The Importance of Biomechanics

Since Saturday, my trainers (Susan and Kristin) and I have been working to fix a bad habit of mine that I have picked up over the winter. Every day I've had to overcome the habit of letting my reins get longer and longer, allowing him to get strung out. I realize now, that I wasn't doing Cody any justice riding with long(er) reins, as this made him harder to ride uphill because he would get down on his forehand and fall on his nose in down transitions. Once we fixed it, although I still have moments where I need to keep reminding myself to shorten them, Cody was up in the bridle and super easy to ride.

 I read an article on Charlotte Dujardin's and Judy Harvey's symposium in the U.S. a couple weeks ago. Many great FEI riders and trainers took part in the riding side of the seminar, such as Hilda Gurney, Leslie Reid, and several others. They rode horses anywhere from 2nd Level to Grand Prix. But, with every rider, Charlotte stressed the importance of riding with short reins as she told the them her secret to success at London, saying that "Short reins win gold medals". 

Monday, Susan told me to re-read the articles, really paying attention to how the horses came up into the bridle after Charlotte asked them to shorten the reins. After re-reading the articles and re-watching videos, something clicked and I truly understood not just to shorten the reins but why I should and how it would influence Cody to be uphill. The next day my lesson was so much better because I understood why I was doing it. Therefore, I could envision the difference between the effects of long and short reins and how I was influencing Cody's body. Understanding the reasons behind exercises helps me grow as a rider and improves my ability to see how Cody might react. The key to riding is not what what you are doing, it's understanding why you are doing it. I feel that so many riders need to realize that and take a step back to see how their riding is affecting their horse. Just seeing Cody's difference between just doing it and understanding why I am doing it has opened my eyes. I can now see why short reins make such a difference. When you look at the biomechanics of the horse, you see that when you shorten your reins, the contact to the bit becomes more elastic as the reins are just extensions of your arm. This also places your hands in front of the saddle, keeping them in a place where they can continue following the bit without having to move them back in your lap when you need to use a certain rein. This creates as steady contact with the horse's mouth and allows the rider to give the rein aids to the horse without jeopardizing the connection. Short reins keep the horse in front of your hand because it is easier for them fill up the reins as it is like you are "holding hands" with them. This steady contact should work as a comfort zone, where the horse can go without feeling like they will be pushed around as it must have an elastic, guiding feel to it. 

    This shows how the horse's muscular  

    system is acting in accordance to the 

    rider and movement. When the correct

    muscles are being used and the horse 

    is filling up the contact, the throat latch 

    should be open. 

    This shows how the rider affects the 

    horse and shows correct influencing 

    of energy, demonstrating how the 

    energy is created into impulsion.