09/14/2026
👀 It might look like a tiny detail, but where the rein sits changes how the thumb - and the rest of the hand - has to work.
On the left, the rein sits closer to the base of the thumb. The thumb has to flex much further around it to secure the rein - and look at the knuckles too. The whole hand is sitting in a more flexed position.
Move the rein towards the middle third of the thumb and we can use more of a lateral pinch grip - similar to how we hold a key.
Now the thumb can gently oppose the side of the index finger, providing stability to the rein without needing to curl so far around it.
That small change in where the rein sits changes the mechanics of the thumb, the shape of the hand and how the fingers can work.
Where you put the rein determines how you can hold it.
This is exactly what we explore in the Riding Ready Reins Course - understanding not just where your hands should be, but why the way you hold the reins changes how they can work.
