When Buck Davidson rode Carlevo with his reins in the driving position to stadium jump at Rolex, people took notice. Commenters noted that Carvelo is a very sensitive horse and carrying your reins like you are driving is a quick and reliable way to establish a soft and giving contact.
For many years, trainers have used the driving rein to teach an automatic release but it’s useful for riding on the flat, too because it’s all too easy to get into the habit of pulling back instead of giving forward with your hands, especially on a horse that pulls. I got into the habit of using a neckstrap with Freedom because it keeps my hands very still and prevents me from pulling back. I was in a lesson with Corinne Ashton when she suggested it. What a huge difference it made when I could no longer pull back approaching a fence.
Riding with a driving hold also makes it next to impossible to use your reins for balance, so it’s an interesting exercise to see if you really have an independent seat. Since it’s also harder to pull back, you need to ride forward from your seat and legs. How do you do it? It’s simple, rather than having your reins come from the bottom of your hands, usually between your ring finger and last finger, you reverse the hold so that the top of the rein sits between your thumb and first finger.
Before you try jumping with your reins in a driving hold, start by riding on the flat. Many people notice that it helps them relax their shoulders and elbows as well as soften their wrists and forearms. Next, try trotting and cantering over poles, or jumping crossrails.
Wendy Murdoch has an excellent article on her site about using the driving rein. She recommends that once you feel comfortable with the driving rein, you should try holding one hand in the traditional riding hold and the other with a driving rein, switching back and forth as a way to retrain your muscle memory.
I’ve been trying this with Zelda and it definitely helps establish a soft contact. She’s a horse that can be quite fussy in her mouth (it took me forever to find a bit that did not offend her) and I think she appreciates having a supportive hand rather than a restrictive one.
Have you ever tried riding with a driving rein?
I’ve never even seen it being used by someone who’s not a novice. (This is not meant as criticism, by the way). I thought it was just a green rider not knowing the traditional, orthodox way of holding one’s reins. Do you keep your hands down and low, elbows at the side? I want to try it, just not sure how to hold the rest of me!
I will let you know how it works for me!
I use it all the time! I love it for teaching people how to have a following hand at a canter – works great in a 2 point – make sure your reins are short to get the feel of the horse moving your arm forward at a canter.
I did a clinic years ago and was made to ride with a Fillis rein – basically, the driving rein with your pinkie finger tucked under the rein. My mare (being of a very sensitive mouth) loves it when I ride this way.
Zelda is very sensitive so I thought this would be a good thing to try with her.
I used to love to drive a horse and cart! Thanks for this reminder. I am going to incorporate the the driving rein in my riding sessions at home.
I have never had the chance to drive — maybe once, years ago at camp — but I’m going to give this a shot, too.
IT WORKS! I rode yesterday…due to several things (health issues, no horse, etc) I haven’t ridden in almost two years. I was almost afraid to ride…I thought, maybe, I’d forgotten all the things I’ve learned from Raven and Sue. But no…………..it was all there. I used the driving rein hold to keep from balancing on the reins, (something I never did, but didn’t know I never did.)Now I know I have an independent seat!! It felt wierd, and I found myself unconsciously switching back to the traditional ‘fist’ hold. I will use this in the future. THANK YOU!