The outside rein is a multi-tasking rein, and it’s important to understand the various jobs it does. Those jobs include:

• Turning
• Speed control
• Connection
• Flexion
• Collection/Engagement

Depending on what you want to do, you’ll use different actions of the outside rein.

For example:

Turning:
Bring the outside rein toward the neck in the direction you want to turn as if putting your fist into withers. Be sure not to cross over the withers when you move your hand.

Also, while moving your outside hand, be sure to maintain inside flexion so your horse doesn’t counter-flex or bend his neck to the outside. Maintain the flexion to the inside by turning your wrist as if locking and unlocking a door.

Speed Control:
Close your hand in a fist quickly and then relax it again. You should have the feeling of snatching a fly out of the air.

Connection:
To create connection (put your horse on the bit), close both legs and feel the beginning of the surge of a lengthening.

As you feel the power of the lengthening, close your outside hand in a fist and keep it closed.

If your horse starts to bend his neck to the outside, vibrate the inside rein to keep his neck straight.

Maintain all of those aids for approximately 3 seconds.

Flexion:
Horses can flex 3 ways — left, right, and “in”.

To get flexion left or right (also called “position”), give one quick turn of your inside wrist so that your thumb points toward the center of the ring, and your fingernails point up toward your face.

Once you’ve turned the wrist, return it to “home position” with the thumb as the highest point of the hand.

While turning your inside wrist, support with your outside rein. Pretend that your outside rein is a siderein, and mimic that steady feeling through your arm.

Supporting with your outside rein insures that your horse just flexes at his poll rather than bending his whole neck.

When you ask for flexion “in” at his throatlatch, you’re asking your horse to flex at the jaw. For flexion “in”, vibrate or squeeze and release on ONE rein. The other rein is steady and supporting like a siderein.

Collection/Engagement:
To ask your horse to collect, give “collecting half halts” which are a momentary closure of seat, legs, and hands. The action is to quickly “take and give”.

To create engagement within the walk or trot, give the half halt when the inside hind leg is on the ground. (Your inside hip will feel higher or pushed forward.)

To engage the outside hind leg in preparation for a canter depart, push with your seat, close both legs, and give a quick squeeze/release with the outside hand. Give the half halts when the outside hind leg is on the ground.

Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602
Jane’s Website
DressageMentor.com