How To Hold Horse Reins Correctly: A Beginner's Guide to Proper Rein Contact

What is the correct way to hold horse reins? Holding horse reins correctly involves maintaining a light, steady connection with the bit, keeping your hands low, soft, and quiet, and ensuring the riding rein grip allows for clear communication without causing pain or resistance in the horse’s mouth.

Learning to hold the reins properly is the cornerstone of effective horsemanship. It is how you speak to your horse. Good rein contact means clear signals. Bad contact causes confusion or conflict. This guide breaks down the process simply. We will help you achieve proper rein contact every time you ride.

Grasping the Basics of Rein Holding

Many new riders grip the reins too tightly. They think a tight hold means more control. This is often not true. A tight grip makes the horse stiff. It teaches the horse to lean into the pressure. We aim for softness and responsiveness.

The Ideal Hand Position for Horse Reins

Your hands are your primary connection. Where they sit matters greatly.

Hand Height and Placement

Your hands should be soft and steady. They should rest just above the horse’s wither. Think of holding a small bird. You want to keep it safe, but not crush it.

Elbows: Keep your elbows bent and relaxed. They act as shock absorbers.
Wrists: Keep your wrists straight, aligned with your forearms. Avoid bending them up or down sharply.
Thumbs: Thumbs should point slightly toward the sky. They should be the highest point of your closed fist.
Knuckles: The knuckles facing forward should be in line with your forearm.

This position lets your arms move forward with the horse’s head motion. This prevents sudden jerks on the bit.

The Proper Riding Rein Grip

How you hold the leather itself is crucial. There are two main styles taught globally: the English style and the Western style. Both aim for connection, but the grip differs slightly.

English Style Rein Grip

In English riding (like dressage or jumping), reins are usually held with both hands separated.

Sizing the Rein: Adjust the rein length for different gaits before you start moving. You need enough slack for the horse to stretch slightly, but not so much that you lose feel.
Positioning: Lay the rein over your palm. Wrap your index finger around the rein. Close your middle and ring fingers over it.
Thumb Placement: Your thumb rests gently on top of the index finger, sealing the grip.
The Feel: The pressure should be steady and light. It should feel like holding a thin piece of rope loosely.

Western Style Rein Grip (Neck Reining Foundation)

Western riding often uses a single hand, even when holding two separate split reins.

Gathering: Gather both reins into one hand (usually the left).
Wrapping: Wrap the reins around the outside of your palm.
Securing: Cross the ends over your palm and secure them by placing your pinky finger against them. This keeps the reins from slipping through your hand if the horse suddenly pulls.
Flexibility: Even though they are held in one hand, the goal is still soft communication.

This secure grip helps maintain rein tension in riding consistently, even when applying aids for turning.

Deciphering Rein Tension in Riding

Rein tension in riding is perhaps the trickiest part for beginners to master. It is the ongoing conversation between your hands and the bit. Too much tension blocks the horse. Too little tension means missed signals.

The Concept of “Contact” vs. “Pulling”

Contact is the steady, light feel you maintain. Pulling is applying force to control or stop the horse.

Light Contact: Imagine holding a string connected to a small bubble. You feel the bubble, but you don’t want to pop it. This is light contact. It keeps you informed about the horse’s mouth.
Steady Contact: This means your hands do not move independently of your body or the horse’s movement. If the horse lowers its head, your hands move slightly forward, maintaining the same feel, not the same length.

How to Find the Right Rein Length

The correct length depends on the discipline and the horse’s frame.

Gait/Situation	Recommended Rein Length Goal	What to Avoid
Walk/Halt (Relaxed)	Enough slack to allow a slight nod/stretch.	Reins pulled tight to the saddle.
Working Trot/Canter	Short enough for an immediate half-halt.	Hands riding high near the neck.
Collection/Higher Dressage	Shorter, maintaining an elastic connection.	Over-bending the neck or forcing the head.
Riding Over Jumps	Slightly longer to allow the horse to use its neck.	Gripping tight during the push-off.

If you are constantly re-adjusting your holding horse reins correctly, your length is probably wrong. You should set the length once and then use your seat and legs primarily.

Using Your Seat and Legs First

The best riders use their hands last. They use their body first.

To Move Forward: Use your seat and leg aids first. Only use the reins for subtle guidance or balance correction.
To Slow Down: Squeeze with your calves, sit deeper in the saddle, and only then use a gentle closing of your fingers for a half-halt.

Exploring Different Rein Aids with Reins

The way you hold and use the reins changes based on what you ask the horse to do. These are the basic riding aids with reins.

Direct Rein Use (The Opening Rein)

The direct rein is the primary way to ask for a turn when you are learning. This is essential for direct rein use.

Action: You apply pressure sideways, away from the direction you want to go.
Example: To turn left, you move your right hand slightly to the horse’s right side (outward).
Goal: The horse’s nose moves away from the pressure, causing the body to bend and turn toward the left.
Crucial Point: As the horse yields and turns its nose, you must immediately soften the rein on the inside of the turn. If you don’t soften the inside rein, you are pulling the horse’s face around, not asking for a true turn.

Indirect Rein (The Bearing Rein)

This is used to support a turn or keep the horse straight when the primary turn aid is already applied.

Action: The rein on the inside of the turn is kept soft, but the outside rein applies slight pressure against the neck or shoulder to prevent the horse from cutting the corner or over-bending.
This is a more subtle way to guide the horse.

Neck Reining Technique

This is most common in Western disciplines but is vital for many advanced English riders too. Neck reining technique involves using the rein against the side of the horse’s neck rather than pulling on the mouth directly.

Preparation: Ensure you have the correct Western grip or a loose English grip.
The Ask: To ask for a right turn, you lay the left rein across the horse’s neck, touching the left side of the neck just behind the shoulder.
The Release: As the horse moves away from the gentle pressure of the rein against its neck, you release the pressure immediately.
Benefit: This teaches the horse to respond to slight shifts in balance pressure, lessening the need to pull on the mouth bit.

Adjusting Horse Reins While Riding: Transitions and Movements

A common struggle is adjusting horse reins while riding smoothly. If you need to shorten the reins to ask for a collection, you must do it without disrupting your balance or interrupting the horse’s rhythm.

Shortening Reins Incrementally

Never yank your hands back suddenly. This causes a jerk on the bit.

One Hand at a Time (English): If you need to shorten the right rein, keep your left hand absolutely steady. Open your right fingers slightly, allow the rein to slide through, and immediately re-grip it slightly shorter.
The Slide Method: Use the heel of your open hand to gently “sweep” the excess rein back toward your thigh. As the rein slides back, close your fingers slightly to secure the new, shorter length.
Maintain Elbow Position: As you shorten the reins, ensure your elbows do not come in toward your sides. They must stay out to maintain the natural curve of the connection.

Lengthening Reins Smoothly

This is often needed when moving from a collected trot to a long, relaxed walk or when the horse stretches out after a jump.

The “Push” Forward: Instead of pulling your hands back toward you, push your hands slightly forward, encouraging the horse’s head to move out and down.
Follow the Movement: Allow your arms and shoulders to move forward with the horse’s neck.
The Release: Once the horse accepts the stretch, stop moving your hands forward. Your fingers should gently open just enough to allow the desired length while maintaining a feeling connection.

If you are constantly fiddling with the reins, it suggests your initial rein length for different gaits was imprecise. Practice setting the length correctly while standing still first.

Troubleshooting Common Beginner Mistakes in Rein Holding

Many errors in holding the reins stem from tension elsewhere in the body or incorrect foundational knowledge.

Mistake 1: “Death Grip” or Over-Tension

Beginners often grip the reins as if they are steering a car wheel very hard.

Why it happens: Fear of falling or fear of losing control.
The Fix: Focus solely on softening your fingers. Pretend you are holding a set of car keys you don’t want to drop, but you aren’t squeezing them for dear life. Practice flexing your fingers slightly open and closed while walking. Your lower arm should remain stable. This builds muscle memory for a relaxed grip.

Mistake 2: Hands Too High or Too Low

If hands are too high (near the ears), you pull down on the bit, often causing the horse to try and run away underneath. If too low (near the saddle pommel), you encourage the horse to drop its nose too far, breaking contact and potentially tripping.

The Fix: Use a mirror if possible. If riding alone, feel for the spot just above the wither. Practice maintaining this height while doing simple circles. If your arms tire, it means you are using muscle strength instead of balance. Rest, shake your arms out, and reset.

Mistake 3: Following the Mouth Inconsistently

This refers to the lack of connection. The rider’s hands move backward when the horse moves its head forward, and vice versa. This creates a seesaw effect on the bit.

The Fix: Engage your core. Think of your entire arm, from shoulder to fingertips, as one connected unit that moves only in response to the horse’s forward motion, not your own independent arm movements. If the horse walks, your hands walk forward slightly with it. If it halts, your hands stop moving forward. This establishes a true, consistent feel.

Mistake 4: Using Only the Reins for Steering

Relying entirely on pulling the reins creates imbalance in the horse. This leads to the horse learning to ignore one side or leaning heavily on one rein.

The Fix: Focus heavily on leg and seat aids. When turning left, use your left leg firmly against the horse’s side. Your left rein should remain soft (or apply neck reining technique pressure). The right rein acts as the stabilizing outer boundary. This is essential for developing effective riding aids with reins that use the whole body.

Developing Sensitivity Through Exercises

To improve your riding rein grip and overall connection, specific exercises help develop sensitivity.

The No-Stirrup Walk and Trot

Riding without stirrups forces you to use your seat and legs for balance. When your lower body is busy balancing, your hands naturally relax slightly, forcing you to rely on light contact rather than bracing against the stirrups.

Goal: To feel the movement travel up your body to your hands without gripping tighter.

The One-Rein Stop Exercise

This is a fantastic drill for developing sensitivity to direct rein use.

Ride at a working trot.
Gently ask for a slow turn using only one rein (e.g., the left rein). Do not use the legs or seat yet.
The moment the horse turns its nose even slightly toward the pressure, release the rein completely.
Continue walking straight for a few steps until you re-establish balance.
Repeat on the other side.

This teaches you to ask for small movements and release immediately, rewarding softness. It prevents you from forcing the turn through continuous pulling.

Working on Elasticity

Elasticity means your connection can stretch and return without breaking.

Practice moving smoothly from a working trot to a slightly more forward trot, then back to working trot.
Each transition requires a slight change in rein tension in riding. The hands must soften to allow the horse to step out, and then gently firm up to maintain the rhythm.
If you feel the connection snap or break during these changes, your grip is too rigid, or your hands are moving too drastically.

Different Disciplines, Different Rein Approaches

While the core principles of soft hands remain universal, different equestrian sports emphasize different types of connection.

Dressage Focus

Dressage demands extreme collection and submission. This requires consistent, nearly unbroken proper rein contact.

The hand position for horse reins must remain incredibly steady.
The goal is often a “feeling of the elastic band”—constant, light engagement that allows for tiny adjustments without losing the connection point at the bit.

Jumping Focus

When jumping, the horse needs freedom to use its neck over the obstacle.

Riders must learn to give a release—either a crest release (hands rest on the neck) or a two-point release (hands follow the motion).
This shows how crucial it is to adjust the rein length for different gaits and activities, as the length required during the takeoff and landing phase is much longer than during the canter stride between fences.

Trail and Pleasure Riding

In more relaxed settings, you are often using longer reins, perhaps even allowing the horse to travel in a slightly looser frame.

Even here, maintaining a light feel is important for safety. You must be able to instantly shorten the reins for an emergency stop or to navigate unexpected obstacles. This is where a good, secure riding rein grip prevents the reins from slipping when you need them most.

Final Thoughts on Holding Horse Reins Correctly

Mastering how to hold horse reins correctly is a lifelong pursuit. It requires constant self-assessment and sensitivity to your horse’s feedback. Focus on quiet hands, a steady connection, and using your legs and seat before your hands. When your hands are relaxed, your rein tension in riding becomes effective communication rather than force. Practice these simple techniques consistently, and you will notice a dramatic improvement in how your horse responds to your subtle cues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Should I wear gloves when holding the reins?

Yes, gloves are highly recommended, especially for beginners. Gloves improve the friction of your riding rein grip, preventing the reins from slipping, especially if your hands sweat. They also protect your skin from blisters and chafing caused by friction from the leather.

How do I know if I am using too much pressure with the direct rein use?

If you apply pressure with the direct rein use and the horse resists by leaning heavily into the bit, shaking its head, or refusing to move its shoulders over, you are likely using too much force. The correct ask is light; the horse should yield immediately. If it doesn’t yield, you need to reset your aids, not increase the pressure.

Can I use both hands for steering in Western riding?

While Western riding often trains riders in neck reining technique using one hand, it is perfectly acceptable, and often safer, to use two hands when first learning or when riding challenging terrain. Using two hands provides more balance and control until the single-hand aids are established.

What is the role of the shoulder when holding horse reins correctly?

The shoulder is vital. A tight, braced shoulder transfers tension directly down the arm into the hand. A relaxed shoulder allows the elbow to act as the primary shock absorber. Keep your shoulders relaxed and slightly pulled back to help maintain good posture and effective hand position for horse reins.

How often should I be adjusting horse reins while riding?

Ideally, you should set your rein length for different gaits before starting a phase of work. Adjustments should be small and instantaneous, rather than long, drawn-out changes. If you find yourself constantly adjusting horse reins while riding over several strides, it means your initial setting was likely incorrect for that specific gait or level of collection.

How To Hold Horse Reins Correctly: A Beginner’s Guide to Proper Rein Contact