CH Dressage

10/03/2026

How much does a small change in finger angle really matter when you’re holding the reins?

Quite a lot when we look at what we actually need the hand to do.

When riders are told to “close the fingers” around the reins, it’s easy to achieve that by increasing flexion at the MCP joints - the large knuckles where the fingers meet the hand.

But increasing MCP flexion takes the hand towards a more closed power-grip position. That’s useful when we need to generate force and hold something firmly, but that isn’t really the job we’re asking our hands to perform on the reins.

We need something much more precise.

Keeping the MCP joints relatively more open while allowing the fingers to flex around the reins gives us a hand that is secure, but still has the capacity for small, graded movements through the fingers.

And that distinction matters. Hand function has been extensively studied, and we know that joint position influences muscle and tendon mechanics, force production and our ability to perform fine motor tasks. On the reins, we want enough stability to maintain the rein while preserving dexterity and fine motor control, without creating unnecessary muscular effort and fatigue.

So “closed fingers” doesn’t necessarily mean close the whole hand into a fist.

We need to think about where that movement is coming from - and what we actually need those fingers to be able to do next.

This is exactly what we explore in the Riding Ready Reins Course. We break down hand anatomy and function to help riders understand what their hands need to do, develop the body awareness to recognise what they are actually doing, and build the physical ability to change it.

Because becoming a better rider isn’t simply about being told where to put your hands. It’s understanding why, being able to feel what you are doing, and having the control to do something different.

Understand your riding. Be a Better Rider.

10/01/2026

I just wrote a post about nose-to-the-wall leg yield and counter shoulder in….. and every time I ask people to try these movements, they tend to WAY OVER DO IT!!

Guys, 22° is great for most lateral work. 45° is quite extreme.
And yes, there are times that we will do more than that, but not the first time you ever try a nose-to-wall leg yield!!!

So just remember that 45 is half of 90 and 22 is approximately half of 45, and hopefully that prevent you from trying to side pass down the wall!!! 

10/01/2026

The Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to Neogen Corporation and Sciarra Aeromed Inc. after its investigation found multiple fungi in Neogen Vet HYCOAT, a veterinary wound care product labeled as sterile.

Neogen voluntarily recalled the product in January. The FDA is urging veterinarians and horse owners to report adverse events and product quality concerns.

Read more at the link below.

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

Do you want your kids to learn ALL of the important aspects of horse ownership like nutrition, pasture management, grooming, fitness/conditioning, stable bandaging, parasite management, veterinary medicine, AND how to advocate for themselves, teach horse knowledge and work through a program that has INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS of learning? Narrows Pony Club is recruiting new junior members (18 and under), especially looking for ages 9-13, in the Vaughn/Port Orchard/Gig Harbor and surrounding areas. ponyclub.org is the official pony club website which has a lot of good information about the organization, that emphasizes unmounted learning along with mounted activities. October is a great time to join as the rates are prorated for the rest of the year. Unfortunately, we do not have access to horses to borrow at this time and our lessons are at a few different facilities throughout the year so having access to a trailer is a must. Horses must be at least 5 years old. For more information email [email protected] or text Erika at 253-209-9041