JANUARY 2006 • VOLUME 5 • HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Copyright: Lisa Kyle Young

There is an assumption that the french and german school can be so different. Interestingly when we begin to read the masters we find suprising similarities. Similarities that perhaps one would not expect to find.

Considered by many as the father of the german dressage system, Gustav Steinbrecht has this to say about the hand.

"The steady application of a firmly closed fist is the only punishment appropriate for the rein hand, regardless of the type of bit employment and whether one rides with one or both hands. Pulling and yanking on the reins is good for nothing other than injuring the tender mouth, making the horse head-shy and ultimately forcing it into such resistance that it will escape the rider's control completely (as by rearing and flipping over, running away, etc.)."

Gustav Steinbrecht

Copyright: Lisa Kyle Young

How should WE hold the reins?

Steinbrect within these words indicates that pulling is completely unacceptable. He also takes about a hand, one that is a closed fist. This he says is the only punishment ever necessary to ride with. One naturally comes to the conclusion that if the closed hand is a punishment that Steinbrecht advocates another hand as the one that we would usually ride with.

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