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Posted:
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
Ready, Set... Release!
By Cindy Hale
As you head toward the jump, you focus on the rhythm of your horse's strides. You see your prime take-off spot. The moment the two of you arrive at the optimum moment, you squeeze your calf ever so slightly into your horse's sides and close your hip angle, breaking over with your upper body. Your eyes are up, looking for a path to the next jump. But what did you do with your hands? Hopefully you used some sort of release in mid-air. By releasing the reins you encourage your horse to jump better and you give him the freedom to do so.
The most common type of release in jumping is called the crest release. This is because the rider's hands follow the crest of the horse's neck, that thick ridge of muscle and tissue just below the mane, in an effort to relax the pressure on the bit. But it also serves another purpose. When done correctly, the crest release helps beginner and novice riders balance their upper bodies by literally pressing their hands into the crest of the horse. Indeed, they should feel their knuckles rubbing their horse's neck over the top of the jump. Most riders are taught to jump over ground poles and cross rails practicing their crest release. It's a great way to avoid losing one's balance and catching the poor horse in the mouth.
Some riders make an error by becoming a little too expressive in their crest releases. You can spot them shoving their hands toward their horse's ears, or their hands floating in mid-air above their horse's mane. Neither of these mannerisms is proper. The long crest release used by entry-level riders should place the rider's hands about midway up the horse's neck. Interestingly enough, seasoned professionals, especially in the working hunter classes, use the long crest release, too. They feel that it is least likely to disturb their horse's jumping style. And, with a soft loop in the reins, it makes the horse appear easy to ride.
As a rider progresses, they are able to use a short crest release. Here they no longer need to balance their upper bodies on the horse's crest. There is less chance they will get left behind or make a wrong decision at the moment of take - off that might disturb their horse. So while the basic premise, that of advancing one's hands forward along the crest of the neck still holds true, it is not as emphatic. The hands of an intermediate rider move only about six to eight inches in front of the horse's withers in a short crest release.
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Though the horse is jumping a bit awkwardly here, note the soft reins and complete comfort of the horse by this properly executed automatic release.
Photo by Sharon Fibelkorn© | Finally, advanced riders often use an automatic release. This is also known as a "following hand". Over the top of the jump there will be a nearly straight line from the bit to the rider's elbow. Hence, there is an uninterrupted line of communication from the rider's hand to the horse's mouth. This is particularly useful in jumpers and medal classes, where the courses often demand tight turns. Since the rider never really loses contact with the horse's mouth, they are able to quickly make adjustments. The drawback, however, is that a rider must have a very independent seat, secure legs and educated hands. If they depend on their horse's mouth for any kind of balance or support, they cannot perform an automatic release safely. The automatic release, when done correctly as the situation arises, is the hallmark of an educated rider.
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