How to Hold the Reins for Soft Hands

"Soft hands."

"Elbow to bit."

"Quiet hands."

These phrases are everywhere in riding instruction. And for riders who know what they mean and how to apply them, they’re helpful cues. But for everyone else? They’re vague at best. You try to interpret them, have a go- and often end up with inconsistent rein contact and a hand that’s anything but quiet or soft.

Imagery can be powerful, but it only works if

a) You learn well through metaphors

b) You interpret that metaphor correctly in your body!

I often hear that I “overcomplicate” riding as a rider physio. But I don’t believe that’s true. What I do is explain how your body actually works when you ride. Because if you can understand the anatomy and biomechanics, you can stop guessing- and start making meaningful, measurable changes to your rein aids and riding contact.

“Hold the reins like you’re playing a musical instrument- not pulling on a rope.”

It’s a lovely idea. Gentle and controlled not gripping and pulling.. But if you’ve never played an instrument, that image and feeling likely falls flat when trying to reproduce it with your reins.

So let’s break it down. Let’s explore the movements, muscles, and sensations behind the hands all riders want to have. No more fluffy phrases- just clear, science-backed rider biomechanics and equestrian hand position principles.

Relaxed thumb resting on reins. Tension on bottom rein but fingers not curled in or gripping with a fist

Why Hand Position Can Make or Break Your Rein Contact

A lot of beginner riders instinctively grip the reins in the palm of their hands and if no one has ever shown or told them how to hold them it makes sense- why wouldn't you hold the reins in fist when that is a normal day to day thing we do when holding things. In other riders (who know better! it becomes a habit when anxious or concentrating.

But in riding, this grip often leads to:

• Wrist tension and overuse

• Forearm fatigue

• Inconsistent or heavy contact

• Gripping instead of feeling

I had one rider tell me they had been told to hold their reins at base of fingers so they could open their hands when needing to give with the reins. But that is an on/off switch - either fist or open- and we want a volume control where you can change the rein tension subtly. Watch any elite rider and you can't see them open/close their hands or when they use a rein aid- why? Because they are using their anatomy to help them give fine movements undetectable to the human eye from the ground but felt by the horses mouth.

So How Should You Hold Your Reins and More Importantly Why??

There are two muscles which bend your fingers - one is for strength and the other is control. Imagine you are holding a bucket of water with the handle sitting near your palm- whether the bucket is heavy or empty, your hand stays clamped the same way – it’s strong and locked. Open your hand and you drop the bucket. Now do the same with the handle on the mid portion of your fingers. You immediately adjust and feel the difference when it’s heavy versus empty – your fingers adjust, sensing and responding to the weight.

As riders, that finger difference is what we want on the reins – feeling the changes, adjusting lightly, and staying responsive, instead of opening or closing a fist.

The reason for this is the difference where the muscles attach on the fingers and how they work.

We want reins on the portion of the finger where the blue is

Let’s Look At The Muscles Which Give You Soft Hands

There are two main muscles that flex (bend) the fingers- key to understanding how to hold the reins correctly:

🕋 FDS (Flexor Digitorum Superficialis) – The Gripper

 The FDS tendons from all four fingers merge closely together before joining the main muscle belly in the forearm.

FDS lies closer to the skin in the forearm and is a powerful muscle, excellent for gross gripping tasks like carrying, lifting, or holding a lead rope. But it doesn’t allow isolated finger movement. When the FDS activates, it tends to contract all fingers together, reducing the ability to make subtle adjustments.

Try this: Try just bending one finger and watch how the others move a little.

This means:

• When one FDS tendon activates, it often recruits the others too

• It's difficult to isolate a single finger using FDS

• You get strong flexion, but little independent control

• Ideal for gripping but not refining.

FDP (Flexor Digitorum Profundus) – The Refiner

The FDP has individual tendons that are more anatomically separate, allowing finer, independent movement of each finger.

FDP lies deeper in the forearm and its tendons run under those of the FDS. Unlike FDS, the tendons of the Flexor Digitorum Profundus (FDP) are more anatomically separate- particularly to the 4th and 5th fingers.

This means:

• Each tendon can activate more independently

• Allows finer, more targeted finger movement

• Supports subtle pressure adjustments and 'feel'

• Ideal for refining rein contact and delivering precise rein aids

  
  

It inserts into the distal phalanx (fingertip bone), giving it the ability to flex the tips of the fingers independently. That independence is key to subtle rein aids. The FDP tendons to the 4th and 5th fingers are more separate than the others, allowing for refined, isolated control—perfect for rein adjustments and fine-tuned rider communication.

The attachments of the two muscles on the fingers

The other difference is where the tendons attach onto the fingers- the FDP attaches at the tip of the finger whereas the FDS attaches more in the middle /base of the finger. This alters how they bend the finger with the FDP giving the precision of fingertip control.

Why Your Ring Finger Matters So Much

The ring finger is the primary contact with the reins as they are the last point of contact between the rider and the horses mouth, Shifting your rein contact to rest through your 4th finger  frees up the thumb/index to support without tension. The thumb on the reins stops it from sliding through at times. The reins on these fingers are more suited to:

• Controlling subtle pressure changes

• Allowing wrist and forearm relaxation

• Preventing overgripping from the top of the hand

• Maintaining a soft "elbow-to-bit" line

• Improving finger control for better rein feel and contact

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But why such a difference between the fingers? It’s all down to the anatomy above.

Closed Chain vs. Open Chain: A Key Biomechanical Concept

• Closed chain = fingers in contact with reins → controlled, stable movement

• Open chain = fingers in the air → reduced feel and precision

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Try this: Try and flex just the tip of your ring finger without touching anything. It doesn't moves. But put the tip of your ringer against something, now you can just bend the ends of your fingers. That’s the FDP needing resistance to function properly.

This matters when developing light rein contact, responsive rein aids, and subtle pressure changes without overusing the wrist. It is this contact with the rein that is important - but it therefore matters where the rein is in contact with the fingers.

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Reins too deep in the palm – This bypasses the FDP and overactivates the FDS. You can only open or close (on or off)

2. Wrist collapsed or cocked – Interrupts the elbow-ring finger-bit line and creates tension.

3. Pulling with the whole arm – You lose subtlety and increase resistance through your body.

   
   

These are some of the most common rein contact mistakes that block progress in refining your hand use.

✅ 5 Quick Fixes for Better Rein Feel

1. Rein Placement – Let it run across your 4th finger, not buried in your palm

2. Thumb Contact – Close it gently like a lid , not a clamp. Relaxed not tented or bent.

3. Wrist Position – Keep it neutral (no bend in or out)

4. Finger Control – Let the ring/pinky fingers adjust pressure

   
   

These cues help improve the rein softness in riding that is 'soft hands'.

Mind-Body Connection Cues to Try While Riding

• “Can I soften my grip without losing control?”

• “Is my rein feel coming from my pinky, or my wrist?”

• “What’s my thumb doing- can I let it hover for a few strides or is it pressing hard down?"

These internal cues help retrain finger dominance and reduce tension, improving your rein awareness and equestrian hand position.

How This Fits Into Bigger Picture Rider Biomechanics

Finger position is a big part of rein contact but they can only work correctly if your wrist/elbow/shoulder/upper back/pelvis/legs are in the correct position! But that doesn't mean that changing how you think of holding and using the reins is not worth it because it really is! Your horse will appreciate you having a conversation down the reins rather than just shouting at them via it.

Optimising how you hold the reins can transform your riding. Understanding the muscles behind your rein contact- especially the 4th and 5th fingers- is key to achieving feel, precision, and softness in the saddle.

Want to learn more about rein feel and rider biomechanics? Check out my Rider Physio video subscription or book in for a session with the Racewood simulators in Cheshire.