Does hand position make a difference with how well the naturally gaited horse accepts a snaffle bit contact? Can hand position help or hinder relaxation in the naturally gaited horse? How does hand position impact smooth gaits?

Hand Position & Its Effect on Smooth Gaits

Studying Classical French Dressage has opened my eyes to new concepts in my riding. Not only have these concepts impacted the quality of smooth gaits, but they have also brought joy and harmony to my rides with my naturally gaited horses.

A few years ago, I audited and rode at a few Susan Norman clinics who teaches riding with lightness. She studied under, not one, but two French Classical Dressage Masters: Philippe Karl and the late Jean-Claude Racinet. Susan’s clinics introduced me books and DVDs produced by her protégés. These resources have opened my eyes and awareness to new ways of interacting with my horses that have greatly improved their smooth gaits.

While Norman, Karl, and Racinet apply dressage with horses that trot, I have found that the French Classical Dressage principles they teach apply well with the naturally gaited horses as well. What I have learned has produced lightness, balance, mental and physical relaxation, rhythm, engagement, straightness, collection, harmony, and joy. In turn, this humane method has developed full range of motion and quality natural smooth gaits.

The difference hand position makes

Among the differences is hand position. Karl’s teachings opened my eyes to how hand position impacts movement―for the better and the worse. Did you know that where the bit makes contact with the horse’s mouth is the difference between tension or pain and relaxation? Did you know that a tense horse moves differently than a relaxed horse? I didn’t have this awareness until I began to study Karl’s dressage application and begin to understand his philosophy.

For years I had been instructed to maintain a low hand position. Raising my hands to cue my horse was frowned upon. According to Karl, riding with low fixed hands applies tongue pressure. The horse’s response to this pressure is pain or tension and resistance. This leads to avoiding contact by going behind the bit and over flexing; going above the bit and becoming hollow; or getting tense in the jaw leading to a braced back. For the naturally gaited horse, a braced back leads to pacing, step pacing, a hard hollow trot, or stiff movement―certainly not the smooth gaits I am aiming for!

There is a big difference between riding my horse with low fixed hands and riding my horse with higher hands for cueing. A low fixed hand position presses the bit into my horse’s tongue which produces pain, tension and resistance. Cueing with higher hands makes contact with the less sensitive corners of my horse’s lips. Once my horse responds to the cue, I lower my hands to a neutral position with a light following contact. This means I gently follow the natural head and neck motion. If my hands remain in a low fixed position, it accentuates the bracing, pacing and rough gaits.

Watch: Rider Position and Effect on Smooth Gaits

The purpose of nosebands

Another eye-opener for me was the use of nose bands and flash attachments. For years, I showed my horses at dressage competitions. A quiet mouth was prized, so we rode with nose bands and flash attachments to keep the horse’s mouth closed.

Karl rides with a loose nose band or no nose band at all. Why? This permits the horse to freely open its mouth, taste the bit, salivate, and swallow to encourage relaxation. When a horse is ridden in a snug fitting noseband with or without a flash attachment, it can prevent the horse from swallowing. When you see excessive foam dripping from the horse’s mouth, it is likely that the horse isn’t swallowing. A little salivation is good, as long as the horse is able to swallow. When the horse is unable to swallow, this can lead to mental and physical tension which leads to a braced back. For naturally gaited horses, a braced back leads to pacing, step pacing, a hard hollow trot, or stiff movement―definitely not the smooth gaits I seek.

While educating the horse to the rider’s hands, the rider will have higher hands in training until the horse finds its balanced. Once the horse finds balance, the rider’s hands can be lowered to a neutral position.

A bit maker’s perspective

I recently watched a YouTube video: Dale Myler Bitting Series: #1 Understanding Bit Resistance (below) that reinforces Karl’s belief about tongue pressure. Mylar believes that riding the horse with tongue pressure cuts off the horse’s ability to salivate and swallow which distresses the horse. When the bit presses into the tongue by low fixed hands, the tongue begins to affect the horse’s ability to breathe. Adding to this, tension in the jaw encourages the horse to travel on the forehand and shortens the horse’s depth of stride.

Now, I certainly don’t want these qualities for my naturally gaited horses. Do you?

Thinking this through, as I ride my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horses and fox trotting mare, I apply a higher hand position for cueing, then a light neutral position that gently follow the natural head and neck motion. This helps keep my gaited horses relaxed in the jaw, accepting the snaffle bit contact, and has improved our smooth gaits.

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

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