THE HAND - Introduction
“A rider with a really bad hand will never be a rider in the true sense of the word,
however appealing he is through the strength of his seat,
his reputation and his elegance.” ~ Gustav Steinbrecht
The hand is probably the most misunderstood and misused concept in riding today. The hand to mouth relationship should be the starting point from which to create lightness and balance.
Flexibility of the jaw and general mobility of the mouth, which was advocated by all our great riding masters, past and present, seem to be totally ignored in much of today’s competition scene.
Considering the fact that humans use their hands for most things and the horse its mouth, then bringing these two crucial components together to form a vital communication link, requires an element of sensitivity, a great deal of thought and consistent technique.
