Why We Need to Learn to Do Less With Our Hands

One of the greatest challenges in riding is overcoming our natural human tendency to be hand-dominant. From infancy, we rely on our hands to interact with the world—grasping, fixing, and manipulating objects to achieve our goals. It’s no surprise, then, that when riders encounter challenges in the saddle, their instinct is to turn to their hands for the solution.

Yet, as dressage master Walter Zettl wisely observed, “We are hand-oriented creatures. What does a baby do first? It tries to hold things in its hands. Therefore, we do too much with our hands when it comes to riding.”

Similarly, biomechanics expert Mary Wanless has noted that riding is not an activity that relies—or should rely—on manual dexterity. And yet, for many riders, the hands remain the primary tool for communication, control, and correction in the saddle.

The Problem With Overusing the Hands

It’s estimated that nearly all riders, at some point, rely too much on their hands. This habit manifests in several ways:

• Over-steering the horse’s nose instead of directing the shoulders – Many riders attempt to turn their horse using the reins rather than guiding primarily with their body and seat.
• Forcing the horse “on the bit” – Instead of encouraging the horse to step into a steady, elastic contact through correct use of seat and leg, riders may try to place the horse’s head in the desired position with their hands.
• Holding the horse in a pace – Riders often attempt to control speed and balance with rein pressure, rather than teaching the horse self-carriage through correct use of the body.

Unfortunately, these habits create tension and resistance in the horse, leading to a cycle where the rider applies more rein, and the horse becomes more evasive, resulting in an ongoing battle that neither truly wins.

What Happens When We Use Less Hand?

The magic begins when riders learn to do less with their hands and focus more on the rest of their body. Here’s what happens:

• Turning becomes about the shoulders, not the nose – A correctly balanced turn is achieved with subtle aids, using the rider’s body to influence the horse’s direction rather than pulling the head around with the reins.
• Connection to the bit becomes more genuine – Instead of forcing a frame, the horse begins to seek the contact on its own, creating a steadier, more trusting relationship with the rider’s hand.
• Control comes from balance, not restriction – A horse in self-carriage learns to maintain rhythm and tempo without being held together by rein pressure.

When the hands become quieter, a fascinating shift occurs—the rider starts to notice how much more influence they have through their seat, legs, and posture. Problems that previously seemed to require rein adjustments suddenly have different solutions. A horse struggling with left bend may not need more inside rein but instead a more effective inside leg. A horse that pulls may not need stronger hands but rather a better balance of the rider’s weight.

Training Tools for Quieter Hands

Developing steadier hands is a long-term process, and every rider will have moments of regression, particularly on different horses or in challenging moments. However, there are effective ways to develop this skill:

• Developing Body Awareness – Many riders don’t realize how much they use their hands until they make a conscious effort to reduce movement. Video analysis or working with an instructor who emphasizes quiet hands can help highlight unnecessary rein use.
• Focusing on Seat and Leg First – Making a habit of asking, “Can I fix this without my hands?” before making an adjustment can rewire the rider’s instincts.
• Using Training Aids That Promote Stability – Some riders find success with tools like SteadyHands gloves, which gently restrict excessive hand movement, forcing the rider to refine their rein contact while encouraging engagement of the seat and leg.
• Incorporating Exercises That Minimize Rein Use – Riding on a loose rein, working on lateral movements with minimal hand involvement, and practicing transitions off seat aids are all excellent ways to break hand-dominant habits.

The End Goal: A More Harmonious Ride

Ultimately, riding with quieter hands leads to a more harmonious partnership between horse and rider. A horse that can trust the rider’s hands to remain steady will develop confidence in the contact, seek a more elastic connection, and maintain self-carriage with less interference. This results in a more pleasant, willing ride where the horse moves freely and comfortably.

Of course, progress in this area is never linear. What feels easy on one day—or with one horse—might feel much harder on another. But the long-term goal remains the same: to create a riding experience where the hands become a place of quiet stability rather than a source of constant intervention.

For those looking to improve, the key is patience, awareness, and a willingness to embrace a different way of riding. And as riders discover for themselves, the less they do with their hands, the more their horses will offer in return.