Having soft hands while riding is probably one of the ultimate horseback goals, and the biggest beneficiary will be your pony. In the tips in this post, I introduce you to some simple but fun physical and mental exercises that may help you achieve soft hands.
The 2 physical exercises are described first.
1. Tie two lengths of reins to a robust fence. Ropes or even baling twine will do rather than the reins. Hold them like you would hold reins. With each hand, take up contact of not less than 10 pounds. Soften your arms to adjust the reins, weights. Move to 5 pounds from 10, return to 10 and then move again to 2 pounds. Become used to the sense of weight changes on your reins. When you are talented at it, you can carry this technique over to your riding whenever you feel that you are getting a bit too strong.
2. This exercise has to do with relaxation. It's a part of your physiology the tighter you tense any muscle, the deeper it relaxes on release. Get your strong hands exhausted, real tired. Make fists of your hands with the reins held in them. Clench your muscles and pile on the tension until your arms begin to shake. Relax and release the tension. Repeat several times per day, and soon you can bring about muscle relaxation without doing the tightening routine first.
It's time now for the psychological coaching. We use imagery for our purposes.
1. Persuade yourself that you are holding highly exposed baby birds in your fists, not the reins. A little of extra pressure and you crush the fledglings. It is very important that you work your imagination with great clarity. Think: what kind of bird are you holding? What's its body color and its beak's color , what does the feel of its feathers remind you about? What do you think it is trying to convey with its chirping?
2. Make believe you are gripping an egg in each of your fists. If you squeeze a little too much, you're going to have to clean up the mess you create!
3. Pretend that you're on horseback, with no bridle. You are holding only a silk thread that leads to the horse's mouth. Even allowing for this your horse responds to the lightest of touches.
4. Think of the bit in your horse's mouth as a razor blade. You have to be as delicate as a master surgeon or you will end up slashing the horse's mouth.
All this imagery work to launch you off on your quest for soft hands. The most appropriate images you can conceive of is very personal. Think about a soft hands image what jells with you. Keep visualizing it whenever you can, whether you are on horseback or off.
The 2 physical exercises are described first.
1. Tie two lengths of reins to a robust fence. Ropes or even baling twine will do rather than the reins. Hold them like you would hold reins. With each hand, take up contact of not less than 10 pounds. Soften your arms to adjust the reins, weights. Move to 5 pounds from 10, return to 10 and then move again to 2 pounds. Become used to the sense of weight changes on your reins. When you are talented at it, you can carry this technique over to your riding whenever you feel that you are getting a bit too strong.
2. This exercise has to do with relaxation. It's a part of your physiology the tighter you tense any muscle, the deeper it relaxes on release. Get your strong hands exhausted, real tired. Make fists of your hands with the reins held in them. Clench your muscles and pile on the tension until your arms begin to shake. Relax and release the tension. Repeat several times per day, and soon you can bring about muscle relaxation without doing the tightening routine first.
It's time now for the psychological coaching. We use imagery for our purposes.
1. Persuade yourself that you are holding highly exposed baby birds in your fists, not the reins. A little of extra pressure and you crush the fledglings. It is very important that you work your imagination with great clarity. Think: what kind of bird are you holding? What's its body color and its beak's color , what does the feel of its feathers remind you about? What do you think it is trying to convey with its chirping?
2. Make believe you are gripping an egg in each of your fists. If you squeeze a little too much, you're going to have to clean up the mess you create!
3. Pretend that you're on horseback, with no bridle. You are holding only a silk thread that leads to the horse's mouth. Even allowing for this your horse responds to the lightest of touches.
4. Think of the bit in your horse's mouth as a razor blade. You have to be as delicate as a master surgeon or you will end up slashing the horse's mouth.
All this imagery work to launch you off on your quest for soft hands. The most appropriate images you can conceive of is very personal. Think about a soft hands image what jells with you. Keep visualizing it whenever you can, whether you are on horseback or off.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers click here
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers click here
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