(“Short does not mean tight.”)

International sensation Charlotte Dujardin, the rider of Valegro, was recently quoted as saying “Short reins win Olympic medals.” I think that statement, while true, is worthy of some clarification.
Letting the reins get long is more than a blemish on the look of a good rider. It is a fault which befalls almost everyone to a degree, more often due to distraction that any conscious intent. When I am trying to solve a horse’s problem, I am certainly as guilty as the next person.

The real question, though, is why does it matter? Call it physics or physiology, but when your hands are in your lap, the natural tendency is to draw them closer to your stomach. This backward-taking motion totally contradicts and interferes with your ability to maintain a receiving hand and to ride your horse from back to front. You may deny it. You may claim “Oh, no, I can retain that feel regardless,” but you will be fooling yourself. The mechanics of the connection from your lower back through your elbows into a forward projection of energy just doesn’t work as well when your reins are long.

But here’s the point I want to make. Short does not mean tight. You could argue that Mickey Rooney’s bio disproves that contention, but let him be the exception that proves the rule.

Remember that the reins are part of your “surrounding aids” and that they do not restrain with force. They provide a limit to help explain and redirect your pushing aids. Just as shortening the side reins on your horse while you are lunging him should not make them weigh any more in his mouth, shorter reins when you’re riding are not supposed to make him heavy or in any way resistant.

So follow Charlotte’s advice. It’s good advice. But remember, shorter is to enhance and enable lightness and the back to front relationship.

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