[gogirl46]

My hand position is fairly decent and constant over the flat and before and after jumps. But on the descent, they seperate and just... Die. any suggestions as how to stop that?

 

[Romantic Lyric]

They separate? Well, one thing my trainer has had me do before is ride with a short crop in my hands - horizontally, if that makes any sense, I'm struggling with a good way to describe it. Of course, you'd have to be on a decently well-trained horse to jump like that, but it works wonders for all types of weird hand problems.

 

[gogirl46]

Okay, here's a better description:

You know how your hands are supposed to be kind together, over the whither on the flat? Ya. Now, the ascention is fine, still together, with good release, then BAM. They spread apart to my hip/shouler width. They easily get back to where they're supposed to be but it just bothers me beyond belief.

RomanticLyric, do you think you could get a picture of your hands with that? You don't even have to be on the horse if you don't want to.

 

[tealamutt]

I did the crop trick in my lesson yesterday and it made a world of difference in my hand position. Today I rode for a few minutes with the crop in both hands to remind myself where they belonged and didn't have to go back to it for the rest of the ride. It is a great tool for helping your hands develop muscle memory.

 

[Romantic Lyric]

Okay. I'm going to try one more time to describe it, and if I can't I may be able to get a picture of it tomorrow - or some time this week.

Make your hands into fists, like you do when you're riding, but keep your thumbs pointing up. Take a crop, insert crop in between fists and thumbs, close thumbs. You have to hook your thumbs around to keep the crop there. You should be able to slide your hands around, but the thing is, you really just don't while you're riding like that. It's like magic!

I hope tealamutt and I are talking about the same thing. If not, I'd be interested to see what she has to say.

 

[tealamutt]

we're definitely talking about the same thing. a tried and true trick!