In several horse magazines they have published articles about riders who are now actively into fitness training to cope with their riding. And I can agree that you need to be in good condition to ride several hour a day, if nothing else you will be in good condition after riding several hour a day… But fitness training??!!
Regardless of background all authors below agree that the rider's contact with the horse's mouth should be light, this will be selection of quotes from Swedish and foreign literature.
--- They (the hands) must be elastic and delicate, not strong, harsh or brusque.
Eric Herbermann
--gentle and soft touch of the rider's hands---
Alois Podhajsky
No strength in the arms or hands is ever needed.
Udo Bürger
Hands should be soft and springy.
Lars Lithander
The rider must have a light, supple hand.
Bengt Gustavsson
The rider should have a light touch with the horse's mouth.
Gehnäll Persson
The connection between the rider's hand and the horse's mouth should be soft and elastic
Nils Ankarcrona
Bengt "Blomman" Blomqvist discusses in his book "Driving" the issue about horses that lean into the reins. He makes it clear that it is his belief that that the strength of the arms and back are better trained anywhere else than on the driver’s seat and he stresses that he wants a light contact with the horses.
When the rider cannot cope with his own riding, when the body feels tired and exausted, it is easy to assume that it is the strength that fails you. But it is the tug of war with the horse that tire us, considering the fact that horses by far outweigh us.
More logical, and more in line with the above given quotes, we should strive to do less in order to cope more.
In the words of Nuno Oliveira
Actually, the horse schooled with maximum finesse, may be directed with the “reins attracted by the concept of gravity” as expressed by La Guérnière.
How tiring can that be?
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