Struggling with Rein Length and Contact?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Have you joined our challenge? Check it out: www.amelianewcombdressage.com/30-days-to-round/

[@TheGypsyGirl77]

I worked on this today and it made a difference. I was always told to hold the reins like I am holding baby birds and I totally misunderstood so I threw my reigns away. Now I finally realize what that means with holding the reins in my hands versus the length. So much to think about you make my horse life much easier! Thank you!

[@angelaharrigandressage]

I always have growing reins too!

[@imzadi83fanvids7]

Same, my instructor recently got rainbow reins and they've been helpful as I can more easily tell when my reins have grown, lol.

[@nesskerton]

Thank you so very much Amelia. Your explanations are always easy to understand. You don't make folks feels like gooses if they are unsure or don't understand as well as others. Many thanks. :)

[@beckyharrison2680]

Your instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

[@rajeevbhardwaj8514]

Very useful information especially for new entrants

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you think so! If you would like to know more about Contact and Connection, check out this free webinar and PDF amelianewcombdressage.com/free-contact-connection-webinar-worksheet/

[@berlindaarmijo9251]

Well explained. Thank you! Beautiful Horse.

[@paramjietsingh8850]

Amelia this was a very knowledgeable lesson ….I do struggle rounding my horse!!!)))

[@GabrieleDempsey]

Thank you Amelia, the details you point out are so helpful! I am from Germany and sooo enjoy your videos. God bless you 🙂

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you like them!

[@sandysattin]

YAY! EXACTLY what I was looking for, thank you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

So glad!

[@heatherlea5411]

Love this! Your demonstration fills in certain gaps for me while getting the practice/exercise between lessons. Thank you explaining the gradual change, especially for notating regarding the young horse. It makes total sense! I really appreciate you and your videos!

[@bojo3744]

Again, to the point at the details. I will try this.

[@shannonclendon1424]

Super helpful. I always worry because my horse has a short, thick neck anyway. So I worry about my reins compressing his neck! I will put this into play tomorrow when I ride!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Awesome! Glad it helps!

[@imogenscott9879]

I usually do lean forward to shorten my reins! It's because the horse is leaning on the bit, or trying to get more rein, I have to try not to tip forward, but the heaviness straightens out my arms - so to shorten further I need to lean forward to get more reins. To avoid this I need to spend up to 20 minutes gradually increasing the contact/shortening my reins as the horse warms up and eventually accepts the contact. To speed that up, I'm often shortening the reins more quickly than we're comfortable, hence leaning forward... But this video and your others on rider position are helping remind me what to aim for. I will refocus on balanced seat and even rhythm, and also try widening and narrowing hands. Thank you Amelia!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Add leg to engage the hind leg before you shorten rein. If he's heavy or on the rein, he's probably not lifting his back or using his hind leg (or both)...

[@imogenscott9879]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage thanks a lot, I'll give that a try!

[@Lidili]

Excellent and very interesting and informative video. Thank you very much for your valuable video.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You are welcome!

[@juliafoley6499]

Really clear and very practical, Amelia. Thanks very much!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're very welcome!

[@มหิธรทองดีสุข-ซ2พ]

Thanks.....I will follow your clip and waiting for that

[@amandafrench8047]

Ta, yes it is especially the bit about the mechanics of shortening one's reins.

[@robynmartin2026]

another great video, thank you so much!! I'd love to do the challenge, but timing is not quite right just now, wet spring, no where to ride (lame excuse I know), but I'll be ready for the next one!!

[@Horsepassion4life]

Tahnk you! Another very useful and nicely explained video!

[@mailitedd185]

I love this explanation! Thank you 💗

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Very welcome

[@lyndaburch9381]

Excellent tips Amelia. My arthritis keeps me on my toes trying to keep the rein length. I just tried some new gloves that I think will be helpful. Thank you!

[@sylviamoritz6589]

OMG you must be watching me ride. This is so helpful because I am constantly fidgeting with my reins. It annoys me and I can only imagine how much it annoys my horse. How do I know if I am puling my horses mouth. I hate pulling on his face.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

😂😂😂

[@Catydid1996]

This is super helpful! I'm not a dressage rider yet, however we are doing flatwork right now in hunt seat/hunter/jumper since my riding lab is all beginners/novice/low level intermediate including myself. We are learning to have better contact, our diagonals, how to use our reins better, how to share the arena without cluttering in the same spot, be a little more forward yet sitting up straight and for me to have better cadence since I ride a fast bumpy horse. I've always loved your videos cuz' they inspire me and I feel like you are my legit teacher, lol. Looking forward to more helpful videos! 🦄💗

[@northhorseequestrian3948]

Im also hunter seat/ intermediate, just started dressage lessons a couple months ago and it's so much to take in! Love Amelia's videos, she really breaks it down well. Best of luck to you!!

[@Catydid1996]

@@northhorseequestrian3948 Niceee! Hello fellow hunter! I totally agree! I remember that my western riding professor from last year (I'm in college majoring Equine Science) shared a video of Amelia's and I was so excited! Everyone looked at me like I was crazy but I didn't care, lol! I don't know if anyone felt inspired by the video she shared but I did, haha (I don't remember what video she shared though, think it was posture or rein connection). I wish you luck too! 🦄💗

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Check out my new challenge! It might help: www.amelianewcombdressage.com/30-days-to-round/

[@Catydid1996]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage I would love to, however I should be saving my money for school, my car repairs, etc. Maybe someday though if you plan to do it again in the future :3

[@christinafragis7224]

Brilliant video Amelia! Thanks for all the useful tips!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay! Thank you!

[@leec5170]

Great video! Thanks.

[@johnjohn741]

Thank you👍

[@욤-k3x]

Can you make a video about the ‘frame’? This is my best youtube channel!❤️

[@mileswalters2381]

My old lad would all of a sudden just step up a gear in trot. It was like his ground covering was 50% greater per stride and he was running the show. Open the hands out further apart though, so the reigns were in a wide V from them to the bit and the feeling was phenomenal, like floating along with all the control in the world but extremely light in the hand. Put hands back to shoulder width apart and you lost it. Never had a clue how I got him there to just take the bit and offer it to me to work with.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

that's so interesting!

[@mileswalters2381]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage After today, I can explain it. I suffered hip tension for a few years which in turn effects balance. I have been fighting off muscle memory since hip tension has gone. Fighting a battle with myself to override muscle memory whilst riding and that means focus was more on me than the horse. My new lad did exactly today what my old lad used to do.......Its my balance, posture and contact down the reign which got the horse there. Coach pointed it out today when I said I didn't know how I got him going so lovely, after she asked me. My upper body is the last part of the muscle memory fight from when I had hip tension. Just that slight chin lift and sitting a little taller whilst correcting that 10 degree forward lean, is the difference between my lad going lovely and not so lovely.

[@benitascott3533]

Very good comprehensive descriptions here! Thankyou Amelia. I notice you have very active legs in alot of your videos. Are you constantly driving your horse forward, with a little tap to get the impulsion? I'm just curious, if such an educated horse needs the constant encouragement. I'm more so aiming to control the speed of my little race mare 🤣! But I am intending to try riding with a dummie spur to get greater precision with my leg when I do need it. Do you ensure you have a closed hand, or is the thumb on top securing the reign enough, to enable the reign to otherwise feel soft in the hand?? 🌷🐴🙏

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

This horse can be a bit behind the leg - so yes - I need to work on getting him more forward and making sure that I am not nagging....

[@hkhorses9658]

🌹🌹🌹 very inspiring as always! I

[@barbstrona1]

Great! I couldn’t get my trusty school horse to drop her head. My trainer explained she doesn’t want her to do that as long as she has little kids learning to ride. Her head keeps them from pitching off head first! I can barely tell when she ( lesson horse) crosses her legs. She is built like me, short and round, and her legs can barely cross they are so short. She tries. I’m sad because she is moving to Massachusetts and we have incredible ability to read each other’s feelings!

[@NoThankUBeQuiet]

Find a new instructor

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes, it can be difficult when you have to share horses are being ridden by beginners or green riders that are focusing on their seat and position instead of contact. Especially if you're riding once a week and the horse has that for the other 4-5 rides each week. Best thing you can do is work on a steady contact until you're ready to move up to a more advanced lesson horse. If you're riding more than once a week and still struggling, you could consider joining my 30 days to round program, but I don't know if it would be beneficial if your coach is moving! So sad! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/30-days-to-round/

[@tagadaki]

Actually I started watching these videos after seeing myself galloping. I had long reins, they were going up and down on the horse mouth, and my hands were all over the place and that was super ugly to watch lmao. It felt like I was riding western watching myself. Also I struggle to take turns because my hands are everywhere and the reins are too long. Usually I struggle paying attention to my posture and my hands at the same time. But it will come after practice and practice I guess. Im lucky to have a good equestrian center, so even if I don't have a crazy level, the group I ride with is really different, some will ride pretty well and some are just noobs, but we still do dressage, horseball, carrousels and different things together, and I learn a lot being with more experienced riders and being able to learn stuff usually for more experienced riders is a must. Usually in France you don't do dressage if you don't have a certain level of riding skill for example.

[@susanquesnel7043]

Great video! Wondering about your leg aids. Can you share?

[@Artistan-666]

Those riders should buy the reins with stoppers. It allows them to hold the constant lenth

[@isabellefischer5145]

I agree. I'm using reins with stoppers and it helps tremendously. It also is an easy way to check that your reins are the same length on both sides. Stoppers also make you aware of the reins slipping through your fingers, and you learn to tighten your hands more so that it happens less and less...

[@sylviamoritz6589]

Also the challenge is going OK there is so much I need to learn

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes!! Glad you joined the challenge. Just take it one day at a time!

[@kamash4487]

Can you tell me what kind of saddle do you have?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Custom Saddlery! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/amelias-tack-room/custom-saddlery-saddle-fit/

[@sandiehord6905]

Mine definatly grow

[@brittanybirch5821]

Is this how your teach green horses roundness as well?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes as well as riding patterns and figures!

[@amysmith5694]

Amelia, does the fact you are keeping his head slightly tilted have anything to do with keeping him in a line BY the fence? I can't keep my horse to not cut corners because i don't know how to get him to be by the fence :(

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hey Amy, I'm not 100% sure what you're trying to say, but keeping your horse rounder will help with your steering and getting him into corners!

[@erikamatsson8867]

❤

[@kellymcclure1405]

On any horse I ride my reins always get longer at the canter.

[@yangliu6433]

Hi Amelia, my problem with the rein happens when I turn right or turn left, I always drag the rein towards my pelvic, instead of my belly button.This makes the horse stops or slows down. how to avoid this? thanks.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

This video might help you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/omLYpmWGatGbr8k

[@deniseclark1211]

My reins get too long !

[@excaliburskeeper]

How does this apply when learning to use a double bridle?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

The snaffle of the double is the same, while the curb of the double only comes into play for extra leverage!

[@einhyatt]

Hurm when I think I have control of my rein, the horse jerks his head forward and I'm also thrown forward

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Think about riding from your center. This video will help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZXKoXaOfrmDec0

[@PersonalTriumph2022]

I am struggling with contact . I am either too long or too short on the reins 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Did this video help Naciye?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Also, here’s a link with all of my free courses, try the rider position one! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/giving-back-now-and-always-black-friday-2022/

[@PersonalTriumph2022]

Yes thanks so much !

[@jihanehomman-ludiye2710]

My reins are always too long. Particularly my outside rein.

[@glennvannijevelt1133]

I am here just to admire your horse………

[@DARKhorses73]

I'm told to keep hands forward . Seems like I lose contact with hands forward 🤔

[@NoThankUBeQuiet]

Then have a shorter rein with your hand forward

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You might need to shorten your reins if that is the case. Check out this program. It might help you: www.amelianewcombdressage.com/30-days-to-round/

[@DarkArwen929]

Too long reins. I really struggle to keep the correct length as I fear pulling on his mouth. I know too loose isn't good either. Hoping I can get it just right. Thank you for the tips here.

[@Movingmts111]

Too long :( trying to figure it out

[@Hverdagshesten]

You have moved away from roundness right? It's not healthy

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi there! When done properly and focusing on their full body it helps them use their body more correctly!

[@barbaraschaffner4709]

PROBABLY TOO LONG