Reins getting caught on saddle pad

[Bluey]

Don’t know how you have to ride in Western Dressage competitions, but maybe this will help those that get hand cramps riding one handed?

http://horseandrider.com/training/slow-hand-27237

Holding the reins in one hand correctly and loosely should not cause cramps of any kind.

By the time a western horse is trained well enough for one hand riding, the movement of that hand should be minimal and very soft.

The training then is now the more refined one that will support that kind of specific, technical riding with a now very sensitive horse to the slightest aids.

Now you don’t have to ask, support and guide your horse any more, but indicate what next and let the horse do it, along with your other supporting aids of seat and legs and maybe voice.

[csaper58]

@Draftmare

I hold them like english reins. http://imgur.com/a/Sncv7

In that very test I ended up with my reins caught just as we were suppose to go into free walk. I remember my moment of panic, haha!

Looking at your hand position in this picture, it’s placing the bight in the ‘danger zone’. Can you raise your hands and bend your elbow a tad? Then the bight will fall on the pad and not get caught.

I don’t think bridging split reins is legal in Western Dressage but check the rules to be sure. Knotting the rein may not be allowed either.

[Draftmare]

@Montanas_Girl

I can see how the ends of the reins might occasionally slip under the front corner of the saddle pad, but I’m not sure how that means that you lose the ability to steer and stop, since the rein between the horse’s mouth and your hand isn’t stuck? Maybe I’m not picturing exactly what you’re describing. When the tails of my reins get stuck, I just lift them out/away during the next break I take and move on. Do you possibly have any photos or video of the problem you’re having?

If even closed/roping reins are getting stuck, I have to wonder if your saddle is too far forward. Just an idea.

When mine get stuck they tend to lose all the slack in them. So all I can do is stop. Our neck reining (leg reining) is hit or miss at speed. She’s pretty solid at the walk, and the jog is getting there, and the canter we aren’t as solid and still rely on plow reining to turn.

[Draftmare]

@Bluey

Don’t know how you have to ride in Western Dressage competitions, but maybe this will help those that get hand cramps riding one handed?

http://horseandrider.com/training/slow-hand-27237

Holding the reins in one hand correctly and loosely should not cause cramps of any kind.

By the time a western horse is trained well enough for one hand riding, the movement of that hand should be minimal and very soft.

The training then is now the more refined one that will support that kind of specific, technical riding with a now very sensitive horse to the slightest aids.

Now you don’t have to ask, support and guide your horse any more, but indicate what next and let the horse do it, along with your other supporting aids of seat and legs and maybe voice.

I ride two handed, not one handed.

[Draftmare]

@beau159

A breastcollar should not be pulling your saddle forward, or you’ve got it WAY too tight.

Even with it not snug I always felt like it pulled my saddle forward… :ambivalence:

[Draftmare]

@csaper58

Looking at your hand position in this picture, it’s placing the bight in the ‘danger zone’. Can you raise your hands and bend your elbow a tad? Then the bight will fall on the pad and not get caught.

I don’t think bridging split reins is legal in Western Dressage but check the rules to be sure. Knotting the rein may not be allowed either.

There aren’t any restrictions on how you can hold your reins. It was with my reins held bridged in two hands that I was feeling like I was getting cramps in my hands. I also found it really hard to gather my reins back up from free walk back to working walk. :no:

I have always had a hard time with keeping a bend in my elbow, it is an ongoing struggle. I blame my, ehm, anatomy. :lol:

[Bluey]

@Draftmare

I ride two handed, not one handed.

Didn’t you say you also ride bitless, or were considering it?

All we do different helps us gain skills to handle ourselves better.

Do you use cavalletti grids of all kinds?
Helps with focus and flexibility for both, horse and rider.

Try cross-training to loosen up a bit?

[Montanas_Girl]

@Draftmare

When mine get stuck they tend to lose all the slack in them. So all I can do is stop. Our neck reining (leg reining) is hit or miss at speed. She’s pretty solid at the walk, and the jog is getting there, and the canter we aren’t as solid and still rely on plow reining to turn.

Based on this statement and the picture you shared, you are holding your hands much too low. You should have a relaxed bend in your elbow, and your hands should be above and slightly in front of the saddle horn - this doesn’t change between English and Western. (Although you still shouldn’t need “slack” in your reins to turn, because your hands shouldn’t move more than an inch or two from their neutral position to do so.)

I am also “well endowed”, but that has nothing to do with being able to keep your elbows back by your side. A softly bent elbow is important to maintaining a soft, elastic, following content with the bit. When you straighten your elbow, you lose this ability. It’s a very common bad habit, so you are not alone! Compare my arm position (minus the oddly twisted wrist) in this photo to your arm position in the photo you posted. (It’s a very old photo, as evidenced by my attire, but the best one I could find to illustrate the concept I’m trying to explain.)

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“title”:“November 3.JPG”,“data-attachmentid”:9678550}[/ATTACH]

[TMares]

Switch to 8’ long, 3/4" wide split reins with thicker ends, and bridge them. Problem solved. Flimsy little nylon reins or lightweight leather roping reins are prone to getting wallowed back up under the pad.

[TMares]

http://shop.schutzbrothers.com/c/reins_split-reins_8-harness-leather-with-water-loops

[TMares]

Short, stout, big boobs don’t get in the way of you getting your paws out of her mane and out in front of you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61y19ft8S7g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FONIR3S_Hq0