Hi Susan, >>>That is very true, but I have to admit, I mount all my horses with a loose rein.
That may be fine on your own horse, as long as they are never stung or startled by anything but I personally think it is an unsafe habit to mount horses you don't know without holding the reins. They don't have to be tight but I think they should be held mindfully. I think standing when first mounted is a great exercise. >>>Not Judy, but I personally (in my small little world) see two basic types: western on loose rein, and english on heavy contact. And I see that as a real lack of balance as there lots of space in the middle for light contact. Sometimes western reins are quite heavy and that would give the connection to the horse's mouth as contact (not heavy) rather than loose. When we start horses it is always with a little slack in the reins and we want them to be able to go in whatever gait they choose, when asked to speed up, without interference from the reins. We often use the neck ring to slow them down. >>>I think people should be taught to ride without any rein contact before they take up contact, I would agree with you there. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
