony show horses I am the odd duck out from many on this board. I use two hands and my reins come in to the top of my hands with my thumb on top and I use all of my fingers around the reins. What works for one person doing one type of driving does not always work for another, and if you look at someone like Misdee Wrigley who does many types of driving you will see them employing many methods depending on the situation.
Renae, I noticed that when I was at the Junior League Show this year. I was very puzzled by it, and you bring up a good point - different breed-specific shows have different ways of doing things.
I was watching Gone With the Wind the other week on t.v. and that’s how just about everyone was handling the reins. Maybe it’s a “southern” thing?
I also learned to drive in the Arabian [Morgan & Saddlebred] breed shows and still use a two-handed system [fingers are now arthritic] where the driving reins come up from underneath around my pinky finger through my palm and are held down by my thumb before exiting.
Putting the pinky finger outside [reins between third & fourth finger] or inside {reins around all four fingers} of the driving reins in this style will vary the amount of pressure that you can put on the horse’s mouth.
I was taught to drive horses with sensitive mouths with the pinky finger outside of the driving reins, but to put the pinky finger inside of the driving reins for horses that had less sensitive mouths for more control.
Lorna G. Kirby, PE
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