OMG, thank you for this!! At least half a dozen times every lesson my instructor tells me to shorten my reins or close my hands. I have the hardest time with riding with looseness and not letting my reins slip! Thank you, Amelia, for the explanation and how to resolve the problem. This is definitely something that I can work on during every lesson.
Just felt proper contact with shorter reins yesterday for the first time!, And I'm sure it's no surprise that my horse immediately went more forward with less effort, and we were much better balanced! Now, to repeat it!
I am just learning to ride at 63. I currently riding western, but your clear instructions have helped me so much in the western discipline. I gotten addicted to your videos. Thanks so much.
Good for you just learning to ride @63!!! I love to hear that! I still am riding English at 71! Nothing fancy like jumping but love working on trot and occasionally cantering. Such a thrill still!!! I wish you much happiness in the saddle!!!!
I’m so glad to see this video. Riders who have a preconceived notion of what is kind for the horse deprive themselves from learning the art of horse training. Another reason not to think of your horse in human terms (anthropomorphism). A huge obstacle to learning to ride is the belief that you know more than you do. Hearing advice and thinking “oh I already do that, I know that part”. You might not even know you’re doing it. Learning flows in a circle. Each time you go around you add to your understanding. That’s where the light bulb moments come in. When we get a better understanding, it’s like we are seeing it and feeling it for the first time. Keep an open mind and watch these videos multiple times. You will take away something new every time or be reminded of something you forgot. Bravo Amelia!
That was very well said, (and I think you said a LOT, with a perfectly appropriate number of words!) I agree completely! I have watched these videos so many times, first to see how to do it, then I revisit after I get the feel, to pick on the nuances- it is such an amazing thing to have these videos as a resource, I am so grateful to Amelia for her commitment to helping us all out!
Sometimes the simple fixes make the biggest diference. If you'd like to get some more dressage tips straight to your inbox you can subscribe to my mailing list at the link below! www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ Also here's a link to a rider position assessment course that you could find really useful www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/dressage-rider-quiz/ And one more thing, head over to Facebook and join the Dressage Club, there's a lovely engaged and supportive community of riders with a wealth of knowledge! No query goes unanswered! facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/ Thanks for watching and happy riding!
Amelia, Thank you for this video! You are a beautiful rider. I love all the detail you provide. When I tried these concepts, my horse responded immediately and was very happy I finally got it right!
You are explaining everything with so much care about all details and background. This really helps to understand. I love this. You are super supportive. Trainers often tells us to do sth but I am missing just such a background and deep explanation. Thank you.
I ride western, with a VERY loose rein, and always thought dressage riders were abusing their horses pulling so hard on their reins. But I was informed that they aren't pulling on their mouths, like it looks. Interesting! I always like learning other disciplines. Thanks for this video :)
Thank you, Amelia! You could make a video on how to figure out what is the best rein length acording to the horse's age, strength, training level... How to switch from a loose and a short rein during a training session, for how long a horse can handle a very short rein etc
It's been pleasure to watch your videos. Highly educative - with clarity. It highly helps in assimilation, correcting the mistakes and improving the riding skills. I was facing a lot of problems in shortening the reins until got this video. Amazingly it worked & I improved. Thanks so much. Regards.
Your videos are so helpful. Thank you for showing us both the correct and incorrect versions. Now after having watched a couple of dozens of your tutorials I feel like an expert in my head, I just wish I could do it all so well when riding. :D I hope it will happen one day. The more comfortable the horse is, the more comfortable I feel, and it's fun time for both of us. Thank you again, you are awsome and a great rider and a great person. All the best from Hungary. :)
I heard "shorten your reins! why'd they get so long?" probably about 10 times in my last dressage lesson lol. Definitely something for me to work on! Thank you for sharing!
This is so helpful and very timely. I have struggled with my reins being too long for decades. When I go to soften, I subconsciously loosen my hands and the reins slide through. Have been constantly flailing with my hands when asking for something, which is quite an impediment with a young, athletic Andalusian mare. I will also say that having shorter reins is helpful for when a horse spooks/bolts. I learned this the hard way! Thanks for this, Amelia. I'm going to watch it several times and then go practice with my horse and instructor.
Amelia, these are just SO useful! Answering innumerable petty dilemmas that one had accumulated over the years and never even really put words to. And yet they can really hinder progress. The other effect they have is point out little flaws in one's riding that one never really became aware of and which can now all be corrected. I love the fact that you give your knowledge freely and don't withhold or keep "trade secrets" to yourself. My riding has perceptibly improved since I've been watching your videos and it has only been a couple of weeks since I found them. Thank you!
Very good advice - i am a bad rider, always have been, always will be - so such advice is extremely pertinent for someone like me who needs reference points for each little detail. Your approach offers these reference points even when you might not realise how much you are saying to someone at my very low level. Thank you!
Please don’t say you are a bad rider or that you always will be. I know how you feel though, as I’ve not been able to take the amount of consistent lessons I’ve needed and feel that way too. It’s important to be kind to yourself, work on one maybe two things per ride, that was advice I got that really helped from an article in a horse magazine years ago! Not all of us are good at the same things, and that’s okay 😊❤️❤️❤️
Awwww... you will get better & better each time in the saddle! Really you WILL! Take care and please don't give up!!! I'm sure the horses love you too!!
Thanks . Learning to ride with short reins. Am always worried that I am hurting my mount. But my trainer constantly advices to shorten while on the trot. This was helpful. Will keep practicing.
Check out this free mini course on contact and connection - I think it will help you! amelianewcombdressage.com/free-resources/#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjEyMTUwIiwidG9nZ2xlIjpmYWxzZX0%3D
After seeing my yesterday's canter that looked more like barrel racing, with my hands flying all over the place, instead of a graceful and elegant dressage canter, I ended up here. And Amelia gives answer to my worry in the first 2 minutes. So thank you. I go back tomorrow and make my reins shorter. :)
Thank you so much for watching! Have a search round the youtube channel as I've got a video for almost any problem and I upload a new one every Wednesday! Also, if you want to further your dressage education, I'm having a sale until Saturday on my masterclass on the Dressage Training Scale if you'd like to sign up the link is here! Would love to see you on the course and it will help your journey so much ! www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/trainingscalemasterclass/?fbclid=IwAR0VbN0HaZqzSqu5nvCJfeITvoiovRkYxqtPFOrtUKrli3Y1YvRI0R_8_rQ
Brilliant explanation! I ride a former western pleasure horse, and it has taken some time to get him to take contact. Now, my trainer tells me to shorten the reins, and I have been struggling with it. This gives me a fresh perspective and a breakdown which will be so helpful for my guy. Thank you!
This very helpful. I constantly struggle to keep my rein shorter as I know my horse goes so much better when I do that. I shall practice your technique today. Thank you great to watch love the horse😀😀
This was really helpful for me , Especially your technique of shortening the reins . Now just have to try and master it! Thank you once again, Amelia❤️
Hello, I just started learning to ride at 31 and this video is giving so much information and context on 'Shorten Your Reins' and to have better control. Our instructor always yells to shorten our reins but I never really know why and how to properly do it as it's not explained in our classes. Thank you.
Thanks so much! Going to try this today. Definetly guilty of too lobg reins! Ride Icelander and usually let the reins just go while trotting then establish good contact on the tölt so this means my transitions are bad. I shorten the reins just like you do, hold them the same way etc but I am adjusting way too many centimeters. I have this idea in my head that the horse likes it but seeing how confused your horse gets makes so much sense!! Also my mare will often want to trot because she knows then i let go if everything. Which of course means she gets to relax fully, head drops etc. I geel this will change everything. She is young and green but its time for more collection. She certainly has it on the tölt!!
@@AmeliaNewcombDressage Sure!! I did it! I didnt overdo it lengthwise but tried to focus on keeping my hands quite locked steady. Not arms but hands, as to retrain myself. I had reins quite shorter than usual but longer than if it were tölt, and only rode trot and walk and gallop, which is a good change. I changed to thick rubber reins which I usually hate but did it mostly to not forget and also because they dont glide. Results: A. Way calmer horse than I expected as I thought she would pull on them, she did not! (Ps They were not super short but still contact, I also moved arms with her head, a bit trickier on trot than walk, but I will work on it) B. She was more responsive to my legs/thighs and quicker to do turns and 8:s almost like she read my mind. I did not need to move my hands at all almost which as you said kept me more centered and balanced. C. I experienced no head shaking or pulling up whatsoever (but we were in the in door arena so she is calmer there). D. (Conclusion) My mare is young and all but also smart and my best teacher as she is super reactive so I really dont get away with many mistakes. Whenever I figure new and better things out she will be very obedient almost as if she says "okay thanks whatever you are doing keep doing it" 😄😄 Thank you Amelia!!! And Villimey sends her thanks too 🐎☺️
Also, if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ (If you’re already familiar with all this and have received this before, apology for the unnecessary message, I’m being super thorough today!) I’m also on FB and IG facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/ Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered! facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/ And finally, there’s my website (for when all the social media goes down again 🤣) www.amelianewcombdressage.com/ Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴
My rides are so much better with shorter reins now! Its like the engine is revved more and the steering is way more sensitive. Thanks so much for this video! I think my reins have always been too long
My horse isn't yet ready to carry her head and neck a bit higher, so she's a little low but quite nice in the trot...but then we canter and my hands end up over the pommel. I need to find the happy medium🤦♀️
This is great, so glad i found this, at last a real explanation on how to shorten reins, i can so relate to this and the imbalance. Thanks so much this is definitely something i can work with.
Great tips! I usually lean forward when shortening my reins son i dont boder the horse mouth, but it still affects my balance! I will try to practice this way!
I adore your videos, and they've been really helpful as I've re-learned to ride after a hip replacement. One thing I have noticed is in trot your lower leg moves quite a lot, do you ever ride/trot without stirrups? Just a wee suggestion. Riding has changed so much, now the horses I ride you just have to squeeze the girth to move them, and move your pinky on the rein to turn. I agree that not many instructors teach students how to shorten their reins like you just did! Brilliant video!
This is very helpful! I've seen on videos of myself just how long my reins are and all over the place my hands are. I have shorter arms too, so I struggle figuring out rein length and hand placement. I ride an Icelandic and change my rein length frequently depending on if I'm wanting to tolt or trot, but I should be able to do it without changing that much. Having the smaller box for my hands image is helpful!
This was so helpful! I'm trying to be so soft with my hands that my reins get too long. MY instructor is always after me about my reins getting long so this was a very good demo on this that I'll be trying tomorrow in my lesson. I especially am struggling at the canter and exactly how you demo'd it with the longer reins is how I've been riding - I just didn't realize it. Thanks for this!
Also, if you want to really get clarity, understanding, and progress on your dressage journey, sign up to my FREE webinar on the Dressage Training Scale on March 13th. www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/trainingscalewebinar I’m also on FB and IG (you might already know all this but I'm being super thorough today!) facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/ Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered! facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/ And finally, there’s my website! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/ And you can also sign up here for weekly dressage tips sent to your inbox www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴
The shopping cart metaphor is super and explaining to take the reins in the outside hand to take up the inside one 1st. Then to gradually take up the contact as opposed to doin it all at once. coz guess what, yer Horse'll stop, which my lesson Horse's been doin. It'd a been good if the clinician I rode wi would a told me that little info nugget. I'll put your pointers intae practice tomorrow 5/28 when I ride Cheers lady :)
My horse needs a good 20-30min to accept contact, but then shorter reins are definitely what he needs, and he seeks it himself with more legs, like you said 😁
Yes this important -however it is surprising how many “ schooled “ horses cannot go long and low at all three gaits or walk properly in a free and medium walk -the horse not taking up the length of the rein through using the hindquarters. This shows hasty or improper schooling or both ( horse being shorten from front to back and hence behind the vertical )
Yes, my thoughts as well. Because funnily enough I was perfectly able to ride the horses that were properly trained with long reins and I didn't have to pull back like she said, I just twisted my hands. Classical dressage trainers also probably watch these videos with their heads between their hands, because their horses can actually do the highest class movements with hanging reins. As a horse massager (forgot what the proper name is), who also rides and teaches classical dressage at a university said, the reins aren't shortened, the movements are done through leg aids and the most the reins are used is similar to neck reining, so the reins aren't actually shortened like this - oh and they hold the reins with one hand. The type of riding in this video shown is for the competition, not actual connection and collection of the horse, which we can see throughout the video. I too find it questionable that you have to shorten the reins to get you into proper balance. If you ride like that, you actually brace your weight and balance yourself with the reins, that isn't actual balance. If that happens you should go back to the basics without a saddle and not have reins in your hands.
Big argoment contact with the reins!!Different philosospy in the world,i m agree with you.Please can you tell me wich fingers need to squeeze the reiins?
Hi Paolo, Great question! It depends on the situation what fingers you use. Sometimes it is all your fingers, others it is only your ring finger. Here is a video that might help you: ua-cam.com/video/SO_Xki4uZGc/v-deo.html
Thanks Sara! (I've got another video coming up that has some great tips for rein contact! Don't forget to subscribe to get notified about my weekly videos!
One thing that stuck with me, which I used during my ride tonight, was to push the shopping cart. I tried keeping my reins shorter, but pushing forward to give instead of lengthening the reins. But then my elbows get straight and i tend to fall forward. I've also been working on scrambling the eggs, turning with the outside rein and toward trotting up the centerline.
You might want to do a video on getting behind the vertical next. Some don't see when the horse is behind the vertical with lack of leg and too short rein. Not you, but quite a few.🥰
Wow! He is beautiful! Question, how do you introduce and reward a GREEN horse to trot, leg yield all together, and canter? What are the very first steps? I have a horse very sensitive to touch and she already understands when I squeeze the girth it means go. What's next and what if she gets it wrong?
Teach her from the ground first so she understands how to go sideways! Come to my Free webinar this weekend - we'll be talking about this. amelianewcombdressage.com/free-webinar-piaffe/
I feel like I can't bend or release in my elbow if my reins are short, and i feel like it makes my shoulders round.. But my instructor often tells me to shorten.
So Amelia, if you start by shortening the inside rein, do you do the opposite to bring in the outside rein? Love this video bc I have been struggling with this and it make sense as a way to get more contact through the leg and keep the hands still in front of the saddle. Thanks!
OMG, thank you for this!! At least half a dozen times every lesson my instructor tells me to shorten my reins or close my hands. I have the hardest time with riding with looseness and not letting my reins slip! Thank you, Amelia, for the explanation and how to resolve the problem. This is definitely something that I can work on during every lesson.
Same here.. will try this out today..
Just felt proper contact with shorter reins yesterday for the first time!, And I'm sure it's no surprise that my horse immediately went more forward with less effort, and we were much better balanced! Now, to repeat it!
Yay!! Awesome!!
So inspiring, marginal gains add up.
I am just learning to ride at 63. I currently riding western, but your clear instructions have helped me so much in the western discipline. I gotten addicted to your videos. Thanks so much.
Good for you just learning to ride @63!!! I love to hear that! I still am riding English at 71!
Nothing fancy like jumping but love working on trot and occasionally cantering. Such a thrill still!!! I wish you much happiness in the saddle!!!!
Thank you for not assuming we "know" and as always giving so much detail!
So cute when you say “the end”
Haha thanks Bruce! Gotta end it some way!
I’m so glad to see this video. Riders who have a preconceived notion of what is kind for the horse deprive themselves from learning the art of horse training. Another reason not to think of your horse in human terms (anthropomorphism). A huge obstacle to learning to ride is the belief that you know more than you do. Hearing advice and thinking “oh I already do that, I know that part”. You might not even know you’re doing it. Learning flows in a circle. Each time you go around you add to your understanding. That’s where the light bulb moments come in. When we get a better understanding, it’s like we are seeing it and feeling it for the first time. Keep an open mind and watch these videos multiple times. You will take away something new every time or be reminded of something you forgot. Bravo Amelia!
First Win of the Season - Polo Ponies Gallop to Victory | Equestrian ua-cam.com/video/z-gaANg0UoQ/v-deo.html
So many words yet so little said
That was very well said, (and I think you said a LOT, with a perfectly appropriate number of words!) I agree completely!
I have watched these videos so many times, first to see how to do it, then I revisit after I get the feel, to pick on the nuances- it is such an amazing thing to have these videos as a resource, I am so grateful to Amelia for her commitment to helping us all out!
Insightful thoughts thank you.
I love stoppers personally, they help let you know you are even, and the increments are helpful when giving and taking!
Yes!!
I wish i had seen this before today. After more than a decade of western reining and barrel racing this is my biggest challenge and now i understand!
Sometimes the simple fixes make the biggest diference.
If you'd like to get some more dressage tips straight to your inbox you can subscribe to my mailing list at the link below!
www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/
Also here's a link to a rider position assessment course that you could find really useful
www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/dressage-rider-quiz/
And one more thing, head over to Facebook and join the Dressage Club, there's a lovely engaged and supportive community of riders with a wealth of knowledge! No query goes unanswered!
facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/
Thanks for watching and happy riding!
Amelia, Thank you for this video! You are a beautiful rider. I love all the detail you provide. When I tried these concepts, my horse responded immediately and was very happy I finally got it right!
Totally agree - the detail Amelia gives is just brilliant.
This is like a whole lesson in itself. I never know what to do with my hands properly, now I know. Very helpful, I thank you so much!
It IS indeed a whole lesson in itself! I still struggle with it at 71 yr "young"!! Love your videos!!
You are explaining everything with so much care about all details and background. This really helps to understand. I love this. You are super supportive. Trainers often tells us to do sth but I am missing just such a background and deep explanation. Thank you.
I ride western, with a VERY loose rein, and always thought dressage riders were abusing their horses pulling so hard on their reins. But I was informed that they aren't pulling on their mouths, like it looks. Interesting! I always like learning other disciplines. Thanks for this video :)
I also ride western, but my horses mouth is very sensitive so she needs just the lightest of touch, but contact should still be maintained.
Thank you, Amelia! You could make a video on how to figure out what is the best rein length acording to the horse's age, strength, training level... How to switch from a loose and a short rein during a training session, for how long a horse can handle a very short rein etc
That's a good idea! I'll put it in my idea bank :)
Thanks Amelia, you're so fantastic at explaining things in a very clear manner. Another great video :)
It's been pleasure to watch your videos. Highly educative - with clarity. It highly helps in assimilation, correcting the mistakes and improving the riding skills. I was facing a lot of problems in shortening the reins until got this video. Amazingly it worked & I improved. Thanks so much. Regards.
Your videos are so helpful. Thank you for showing us both the correct and incorrect versions. Now after having watched a couple of dozens of your tutorials I feel like an expert in my head, I just wish I could do it all so well when riding. :D I hope it will happen one day. The more comfortable the horse is, the more comfortable I feel, and it's fun time for both of us. Thank you again, you are awsome and a great rider and a great person. All the best from Hungary. :)
Yay!! Glad to hear these are helpful!!
I heard "shorten your reins! why'd they get so long?" probably about 10 times in my last dressage lesson lol. Definitely something for me to work on! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks. I’m watching this and another of your videos several times so I can practice it. I’m going to keep doing that. Two videos at a time.
haha that's fun!
This is so helpful and very timely. I have struggled with my reins being too long for decades. When I go to soften, I subconsciously loosen my hands and the reins slide through. Have been constantly flailing with my hands when asking for something, which is quite an impediment with a young, athletic Andalusian mare. I will also say that having shorter reins is helpful for when a horse spooks/bolts. I learned this the hard way! Thanks for this, Amelia. I'm going to watch it several times and then go practice with my horse and instructor.
A good pair of gloves is also very important, I always struggled with my reins slipping until I bought "expensive" roeckl gloves
I had a friend that bought deer skin gloves. They were so "light", and delicate to the feel.
Get some working gloves, cheaper ,never slip...... when you forget them ,just smile
My reins would slip just from my horse's neck getting sweaty, gloves have made a huge difference!
I'M ABOUT TO ORDER THE ROECKL NOW.
@@Hudson1910 they will feel slippery at first! But u get used to them and they help so much!!
Shortening the reins is very helpful.
I struggle with this and then my horses goes into the jig jog.
Much kinder your way. Thku
The best refresh and tips, this is super helpful, no one goes into that much details. Thank you Amelia
Thank you for the tip. That will help me with shortening after the free walk when he is on a very long rein.
Happy to help! Please consider to subscribing for more!
Amelia, these are just SO useful! Answering innumerable petty dilemmas that one had accumulated over the years and never even really put words to. And yet they can really hinder progress. The other effect they have is point out little flaws in one's riding that one never really became aware of and which can now all be corrected. I love the fact that you give your knowledge freely and don't withhold or keep "trade secrets" to yourself. My riding has perceptibly improved since I've been watching your videos and it has only been a couple of weeks since I found them. Thank you!
Thanks that was super useful. I am always being told to shorten, this will help me enormously.
Thank you for this! I love the way you explain dressage tips! I wanted to know what breed is your horse! absolutely beautiful!
Very good advice - i am a bad rider, always have been, always will be - so such advice is extremely pertinent for someone like me who needs reference points for each little detail. Your approach offers these reference points even when you might not realise how much you are saying to someone at my very low level. Thank you!
Please don’t say you are a bad rider or that you always will be. I know how you feel though, as I’ve not been able to take the amount of consistent lessons I’ve needed and feel that way too. It’s important to be kind to yourself, work on one maybe two things per ride, that was advice I got that really helped from an article in a horse magazine years ago!
Not all of us are good at the same things, and that’s okay 😊❤️❤️❤️
Awwww... you will get better & better each time in the saddle! Really you WILL! Take care and please don't give up!!! I'm sure the horses love you too!!
Thanks . Learning to ride with short reins. Am always worried that I am hurting my mount. But my trainer constantly advices to shorten while on the trot. This was helpful. Will keep practicing.
Check out this free mini course on contact and connection - I think it will help you! amelianewcombdressage.com/free-resources/#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjEyMTUwIiwidG9nZ2xlIjpmYWxzZX0%3D
After seeing my yesterday's canter that looked more like barrel racing, with my hands flying all over the place, instead of a graceful and elegant dressage canter, I ended up here. And Amelia gives answer to my worry in the first 2 minutes. So thank you. I go back tomorrow and make my reins shorter. :)
Thank you so much for watching! Have a search round the youtube channel as I've got a video for almost any problem and I upload a new one every Wednesday!
Also, if you want to further your dressage education, I'm having a sale until Saturday on my masterclass on the Dressage Training Scale if you'd like to sign up the link is here! Would love to see you on the course and it will help your journey so much !
www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/trainingscalemasterclass/?fbclid=IwAR0VbN0HaZqzSqu5nvCJfeITvoiovRkYxqtPFOrtUKrli3Y1YvRI0R_8_rQ
Brilliant explanation! I ride a former western pleasure horse, and it has taken some time to get him to take contact. Now, my trainer tells me to shorten the reins, and I have been struggling with it. This gives me a fresh perspective and a breakdown which will be so helpful for my guy. Thank you!
Interested in this answer. My guy was western pleasure in a former life, and he is very reluctant to go forward into contact
This very helpful. I constantly struggle to keep my rein shorter as I know my horse goes so much better when I do that. I shall practice your technique today. Thank you great to watch love the horse😀😀
"Okay the end." That was so cute. Great video
This was really helpful for me ,
Especially your technique of shortening the reins . Now just have to try and master it! Thank you once again, Amelia❤️
I’m doing a FREE webinar on Dressage Rider Position - hope you can join!
www.amelianewcombdressage.com/rider-position-webinar-june-2022
Wow that’s the best explanation of shortening the reins . I have not understood the concept before. Thank you so much 😊
Struggling with your Contact and Connection? This workshop WILL help you! courses.ameliasdressageacademy.com/p/contact-connection
Hello, I just started learning to ride at 31 and this video is giving so much information and context on 'Shorten Your Reins' and to have better control. Our instructor always yells to shorten our reins but I never really know why and how to properly do it as it's not explained in our classes. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
Wow what a gorgeous pony! 🤩
It really is!
Thank you very much for sharing so much with us. I really love how you explain and the exercises you do, you are very good at what you do.
Amelia, thank you for your videos. It is so exact and helpful for my riding 👏
You're so welcome!
I've been working on pushing the shopping cart and scrambling eggs. Thank you for posting great tips. You are a good instructor!!
Thanks so much! Going to try this today. Definetly guilty of too lobg reins! Ride Icelander and usually let the reins just go while trotting then establish good contact on the tölt so this means my transitions are bad. I shorten the reins just like you do, hold them the same way etc but I am adjusting way too many centimeters. I have this idea in my head that the horse likes it but seeing how confused your horse gets makes so much sense!! Also my mare will often want to trot because she knows then i let go if everything. Which of course means she gets to relax fully, head drops etc. I geel this will change everything. She is young and green but its time for more collection. She certainly has it on the tölt!!
Let me know how it goes! I love hearing feedback.
@@AmeliaNewcombDressage Sure!! I did it! I didnt overdo it lengthwise but tried to focus on keeping my hands quite locked steady. Not arms but hands, as to retrain myself. I had reins quite shorter than usual but longer than if it were tölt, and only rode trot and walk and gallop, which is a good change. I changed to thick rubber reins which I usually hate but did it mostly to not forget and also because they dont glide.
Results: A. Way calmer horse than I expected as I thought she would pull on them, she did not! (Ps They were not super short but still contact, I also moved arms with her head, a bit trickier on trot than walk, but I will work on it) B. She was more responsive to my legs/thighs and quicker to do turns and 8:s almost like she read my mind. I did not need to move my hands at all almost which as you said kept me more centered and balanced. C. I experienced no head shaking or pulling up whatsoever (but we were in the in door arena so she is calmer there). D. (Conclusion) My mare is young and all but also smart and my best teacher as she is super reactive so I really dont get away with many mistakes. Whenever I figure new and better things out she will be very obedient almost as if she says "okay thanks whatever you are doing keep doing it" 😄😄
Thank you Amelia!!! And Villimey sends her thanks too 🐎☺️
Thanks, Amelia. Extremely helpful! Congratulations!!
You're welcome Fernando! And thanks for watching and subscribing.
Also, if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list
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Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴
I really needed this!! Thank you!!
I loved the format! Thank you, Amelia! Beautiful ride!
Always gloves, pride myself on good quiet hands many years. great video , thank you!
Thank you. I found this video really helpful...
My rides are so much better with shorter reins now! Its like the engine is revved more and the steering is way more sensitive. Thanks so much for this video! I think my reins have always been too long
Awesome! It seems so easy but so important! Tks Amelia.
YES! I definitely ride with too long a rein. I ride very green horses off the track & I'm trying to get them to relax & stretch
Same.
My horse isn't yet ready to carry her head and neck a bit higher, so she's a little low but quite nice in the trot...but then we canter and my hands end up over the pommel. I need to find the happy medium🤦♀️
As allways so well explained as well so detail
Thank you Amelia
You're welcome Carlos, thanks for watching!
Love the doggy😂
❤
Levi is the best!
I like your videos very much. Very well explained and I try to follow it with my horse.
This is great, so glad i found this, at last a real explanation on how to shorten reins, i can so relate to this and the imbalance. Thanks so much this is definitely something i can work with.
YOu're welcome Diane! And thanks so much for watching!
Needed this video today. Thank you!!
I went on an out ride today at my riding school and tried this. It works so well for balance and to get your center! Thanks for the helpful tip!
All I needed was your headline, to see it in my mind. Thank you.
Very helpful video. That is exactly what I had a Problem with at the beginning. Greetings from Bavaria Germany
Thank you for doing these videos. I always learn a lot and appreciate you taking the time to do this
My pleasure!
Very hepfull, from a novice! Thank you!
Great video! Thank You! 🐎
Thanks for watching!
Great tips! I usually lean forward when shortening my reins son i dont boder the horse mouth, but it still affects my balance! I will try to practice this way!
Superb tips and videos !👍👍 Thanks 🌹🌹🌹
What a good explanation . Now i understand why.
Yay!!
I adore your videos, and they've been really helpful as I've re-learned to ride after a hip replacement. One thing I have noticed is in trot your lower leg moves quite a lot, do you ever ride/trot without stirrups? Just a wee suggestion. Riding has changed so much, now the horses I ride you just have to squeeze the girth to move them, and move your pinky on the rein to turn.
I agree that not many instructors teach students how to shorten their reins like you just did! Brilliant video!
Love this - sent it to several of my friends!
Thank you for this video! Very basic issue and very very important! Had problem with this and appreciate your explanation! Will train this today!😍
You're very welcome!
Excellent points and detail !!! 👏
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
Excellent video thanks so much 👍
Glad it was helpful!
The gift and the hard work make a marvellouse, magic, reader. It Is art.high classe.
This is very helpful! I've seen on videos of myself just how long my reins are and all over the place my hands are. I have shorter arms too, so I struggle figuring out rein length and hand placement. I ride an Icelandic and change my rein length frequently depending on if I'm wanting to tolt or trot, but I should be able to do it without changing that much. Having the smaller box for my hands image is helpful!
This was so helpful! I'm trying to be so soft with my hands that my reins get too long. MY instructor is always after me about my reins getting long so this was a very good demo on this that I'll be trying tomorrow in my lesson. I especially am struggling at the canter and exactly how you demo'd it with the longer reins is how I've been riding - I just didn't realize it. Thanks for this!
Perfect timing, I was just searching for a video on this!
This was reaaaaally helpful!!!
Yay! Glad it was helpful!!
Thanks so much for your advice
They are so clear and helpful
😘😘😘
I practice all of these tips in my lesson today. Really helpful. Thank you
My trainer has me doing this since i tended to have them too low. Being an eq rider as well as an eventer, this was one huge step for me!
Hi Oksana! Yeah it's so important! Your trainer is right! Well done on your journey! And thanks so much for watching!
Also, if you want to really get clarity, understanding, and progress on your dressage journey, sign up to my FREE webinar on the Dressage Training Scale on March 13th.
www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/trainingscalewebinar
I’m also on FB and IG (you might already know all this but I'm being super thorough today!)
facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/
Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered!
facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/
And finally, there’s my website!
www.amelianewcombdressage.com/
And you can also sign up here for weekly dressage tips sent to your inbox
www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/
Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴
@@AmeliaNewcombDressage thank you so much!!
Your video's are so helpful! I look forward to seeing more.
Thanks so much for watching Jillian! Feel free to subscribe as I upload weekly content! Happy riding!
OMG it's just what I need now! Thank you so much!! I LOVE your videos
Thank you! I will try this today! I struggle with shortening my reins after a free walk.
The shopping cart metaphor is super and explaining to take the reins in the outside hand to take up the inside one 1st. Then to gradually take up the contact as opposed to doin it all at once. coz guess what, yer Horse'll stop, which my lesson Horse's been doin. It'd a been good if the clinician I rode wi would a told me that little info nugget. I'll put your pointers intae practice tomorrow 5/28 when I ride Cheers lady :)
My horse needs a good 20-30min to accept contact, but then shorter reins are definitely what he needs, and he seeks it himself with more legs, like you said 😁
Absolutely helpful!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌 Regards from Santiago, Chile. Keep up the great work and continue posting more videos.
I Swear Amelia Is Like My Instucter But Better Thank U!!
Yes this important -however it is surprising how many “ schooled “ horses cannot go long and low at all three gaits or walk properly in a free and medium walk -the horse not taking up the length of the rein through using the hindquarters. This shows hasty or improper schooling or both ( horse being shorten from front to back and hence behind the vertical )
Yes, my thoughts as well. Because funnily enough I was perfectly able to ride the horses that were properly trained with long reins and I didn't have to pull back like she said, I just twisted my hands. Classical dressage trainers also probably watch these videos with their heads between their hands, because their horses can actually do the highest class movements with hanging reins. As a horse massager (forgot what the proper name is), who also rides and teaches classical dressage at a university said, the reins aren't shortened, the movements are done through leg aids and the most the reins are used is similar to neck reining, so the reins aren't actually shortened like this - oh and they hold the reins with one hand. The type of riding in this video shown is for the competition, not actual connection and collection of the horse, which we can see throughout the video. I too find it questionable that you have to shorten the reins to get you into proper balance. If you ride like that, you actually brace your weight and balance yourself with the reins, that isn't actual balance. If that happens you should go back to the basics without a saddle and not have reins in your hands.
Big argoment contact with the reins!!Different philosospy in the world,i m agree with you.Please can you tell me wich fingers need to squeeze the reiins?
Hi Paolo,
Great question! It depends on the situation what fingers you use. Sometimes it is all your fingers, others it is only your ring finger. Here is a video that might help you: ua-cam.com/video/SO_Xki4uZGc/v-deo.html
Very helpful! Thank you Amelia 😍
Love this one! I am learning this now in my lessons!
Ich liebe Deine Videos und lerne sehr viel von Dir. Vielen Dank
Very helpful! This explains so much! Thank you!
Helpful info!I tend to let me reins slip and am still trying to find the best "contact"
Thanks Sara! (I've got another video coming up that has some great tips for rein contact! Don't forget to subscribe to get notified about my weekly videos!
So helpful! Thank you 💕
Revisiting some of the basics from your past videos
One thing that stuck with me, which I used during my ride tonight, was to push the shopping cart. I tried keeping my reins shorter, but pushing forward to give instead of lengthening the reins. But then my elbows get straight and i tend to fall forward. I've also been working on scrambling the eggs, turning with the outside rein and toward trotting up the centerline.
You might want to do a video on getting behind the vertical next. Some don't see when the horse is behind the vertical with lack of leg and too short rein. Not you, but quite a few.🥰
Yes. We can err in either direction.
Wow! He is beautiful! Question, how do you introduce and reward a GREEN horse to trot, leg yield all together, and canter? What are the very first steps? I have a horse very sensitive to touch and she already understands when I squeeze the girth it means go. What's next and what if she gets it wrong?
Teach her from the ground first so she understands how to go sideways! Come to my Free webinar this weekend - we'll be talking about this. amelianewcombdressage.com/free-webinar-piaffe/
Thank you for sharing ! May I ask the breed of your horse?! He s beautiful!
I feel like I can't bend or release in my elbow if my reins are short, and i feel like it makes my shoulders round.. But my instructor often tells me to shorten.
Try squishy balls held between your elbows and your body . Sounds like you are being pulled forward
Great tips, thank you!
So Amelia, if you start by shortening the inside rein, do you do the opposite to bring in the outside rein? Love this video bc I have been struggling with this and it make sense as a way to get more contact through the leg and keep the hands still in front of the saddle. Thanks!
Great content! 🤣 "Okay, the end"