Tense arms - tips for relaxing

Tensing your arms is most likely a sign that you are compensating for something else in your body that is not working as it should. It is common for the core stability that you need for a good, steady seat not to be switched on.

So think about how your whole seat feels. Do you have a straight line through shoulder, hip and ankle? If you have leaned back a little too far, that can produce tense arms and hands that resist against the reins.

Other things to try:

Take deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Decide, for instance, to take one deep breath every time you ride past the letters E and C.

Ride with both reins in one hand and the other arm straight down, changing hands. This means you cannot balance on the reins as easily, which helps you become more independent of the hand.

Ride in light seat holding the reins in one hand with the other arm straight out. Try to find your balance point, where it feels stable to sit. Change hands.

Once you have done all this, pick up both reins again and notice how it feels in your body and your arms. Good luck. 😊