Double Rein Injuries?

[CarolU]

I visited my orthopedic surgeon yesterday (scheduled for elbow surgery on Monday). While there they asked how I hold my reins. They have seen a lot of repetitive motion injuries of the little finger from holding double reins with one set of reins running between the ring and middle finger, and the other rein under the little finger.

Now, I use double reins for a period of time training, but have never had this type of injury. I have never heard of this injury, even from long time trainers in our breed who ride dozens of schooling horses with big fat reins. So I wonder if it's the way the reins are used? Differently for different breeds? Easier on our pinkies?

Interesting.

[paintedhorizon]

I hold the reins between my thumb and pointer finger at the top and pinky and ring finger at the bottom. My left hand always gives me fits after about an hour, like an electric shock.

This picture kinda shows how I hold it.

[motorgypsy]

I know this is not orthodox but I was originally taught to hold the reins from behind the pinky up through and out of the thumb and first finger - so the first set goes all the way though the hand which can grip the reins in the fist. When I use two sets, one is to the rope halter and the second is to the bit. I hold the the bit reins between the the first finger and the thumb like chop sticks and the halter reins in the normal position through the entire hand if I'm primarily using halter cues. I reverse this if I'm primarily using bit cues. I've done this for hours with no pain at all. I have both elbow and wrist problems so if this were a bad position it would give me pain. So if you're not in a show or where the way you look is important you might try this position. It's very easy to manipulate both sets of reins independently because your index finger and thumb are very strong and the remaining three fingers acting together are also quite strong also.

[paintedhorizon]

I know this is not orthodox but I was originally taught to hold the reins from behind the pinky up through and out of the thumb and first finger - so the first set goes all the way though the hand which can grip the reins in the fist. When I use two sets, one is to the rope halter and the second is to the bit. I hold the the bit reins between the the first finger and the thumb like chop sticks and the halter reins in the normal position through the entire hand if I'm primarily using halter cues. I reverse this if I'm primarily using bit cues. I've done this for hours with no pain at all. I have both elbow and wrist problems so if this were a bad position it would give me pain. So if you're not in a show or where the way you look is important you might try this position. It's very easy to manipulate both sets of reins independently because your index finger and thumb are very strong and the remaining three fingers acting together are also quite strong also.
I hold double reins like that as well.

[Ginger]

Things to consider:

Originally, "double reins" were just that- flat bridle-leather reins (the curb rein was thinner than the snaffle rein), not big fat leadropes like Paso people use. Did I finally, couple years ago, start seeing thinner reins? Anorexic leadropes? Hope so. Typical one-inch-diameter rope paso reins are not ergonomically designed for repetitive use, regardless of how pink and turquoise they might be.

Two- a lot of people who ride with double reins are insecure and unconsciously hold them 'improperly' as a crutch rather than a tool. Not saying Carol does- but the last show I was at, I saw an alarming trend of fugly riders. They had poor equitation as well.

Both Ensminger and Podjaski (and Crabtree as well, I think) suggested that the most leverage go to the snaffle (or noseband, to modify it for Pasospeak) and the curb the least, translating that to use the weakest the most, and the strongest the least- it just makes sense that one wouldn't want to tear up a horse's mouth. The tail's ok, just not the mouth. The curb was mainly for direction, the snaffle for collection/flexion. I think. I've applied this all of twenty minutes while checking a fence during the past three years, so there's your caveat.

The most lingering and troublesome injury I ever sustained from a horse was some nerve and joint damage from a horse wreck on Labor Day a coon's age back. I'd just met Jen Rives for the first- and last- time, and was on Ickis in the warm-up ring. We were hand-galloping, Pascale's saddle slid sideways, and I ate loam. I reflexively held onto the rein- a single, nylon-braided Red White and Blue Bah Gawd nightmare an inch-and-a-half wide. The rope burn was the least of the worries- I couldn't "get off it" quick enough when my brain finally made the connection to let go and relieve Ickis's face, and I got snagged. I now am perpetually Vulcan on my left hand to a minimal degree, although in the past two years or so, I've noticed it "closing", and I can grip and twist and hold things better, without numbness, tingling, or flatout pain. That day was when I developed a true loathing for "paso specific" tack- had I used a normal pair of latigos, A- They were separate- and would have "went with me". B- when I let go, my hand would have slid (or sizzled) through, instead of catching on that freakish, tri-color nightmare.

[CarolU]

LOL...nice reading your writing again. I can picture your accident, Live Long and Prosper to you too. ;)

My elbow problem started when we built our house and I did all the tile work. Since we were on a construction loan, I worked fast without a break and paid the price. For years I'd get reoccurrences each spring when I weeded, tilled, and planted my flowers, or did a wood refinishing project. Now that I'm a full-time barn-hand and carrot stick user, I keep it inflamed. :mecry:

I just wondered about that finger injury and those thick reins. I don't think PF riders use the different reins as subtly as English riding that causes the injury. And I know when I use two reins, I roll my hand to engage the lower rein, not pull with my little finger. I just wondered about others.

Interesting to read how everyone rides differently.

[motorgypsy]

Michelle - you said you held the second set between pinky and ring finger. I hold the main set behind the pinky. I tried between pinky and ring and quite frankly as Crystal said (great to see you around here again by the way!) with round reins it was very uncomfortable. Later riding western and using flat reins I still found between pinky and ring finger, which I am told is the "correct way" was miserable. I do hate the fat reins although Kyle loves them. But he has really long hands and fingers so the thinner reins are harder for him to grip probably. So I have three fingers between the reins, not two.

[paintedhorizon]

Michelle - you said you held the second set between pinky and ring finger. I hold the main set behind the pinky. I tried between pinky and ring and quite frankly as Crystal said (great to see you around here again by the way!) with round reins it was very uncomfortable. Later riding western and using flat reins I still found between pinky and ring finger, which I am told is the "correct way" was miserable. I do hate the fat reins although Kyle loves them. But he has really long hands and fingers so the thinner reins are harder for him to grip probably. So I have three fingers between the reins, not two.
MGs, look at the pic. That's how I hold a single rein. That's what I was meaning.

[motorgypsy]

ahhhsoooo:biggrin: