Steady Hands for a Steady Contact
Provided By: Amelia Newcomb Dressage
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If you’ve ever watched a video of yourself riding and noticed your hands flying all over the place, you’re not alone. Unsteady hands can make it difficult to establish a soft and consistent contact with your horse. But here’s the truth—your hands are not the root cause of the problem. Your hands are actually a symptom of issues in your seat and alignment.
In this video, I’m sharing the secret to steady hands, how to fix the underlying cause, and a step-by-step process to create a better connection with your horse.
As riders, we tend to focus on what our hands are doing, but the reality is that they are just reacting to imbalances elsewhere. If your seat is unstable, your hands will compensate, causing them to bounce, pull, or move inconsistently. Rather than forcing your hands to stay still, the real solution lies in improving your overall position.
The Rider Position Scale
The best way to establish a steady contact is to follow my Rider Position Scale, which focuses on fixing your alignment before addressing your hands.
– Alignment First – Check that your shoulder, hip, and heel are in a straight line. If your position is out of balance, your hands will be, too.
– Seat Follows the Motion – Your seat should absorb the movement of the horse. For example, in the canter, think swing, swing, swing, following the wave-like motion with your hips.
– Legs Stay Long and Quiet – Toes forward, legs draped around your horse, providing stability and connection.
– Hands Will Fix Themselves – Once your alignment, seat, and legs are correct, your hands will naturally become steadier without needing to force them into position.
Once you’ve corrected your alignment and seat, often your “hand problem” will resolve itself. Be sure to maintain a straight line from your elbow to your horse’s mouth, and allow your elbows to follow the oscillation of your horse’s neck so that you can establish a steady contact.
The biggest mistake riders make is trying to “fix” their hands without addressing the root issue. Instead, focus on your seat, alignment, and leg position first, and your hands will naturally become steadier. This will help you create a more effective connection with your horse.
If you want to dive deeper into rider position and how it affects your contact, be sure to RSVP for my Free Rider Position Webinar. This in-depth FREE training will give you the tools to fix your position and improve your riding at the root cause. This webinar is free to attend, but RSVP is required. Make sure to save your seat here.
Happy Riding!
Amelia
00:00 Intro
1:16 Your Hands Are Not the Problem
2:40 Alignment
2:52 Seat
3:17 Legs & Hands
5:44 Final Tips
