OPEN HANDS
Allison walks Brooks up and down a slope, before moving on to a step. They walk up a bank and then back down in the same place. “Most horses will go up a step and it’s important to come back down in exactly the same place, because that’s the bit they’re familiar with and this is all about building confidence,” says Lucinda. “Think about having an Irish rein so that he can look. It will feel funny at first and you still need to be in control. Where you sit is spot on, you just need to allow his neck to stretch down without pulling you forward.” A common error is to pull your hands back and bury them in your body. To combat this, Lucinda suggests holding the reins slightly out to the side. “Then, when his head does go down to look, your body isn’t pulled forward. Instead, your hands are pulled together, but your upper body doesn’t move.” Allison trots up and down the bank in different places. There is an immediate improvement in rein length and stability of her upper body.