Considering the use of the rein, remember that the touch is very light. Weight of the rein is the "default" contact. In this method of riding, you do not ever block the horse through the use of the rein, that is, the rider's primary rein, the rein that is communicating the directions, is always opposite the line of travel of the movement. The right primary rein, whether it is direct or indirect, asks the horse to send himself left; the left primary rein asks the horse to send himself right. The rein effects are not leverage to swing the horse about as if he were a boat, but rather are methods for communicating ideas to the horse's mind. The horse moves himself.

From Craig's upcoming book on Classical Equitation...

"The four rein effects that we use are the half halt and reverse half halt which we call longitudinal effects, and the direct rein and indirect rein -- latitudinal effects. Through the use of these four rein effects alone the modern rider can achieve any movement up to and beyond Olympic level; everything that can be done with the horse, including the high school work, can be achieved through the use of these simple effects.

The reins used in modern French dressage are based on the rein effects as General Benoit laid them out in 1879 for the French cavalry. The German school does not classify the rein effects in the same way. Each trainer who has written their theories down has addressed the effect of the reins as they understood it.

General Benoit codified the rein effects for the instruction of French military troops in the 19th century. He listed five effects, three of which include the term “opposition.” These effects are the direct rein, the indirect rein, the direct rein of opposition, the indirect rein of opposition and the indirect rein of opposition behind the withers. Keep in mind that in military riding the horses were used in combat or moving together in groups, both situations in which horses were very forward. Reins of opposition, if used without tact, tend to kill forward energy. As forwardness was rarely the issue reins of opposition were very effective. On the battlefield the energy of the herd and the adrenalin of fear would easily trump the blocking effect if the oppositional rein was used tactlessly.

As a French trained rider, I was schooled in Benoit’s five rein effects. But, as a trainer in today’s world, where combat is not an issue, I have found it is an unnecessary complication to work with the reins of opposition. Out of Benoit’s five effects I’m only interested in the direct rein and the indirect rein. The reason that I’m interested in these two rein effects is that they take very little training for the horse; the horse understands these two effects almost from the first moment that they are led on the ground. The direct rein and the indirect rein are the two effects that are called “natural effects” for this reason, because they take little training.

They are not used in opposition."

The Direct Rein: (You-Tube version for macs)

The direct rein is a small circular action away from the body of the horse. Its effect is to move the weight to the forehand as the rump swings away from the touch of the rein.

The Indirect Rein : (You-Tube version for macs)

The indirect rein is a small circular action toward the body of the horse. Its effect is to move the weight to the hind quarters as the shoulders move away from the touch of the primary rein.

The Half Halt:

The half halt is a small circular action from below to above and back sufficient to maintain contact. Its function is to request the horse to elevate the head, and in elevating the head the horse will first simply raise the head, then slow, then stop, then back. Half halt unifies the body of the horse.

The Reverse Half Halt:

Reverse half halt is a trained effect, the horse must desire to keep its relationship with the bit constant. When the rider has given a half halt, the rider then reverses the action, rolling the hand forward and down. The horse follows the movement of the bit, and it has an impulsive effect.

The Combined Effect:

Combined effect in hand or in the saddle is the use of all of the aids gently in opposition. It is the one place in this riding in which oppositional aids are used, and they are used intentionally to do what they do best: to kill all forward movement. The horse comes to a stop.

email any questions or comments to Mary Anne