Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Rider Position for Gaited Horses

Rider Position and its Effect on Forwardness

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riders hands

Rider Position and its Effect on Forwardness

By Jennifer Klitzke

While auditing a gaited dressage clinic with Larry Whitesell, demonstrated three ways how rider position can effect the horse. The position of the rider’s hands, head, and arms can encourage the horse onto the forehand. And of coarse, I’m mortified that I’ve been guilty on all counts.

In Larry’s first demonstration, a woman volunteered to be the horse. She closed her eyes and held the bit in her hands while Larry held the reins. Larry repositioned his hand position from thumbs on top to a horizontal position (aka, puppy paws, piano hands). Without pulling on the reins, he asked her if she noticed a change and if so, what did it feel like.

The volunteer said, “It feels heavy.”

I was amazed how just turning the wrists from vertical to horizontal without pulling back on the reins could actually be felt as heavy through the reins! Larry said if hand position feels heavy to the horse, it can put the horse on the forehand.

In Larry’s second demonstration he changed his head position from looking ahead to looking down at the horse’s head. The volunteer had her eyes closed as she held the reins. Larry asked her if she noticed a difference and she said, “It feels heavy.” Again, I was amazed that the position of one’s head makes a difference to the horse through a loose rein contact.

Larry added that if you ride with straight arms, it also feels heavy to a horse and places them on the forehand. Wow, I’m guilty on all accounts and all at the same time! It’s no wonder my horse travels on the forehand.

Now that I’ve become aware of riding positions that are counterproductive to what I aim to achieve, I can become more intentional about riding with my thumbs up, arms at my sides with a bend at the elbow, and my head positioned up and looking ahead of where we are going.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.

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For more about Larry Whitesell and his gaited dressage training methods, visit: whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com.

Related posts:

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  3. Hand Position & Its Effect on the Naturally Gaited Horse
  4. Rider Position and its Effect on the Gaited Horse
  5. Beginning Lessons in Légèreté: Following Hands
  6. Naturally Gaited Dream Ride
  7. Following Arms & Rubber Band Fingers
  8. Gaited Western Dressage?
  9. Gaited Dressage: Rider’s seat and direction
  10. The Rider’s Seat: From Knee to Knee and Everything in Between

2 thoughts on “Rider Position and its Effect on Forwardness”

  1. I don’t do the “piano” hands. An instructor I had always told me that was a “no no”. But I do ride with straight arms trying to get my hands as low as possible–trying to encourage my horse to lower her head. So this is wrong?? What do I do then to encourage my horse to lower her head and relax?

    1. Hi Pamela,

      Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I agree that piano hands is a “no-no.” It’s a bad habit I am trying to break. Larry says it can lead to a horse falling on the forehand. (Also something I have been trying to overcome with my horse.)

      Low hands are good and encourage a horse to a lowered and relaxed headset which is a great way to build top line muscles. I always warm up and cool down in a long and low position. I think low hands are good, it’s just the stiff, straight arm position that can contribute to the horse being on the forehand. I also notice that when I ride with straight arms, my shoulders tend to tip forward which likely adds to the weight on the forehand.

      I hope that helps!

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