Exercise 2 LIGHT AND EVEN IN THE REIN
Cobs, like any riding horse, need to be light in the hand and even in the rein contact. They can, though, get a little heavy in the hands and before you know it, your horse is on the forehand. Here’s how Katie uses a schooling whip to help with this.
How to ride it
l1 Ride your warm up as usual, in walk, trot and canter. This is the time to assess how your horse feels through your hands. Are you being pulled forwards or does the weight in the reins feel uneven?
l2 If the answer is yes, pick up a schooling whip. l3 Hold the whip horizontally below each of your thumbs. l4 The whip will put your hands in a great position, keeping the thumbs on top, where they should be. l5 Work for 10 minutes in all gaits with the schooling whip. It keeps your hands level and consistent, without being fixed, which in turn stops your horse from either becoming uneven or leaning. l6 Keep glancing at your hands every few metres, as this will provide visual evidence of what’s happening through the rein.