Relinquishing Control? Dropping the Reins at all Paces

by Jennifer Landels May 2, 2017

Riding Level 4: Dropping the Reins There are many times dropping the reins is useful or necessary in mounted combat. Historical manuals show pommel strikes, grappling, cross-bow, off-hand, and half-sword plays at walk and canter. And, of course, horseback archery is always done without a hand on the reins. Some images show the reins looped through the…

Hands-free riding

by Jennifer Landels January 21, 2014

Riding Level 2: Riding without the reins At famous Cadre Noir school of equitation in Saumur France, riders are put on horseback on long reins or the longeline for two years before they are allowed to pick up the reins. This insures they have a completely independent seat. Most of our students do not have…