4 Horseback Riding
Exercises for Steady Hands

As equestrians, we know that soft and steady hands are key regardless of riding level! With steady hands, a rider can maintain a harmonious connection that encourages the horse to move freely, stay balanced, and maintain clear communication.

In this article, Riding Warehouse teamed up with sponsored rider Amanda Garcia, a professional hunter/jumper rider and head trainer of AG Equestrian Training. Below, Amanda will share four of her favorite tips and tricks to help all levels of riders achieve steady soft hands on the flat and over fences.

How This Helps With Steady Hands

Rainbow reins use a series of fun colored rubber sections along the reins which act as a visual marker for both you and your instructor. These markers help maintain consistent rein length by providing clear reference points, so you can adjust and match rein lengths easily. These reins are beneficial for learning correct hand placement, maintaining even pressure on both sides of the reins, and ultimately achieving straightness in your riding. Rainbow reins are a fun tool for riders of all ages and levels!

How to Use This Tool

Rainbow reins can be used on the flat or over fences. When using rainbow reins, you will attach the reins to the bit as you would with any standard rein. Hold the reins in the appropriate colored section based on your horse's frame and instructor's guidance. You want to focus on matching your rein lengths on either side by matching the color blocks your hands are on. For example, your left hand should be on blue if your right hand is on blue. Your rein length will be uneven if your left hand and right hand are on different colors.

How This Helps With Steady Hands

This exercise helps you keep a soft and following arm while maintaining a straight line from your elbow to your wrist and down to the bit. This position gives you a soft connection with your horse, allowing for following hands, which can be valuable for riders who struggle with locked or bracing elbows. Driving reins can be used on the flat and jumping, and will also aid in an even connection and a proper release over fences.

How to Use This Tool

The great part about this exercise is that you do not need any special equipment and can use your current reins. To get your reins into the driving position, start by positioning your hands like you normally would with your thumbs on top. The rein will come from the horse's mouth and enter your hand between the thumb and index finger, then run downward through the palm and exit at the bottom of your hand.

How This Helps With Steady Hands

Holding a paint stick will help keep your hands steady and your thumbs on top, giving you the correct hand position. By focusing on keeping the paint stick level, you establish muscle memory and train yourself to maintain a proper hand position, helping you to achieve a steady connection with your horse. It also prevents bad habits like widening and lowering the hands to pull the horse's head down or pulling on the inside rein to turn, which can throw your horse off balance.

How to Use This Tool

Go to your local hardware store and pick up a one-gallon or five-gallon size paint stirring stick (or both since they are great to have in your tool kit!). The smaller stick is for when you want your hands positioned closer together, and the larger stick will give you a wider grip and a bigger feel across the neck. Hold your reins as you would normally; place the stick under your thumb, on top of your rein, and across the withers to your other hand. You can walk, trot, canter, and jump with a paint stick. It may be a little more complicated to jump with a paint stick, and it does not allow for a big automatic release, though it shouldn't interfere with a crest release. If you feel uncomfortable over fences, use the stick on your own for flatwork and save this exercise for a jump lesson.

How This Helps With Steady Hands

The Correct Connect 3-in-1 Training Breastplate is perfect for riders of all levels, from those just learning to trot to experienced riders looking to soften and steady their hands on the flat and over fences. This unique training system features "T-grips" attached to the breastplate, which prevent the rider from pulling back on the horse's mouth and encourage moving forward into the connection. This training aid creates a straight line from the bit to the hand, maintaining a softer elbow and a more relaxed connection. This tool helps to fix common bad habits like hanging onto the horse's mouth for balance, catching the horse in the mouth on the backside of a jump, locked elbows, and many more.

How to Use This Tool

Fit the breastplate around the horse's neck, secure it to the saddle's D-rings, and attach the T-grips to the appropriate ring to obtain the ideal height (about 4 inches above your horse's withers). There is also a neck strap that can be attached for further support. Hold the T-grips in your hands between whatever fingers you feel most comfortable with while maintaining a normal grip on your reins. Ideal for improving your balance and learning the feel of steady contact, the Correct Connect 3-in-1 Training Breastplate is best used after you warm up and under instructor guidance for optimal results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does it mean to have quiet hands?

A: Having quiet hands when riding means keeping your hands steady and gentle, avoiding any unnecessary pulling or jerking movements. It means being light and controlled, and communicating clearly and respectfully with the horse.

Q: Why are steady hands important?

A: Steady hands are essential because they create clear and consistent communication with your horse through the reins. Horses rely on subtle cues from your hands to understand your intentions, whether it is to turn, slow down, or simply maintain contact. Unsteady hands can send mixed signals, leading to confusion, tension, or discomfort for the horse. Keeping your hands steady allows your horse to trust your communication and relax into the contact, giving you a more harmonious connection.

Q: Can I use something other than a paint stick?

A: Yes, a crop is a good substitute for a paint stick and will achieve the same effect. Hold it in the same way you are instructed to hold the paint stick in the exercise.

Q: Can I show with driving reins?

A: Driving reins are just another way to hold the reins, and this technique does not require any special equipment. There are no official rules that prevent you from using this grip. Judges may frown upon a rider who uses this technique in a show setting, so you will want to keep that in mind, but in a technical sense, it is not illegal.

Q: Can I show in the Correct Connect 3-in-1?

A: Yes and no. If you remove the T-grips, then yes, you can use the 3-in-1 as a regular breast collar with the attached FEI-approved neck strap in any event. With the T-grips attached, this training aid is only permitted in the show jump phase of eventing but is not permitted by FEI in any other events. We always recommend checking with show management to confirm approved equipment before showing.

Q: Should I only do these exercises when I'm struggling?

A: It is a good idea to incorporate these exercises regularly, not just when you are struggling. By training proactively, you will stay ahead of challenges and build a strong foundation, which helps you address issues more easily when they arise. Consistency in training and challenging yourself to keep growing is key to becoming a skilled rider and being able to support your horse.

Building steady, soft hands takes practice and dedication, and Amanda Garcia's at-home exercises are a fantastic way to develop this skill. By incorporating these techniques into your daily routine and lesson program, you will improve your riding skills and develop a more harmonious connection with your horse. We'd like to give a huge thanks to Amanda Garcia for sharing her knowledge and giving us tips on how to improve our riding!

If you have any questions or need additional support, please reach out to us at 1-800-620-9145 or info@ridingwarehouse.com. Our customer service team made up of experienced equestrians is here to help with advice, product recommendations, and anything else you need to achieve your riding goals. Happy riding!