Stop Using The Inside Rein As A Crutch In Dressage

Half Halt

Dressage riders live by the rules of half halts and the outside rein, but until you get the delicate balance between the two figured out, the inside rein becomes the crutch that many depend on to pull their horse into a frame. In doing so the horse may bring his or her head down into a frame but it is not the true connection that we are looking for in dressage. Failing to master getting your horse on the outside rein will limit your ability to perform the movements as you go up the levels in dressage.

What Debbie McDonald Has To Say

In this video, Olympian Debbie McDonald quietly works with a rider to get her horse more on the outside rein. This video is a great visual of how the horse changes as the rider successfully develops the correct contact with her horse. Dressage riders often get too busy fixing the problems for an immediate response instead of being patient and waiting for the horse to give the correct answer. In short, the inside rein becomes the crutch or the shortcut to an incorrect result.