Giving can be in different ways. You can keep that supple connection, and just give slightly in your elbow to tell the horse that the action of yielding was correct. On a more advanced horse, you use giving to the full extent, giving your hand and elbow far forward to create a loop in the rein to check on self carriage of the horse. The horse has to maintain his frame and bend without the holding rein. (Normally not done longer than 3– 5 strides at most). For a younger horse you only release for the moment that the same sided hind leg lifts off the ground and travels forward.
Giving hands always have to be steady and consistent. If your hands come forward and give every stride and create a bounce in the rein, this is more annoying and irritating for the horse then a constant contact where the horse knows where your hands are. In other words, a loose, flapping, floppy rein is more difficult and irritating for the horse then a steady rein. Sometimes, I try to use the image of pushing a wheel barrel up the manure pile where the handles never create a slack, but with your body and your feel in your arms you are pushing something ahead of you. The horse will tell you in the end results if you are correct in steady neck and head carriage. If you are in control and steady with your hands, most of your adjustments in giving come through your elbow. By bending your elbow more, you restrain. By pushing your elbow and taking the bend out of your elbow you are allowing or giving.
Do not try to move your wrists too much. If you just jiggle the reins with your wrists or fingers, you will get the horse to drop his neck but this is more getting the horse off the bit. What we try to achieve is building a bridge back to front without any loose parts in that bridge. Otherwise the bridge will eventually collapse.
This takes a lot of practice and feel. If possible, it is best to experience this on a trained horse where you can experience the feel. |