> I still don't know what he was trying to do and to what end and what it > has > to do with a horse immediately responding to cues. My horses do what I > want > but I don't personally want a horse that is so on edge that the response > is > on a hair trigger.
He was trying to show how to connect the opposite rein with a front leg... Yes, it can be done with direct rein; sometimes it's better to do with the other rein, but not something that is necessary for us to know. I think Sharon gives some good input: > How is it not efficient to use one rein for both the inside and > outside hips? Is it because by keeping the inside rein connected to > the inside hind and the outside rein connected to the outside hind > helps to create the straightness we are looking for? Click for you. <G> To expand your thinking further. Consider that the reins are really connected to your seat. I can offer either a bending aid or a slow down aid (via the rein to seat connection) to any body part depending on timing. Anything I ever did with one rein (direct or diagonally) can be done with either rein directed to either hindleg (or shoulder for that matter). So, left rein to left hind or left shoulder OR right hind or right shoulder OR right rein to right hind or right shoulder OR left hind or left shoulder. I can EVEN direct BOTH reins to either shoulder or either hind (extremely powerful). All a matter of timing and how one uses ones body weight. Consider that when riding with two reins in contact, only ONE is the primary rein during any given MOMENT. So the primary rein can and will change from side to side from stride to stride. That means IN A WAY we are always riding with just 'one rein'. MOST important is the primary rein can and WILL be EITHER the outside or the inside depending on intent during that stride. Completely confused now??? ;-) One of my personal favorite lessons was to learn how to connect a rein to each leg in sequence. This can be done in sitting trot or canter. For instance, two beats on the left front, two beats on the right front, and two beats on the right hind. (I learned never to do all four legs in one sequence. Pick three.) Now start with two beats on the right front, then two beats on the right hind, then two beats on the left hind. See where it is going? Then two beats on the right hind, two on the left hind and then two on the left fore and we are back at the beginning. Very fun feel game but you need to have a very loose seat with good upper body posture to enjoy it. <G> Something to strive for! > > Is my thinking halfway correct? > > Whether I am riding with one rein or two reins, I don't think I will > ever look at the rein aids as front end moving aids only! Not halfway correct... COMPLETELY correct! Well done! Sharon ___________________ Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
