We probably have all been there and ended up with aching fingers, biceps or arms and a very cranky horse and a frown on our face.
Holding the reins too tight is often due to nerves. Unfortunately, it makes the rider tense and can also be very uncomfortable for the horse — especially when combined with short reins. Soft hands are critically important (and this doesn’t mean upping your moisturising routine).
Fix: Imagine you have a baby bird in each hand — you don’t want to squash it! That being said, you also need just enough pressure that you won’t drop that bird (i.e. to stop the reins sliding through your hands). It’s also important to ‘follow’ the horse’s mouth with your hands; they should move backward and forward slightly following the movement of the horse rather than remaining frozen. Learning to readjust the reins when they do slip, as mentioned earlier, is also important as this allows you to maintain even pressure and prevents sudden yanks or jabs with the reins. Learn to have soft hands — your horse will thank you!
Credit: equestrianlife.com