What's Inside
Search the Site
Tip/Quote of the Day # 825
"Don't delude yourself into thinking that you have light, soft hands, if you ride with loose, almost dangling reins on a strung out horse. That can be done with insensitive hands as well. A soft hand requires the rider to feel whether the horse is softly on the bit, chewing, and whether it responds to a light pressure, in other words, whether it has an active mouth. If he rides with loose reins, the horse can have a dead mouth, which will only show up when you use the reins to stop or to shorten the strides, as it will either let you pull its nose onto its chest, or it will invert, and in both cases it will open its mouth." ~ Oskar M. Stensbeck
Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share with your friends! Look for the share buttons on the far right side of the page. Thank you!
Related Articles:
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 855
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1893
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1367
- Riding From "Front to Back"
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1613
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1860
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3310
- The *Volume* of Your Aids
- Video # 312 and Question # 331: This is Rachael!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1580
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1464
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1234
- Develop an Independent *Hand* - an Essential Skill That is Key to a Good Rein Connection!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1741
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1662
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1337
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1336
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1016
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1816
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 971
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1461
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1520
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1431
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1295
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1267
- Video # 90: This is Vita and her newly off the track TB!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1837
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1831
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1776
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1855
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1793
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1621
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1611
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1564
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1215
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 659
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4303
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4283
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3014
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2343
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1902
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1878
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1871
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1818
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1787
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1753
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1575
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1463
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1433
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1253
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1141
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1684
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 626
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4401
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2975
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2764
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2534
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2469
- An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection
- Question # 344: Question about pulling down on the bars of the horse's mouth...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1875
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1861
- Quin's Blog post # 3: How are you and your horse communicating?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1715
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1625
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1583
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1422
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1284
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1264
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1096
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 749
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 720
- Question # 200: Is a Nathe bit legal for dressage in eventing? Also, would a plain mullen mouth eggbutt by the most similar to the nathe for the horse? Thinking I might want something a bit more … sturdy for show jumping and cross country...
- The Different Bits, and Their Actions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1373
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4381
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4084
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3585
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3486
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2907
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2712
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2585
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1904
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1903
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1897
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1891
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1868
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1865
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1864
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1858
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1811
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1807
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1777
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1759
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1755
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1752
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1743
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1737
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1732
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1708
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1701
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1697
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1695
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1686
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1626
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1623
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1605
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1582
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1574
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1567
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1527
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1449
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1438
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1374
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1356
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1183
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1173
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1150
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1128
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1094
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 976
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 964
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 866
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 865
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 747
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 726
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 671
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 654
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 640
- Keep Your Aids Dynamic
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 511
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1480
- The Most Productive Way to Begin Each Ride
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 805
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4319
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3952
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3773
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3634
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3442
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3392
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3381
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3095
- Is Your Free Walk Really FREE? And Do You Make Good Use Of It?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2107
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2105
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2052
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1988
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1960
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1877
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1382
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1321
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1227
- Guest Blog post # 80: "The Professional Edge: Classically driven or Client driven?" by Bill Kraatz
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1157
- Guest Blog post # 74: "Imagine (there's no pulling)" by Bill Woods
- Question # 289: My ottb was trained before me with draw reins, and now he over flexes to where he touches chest almost at trot even when i let the reins loose. I drive him forward but he keeps doing it. How do i stop him? (Eileen)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 899
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 893
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 754
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 645
- Discussion # 109: Let's discuss the very common rider habit of posting with their hands!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 55
- Does Your Horse Show This Positive Sign After a Flatwork Session?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1202
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4447
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4412
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4409
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4170
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3982
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3842
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3688
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3674
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3658
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3605
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3526
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3524
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3503
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3490
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3476
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3472
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3466
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3400
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3362
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3077
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3019
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2838
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2757
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2608
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2543
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2540
- An Exercise to Help You Improve ALL of Your Downward Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2334
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2275
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2033
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1895
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1863
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1849
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1848
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1828
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1822
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1813
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1797
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1783
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1772
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1766
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1762
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1731
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1726
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1719
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1707
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1706
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1700
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1694
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1687
- Quin's Blog post # 2: The Ultimate Answer to Riding, the Universe, and Everything
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1680
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1679
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1671
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1664
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1650
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1648
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1645
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1640
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1615
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1610
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1585
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1577
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1565
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1561
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1552
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1542
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1540
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1525
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1519
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1503
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1493
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1470
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1462
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1453
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1436
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1428
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1419
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1412
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1406
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1401
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1383
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1371
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1368
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1350
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1339
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1286
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1282
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1272
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1261
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1250
- The "Shoulder Yield" Exercise
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1231
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1221
- A Test of Your Flatwork Training (For All Levels!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1204
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1170
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1167
- Horses that Tilt Their Head in Dressage
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1110
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1092
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1070
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1028
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 962
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 951
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 918
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 913
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 895
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 894
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 856
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 847
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 835
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 827
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 811
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 789
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 775
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 740
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 738
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 670
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 585
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 528
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 501
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 430
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 418
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1305
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1069
- Guest Blog # 119: "Eventing vs Autocross!" by Soraya V Juarbe-Diaz
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1802
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1734
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1314
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1241
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1074
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 988
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 934
- The Number One Rule For a Rider When Approaching a Jump!
- Video # 101: This is Kellyn and her horse, Bauer, doing their Novice level show jumping round!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4213
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3217
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1835
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1346
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 931
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 760
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4155
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4135
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4126
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4115
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3740
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3654
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3322
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3226
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3211
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3172
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2131
- All Roads Lead to Rome.... Or Do They??
- Training and Conditioning the Young Event Horse
- The Crest Release, the Automatic Release, and Everything In Between (With Pictures!)
- Video # 106 and Question # 320: Kayla asks if her horse looks to be accepting the bit as she lunges him in side reins.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1439
- Signs That Your Performance Horse Might Be Sore
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1316
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1178
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1136
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 986
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 984
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 927
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 751
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 708
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 660
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 581
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 427
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 52
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4502
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4453
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4428
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4388
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4263
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4194
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4057
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3963
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3893
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3850
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3828
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3801
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3748
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3735
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3669
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3644
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3631
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3627
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3619
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3601
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3546
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3462
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3402
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3386
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3352
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3342
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3332
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3280
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3227
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3196
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3150
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3112
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3104
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3034
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3018
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3006
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2961
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2935
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2925
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2918
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2876
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2785
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2645
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2590
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2547
- Rider Leg Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2529
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2510
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2508
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2359
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2276
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2273
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2142
- An Exercise to Help You to Refine Your Turning Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2132
- Discussion # 166: Which of these 2 horses is reaching more into the rein connection?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1906
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1905
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1900
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1899
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1898
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1896
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1894
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1892
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1890
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1889
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1883
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1880
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1874
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1872
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1870
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1869
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1866
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1862
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1859
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1856
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1854
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1853
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1852
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1851
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1847
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1845
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1844
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1843
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1842
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1841
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1840
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1839
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1838
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1836
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1834
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1830
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1829
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1827
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1826
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1825
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1824
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1823
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1821
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1817
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1814
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1812
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1810
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1809
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1808
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1805
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1804
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1803
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1801
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1800
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1798
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1795
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1794
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1791
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1790
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1789
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1788
- Discussion # 162: The shoulder in is considered to be the "mother" of all lateral movements. Can anyone tell us why this is so?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1786
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1785
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1784
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1782
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1781
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1780
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1779
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1775
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1774
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1773
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1770
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1769
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1768
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1767
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1765
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1764
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1761
- The Benefits of "Stair Stepping" Your Lateral Exercises
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1760
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1757
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1756
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1754
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1751
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1750
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1749
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1748
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1747
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1746
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1744
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1742
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1740
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1739
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1738
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1736






