Hand Positioning for Steering, Part 1 of 2

Proper hand position helps both horse and rider

by Allison Trimble

There are common issues found in most beginning reiners or cow horse people. When you add speed and precision to your horse experience, your body and hand positioning become more important to your success than if you were a trail rider or pleasure rider exclusively. Having your body and hands correct allows you to use your positioning to create or control the horse's positioning more precisely. I know that almost every new person to my barn, despite their years of experience in other horse sports, finds it challenging to properly use their hands to steer. 

People become so wrapped up in completing a maneuver, especially when the maneuver is new, that they lose track of the fact that what they are doing affects the horse's success. This usually presents itself right away in regard to hand positioning and steering. Read the full article online in the April digital edition...