High Hands

High hands make a high head. That is good advice. However, it’s not appropriate in every situation. Maintain a straight line from your elbow to the corners of your horse’s mouth. is a more practical adage to live by. Your forearms, from elbows to hands, should be a natural extension of your reins and create a straight line from elbow to bit regardless of the position of your horse's head. If your horse’s head elevates, lifting your arms and hands high enough to maintain alignment with your horse’s mouth keep the lines of communication open and clear.

Pulling down against your horse’s rising face by lowering your hands will work in opposition to his state of balance. By trying to force him out of an inverted frame, he'll be more likely to resist. No matter what the position of your horse’s head, properly aligned hands and soft contact will give him the support he needs to find his way back to a properly balanced frame.

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