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The rider's hands: Get the right angle on your wrist

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Finding the right position for your hand is important in order to have a soft feel on the reigns. Photo: Malgré Tout

This article was originally written in Danish by Mille Christophersen.

Do you want to prevent your hands from acting incorrectly when riding? We've gathered a series of the most common mistakes we riders make with our hands. The goal is to help your hands work with the horse rather than against it. The other articles in the series will focus on avoiding pulling back on the reins, stopping the reins from slipping out of your hands, and calming restless hands. All in all – a thorough focus on the rider’s hands.

A steady hand with elastic contact is the best way to encourage the horse to work softly in your hand and seek forward and down toward the bit. Unfortunately, it can be a significant challenge to get your hands to work independently of the rest of your body. It can take years of training, and even top riders continue to work on improving their contact with the horse, whether they are dressage or showjumping riders.

READ ALSO: The importance of herd life for the welfare of horses

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An incorrect wrist angle

Ah yes, you know it well. One of the most typical mistakes with hand positioning is when your wrists angle in all sorts of directions. Many riders often overlook this issue, but holding your wrist correctly is essential for creating a good connection to your horse’s mouth. The correct wrist position is exactly what allows you to transfer subtle, refined signals to your horse through your fingers. It’s about having your thumb pointing upwards and keeping your wrists vertical and aligned. This will allow you to maintain a straight line from your elbow down to the bit.

Tip: Piano hands

Perhaps you have what's known as 'piano hands'? This means your hands ‘lie flat’ with your thumbs pointing inward towards each other instead of upwards. In this position, it can be difficult to keep your elbows close to your body.

Piano hands are often seen in showjumping riders, who try to push their horse forward with their hands. Additionally, piano hands are rarely very flexible, as you can only bend your wrist up and down. Keep in mind that if your thumbs are pointing upwards, you can bend your wrists more freely, allowing for greater flexibility.

A tip to get rid of piano hands is to hold a long whip in your hand – between all your fingers. You’ll quickly notice that the whip will stick out to the side if your hands are positioned incorrectly. If the problem is severe, you may find it difficult to ride small circles without the whip hitting your horse in the head. For your hands to be angled correctly, the whip should align roughly parallel to the horse’s body – this will also make it much easier to use it properly.

Tip: Bent wrists

Do you ride with your wrist bent either inward or outward? In this case, a temporary wrist brace might help. If this habit has developed because your horse is strong, remember that constant pressure on the horse’s mouth won’t benefit your riding. The horse could become unresponsive to your signals. With correctly positioned wrists, it’s easier to give the horse room to move. You should only bend your wrists when giving signals. Always remember, your hands need to be yielding, and the best way to be yielding is from a position where your wrists are neither bent inward nor outward.

Tip: Wrist tipped upwards

If you ride with your wrists tipped upwards – meaning the angle between your thumb and forearm is closed – you need to ensure your reins aren’t too long. This can be a natural reaction to not having the right contact with the horse’s mouth. Since the reins aren’t short enough, you end up using your wrist to try to take up some of the rein length. This position hinders your ability to be supple, and you may become quite rigid in your hand. You might also notice discomfort in your forearm, as you're engaging the muscle far more than necessary. To solve this issue, try to be mindful of the rein length and shorten it slightly. You’ll find that it’s no longer necessary to tip your wrist upwards – and you’ll save yourself from sore arms in the future.

One thing at a time

Of course, our advice is only meant to help you get the right feeling when riding. It’s up to you and your horse to find out what works best. However, it should be noted that the more you train your hand position, the better it will become, and the easier your riding will feel.

If you struggle with other hand positioning issues, more tips will be available soon. This is only the first of four articles, all of which focus on using your hands correctly. We recommend, however, that you focus on one thing at a time so you don’t overwhelm yourself with too many adjustments at once. If you tend to angle your hands incorrectly – which is a very common problem – then this article's tips are a good place to start.

Do you have any other tips or tricks to help correct the rider's hand positioning? We'd love to hear from you!

READ ALSO: Research shows: Frequent rider changes can lead to frustrated horses

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