Do your hands sometimes seem like they develop a mind of their own when you’re riding? You tell them to stay quiet, steady, and soft… But they just seem committed to waving about. In fact, they feel miles away from being the ‘steady hands’ that you want as a rider!
Trust me, you’re not alone! Steady hands are a sore spot for so many riders, with the added frustration of as soon as you recognise it as a problem, it can often get worse before it gets better! Today we’re going to unpack how to begin developing steady hands that are more consistent and will improve communication with your horse.
Why Steady Hands Matter
Having steady hands isn’t about your hands being ‘fixed’ or ‘rigid’. Far from it actually. Steady hands is all about creating a consistent, gentle connection between you and your horse. It improves your horse’s trust in your contact and makes your aids clearer – and kinder.
Ironically, the harder we try to force our hands to stay still, the more exaggerated their movements often become. It’s like being aware of them makes them become even more animated!
So let’s dive into practical ways to address this issue once and for all…
What’s Really Happening?
Before fixing a problem, you need to know exactly what’s causing it. There are generally two big reasons your hands may move too much. The first is that you’re actually moving your hands! I know, you might think ‘No Way!’, but it’s true! Especially if you’re always fiddling with and shortening/lengthening your reins.
If your reins keep slipping so that you have to keep shortening them, you’re probably holding your reins wrong. Get that issue sorted first… Then move on from there :)
The other way your hands can be moving about is far more unintentional. It often comes down to you relying far too much on your hands for balance or support. This really shows up in trot, canter, turns, and bends. It can also show up as you post to the trot.
Get Clear on Your Hands First
Grab a whip or stick and hold your reins normally, thumbs on top. Lift your thumbs slightly and lay the whip horizontally across your fingers, then gently clamp your thumbs back down to hold it in place. As you ride, glance down occasionally to check if your whip remains ‘still’ or is it moving about all over the place! You will also be able to quickly see if you’re tilting or dropping one hand using this method as well.
The other way to assess what your hands are doing is to film yourself riding with this setup. Bonus points if you wear bright white gloves! This makes your hand movements glaringly obvious, helping you clearly see what’s going on.
Identifying the Root Cause
So, if you’ve looked back over the videos and seen your hands merrily dancing all over the place, you need to find out why that is happening! Ask yourself: Is this simply a habit? Or is something deeper affecting your balance and stability?
Often, unsteady hands signal balance and position problems. For example, riders frequently use their hands to balance, similar to how you’d extend your arms if you were walking on a narrow plank.
Another thing to keep in mind is how incorrect posting to the trot can also be causing your issues. If you’re pulling yourself up, instead of using your core to rise ‘forward’, you will see hard, moving hands. If you see this as an issue, keep in mind that you were probably told to go ‘up-down’ when you initially learned to post.
Also keep in mind that improving your core strength, along with correct posting techniques, will often help resolve this issue.
Practical Solutions to Steady Hands
1. Relax and Check Your Elbows
Believe it or not, your elbows play a huge role in hand stability. Some riders lock their elbows straight, causing their hands to bounce. If you see from your video that you’re doing that, rather gently let your elbows drape softly by your side. Naturally bent and relaxed as though you were carrying two cups of tea.
And just like if you were carrying cups of tea while walking, your elbows gently absorb the horse’s movement while riding. This helps to keep create steady hands that are soft and connected.
2. Strengthen Your Core
Core strength is crucial for horse riding and creating steady hands! If your core is weak, you will be far more likely to rely on your hands for balance. You probably know if this is an issue for you… You know, those ‘wobbly’ feelings that come up when you trot without stirrups, bend or circle in trot or canter, etc.
Begin incorporating simple exercises into your daily routine, like planks, balance ball workouts, and the Equestrian Fitness Challenge (FREE HERE). These off-horse exercises help build core strength and stability, which will result in steadier hands for you in the saddle.
3. Connect Your Seat to Your Hands
Your seat and hands should work together seamlessly, with your hands following the subtle movements of your seat – not the other way around. Unfortunately, a lot of riders depend too much on their hands, so they end up leading the seat!
If you are a little too ‘handy’ when riding, consider lunge lessons where someone else lunges you on your horse. They can direct your horse, which will allow you to focus on you :)
If lunging with a helper isn’t possible, create a small, safe area to practice riding without reins at walk and trot, helping you strengthen your seat and core without relying on your hands for balance.
4. Off-Horse Exercises for Better Stability
There’s so much you can do out of the saddle to improve your riding. Get yourself a large exercise or Pilates ball and use it to improve your balance and hand steadiness. Plus, it’s so much fun as well! Sit on the ball, create makeshift reins (or use your own reins fixed to something sturdy), and practice posting, sitting trot, and even canter motions.
This type of exercise and practice will help your body develop muscle memory, enabling better coordination between your seat and hands when you’re back on your horse.
Important Reminders as You Improve
When you begin down the path to create steady hands in the saddle, be prepared for it sometimes getting worse before it gets better! It can feel that initially focusing intensely on your hands can cause tension, making your movements temporarily stiffer and more exaggerated. Don’t worry – this is completely normal! The key is to remain patient and consistent. Steady improvement will follow.
Instead of aiming for absolute stillness (which isn’t realistic or helpful), aim for “steady” hands. Hands that softly and smoothly follow your horse’s movements, maintaining gentle contact without rigidity.
Take Regular Videos
Make video analysis a regular part of your practice. The visual feedback helps you notice subtle improvements and identify lingering issues. Wearing white gloves or using the whip technique periodically is also a great way to gauge your progress.
Bringing it All Together
At the end of the day, creating steady hands is not an overnight thing. It will require a combination of awareness, targeted practice, patience, and consistency, both in and out of the saddle. Strengthening your core, stabilizing your seat, and keeping relaxed, flexible elbows will lead you toward more stable, soft hands that genuinely improve communication with your horse.
Remember, because your hands are at the ends of your arms (like your feet at the end of your legs) they often are a telltale sign of movement and tension happening in other areas of your body.
Want extra support? Join me over at ReturningtoRiding.com. Get on the waitlist to start mastering the basics and build your riding confidence.
Happy riding
Lorna
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