Horse Riders

[bainbrig]

Horse riders (if we've got any on Answerbank...)

What are the terms for pulling up a horse? I mean when you're riding, and stop, is there a term like 'reining in' or similar?

Ta.

BB

[bainbrig]

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. The phrase 'reining nigh me' has bothered me for many years - I knew what it meant, but thought it clumsy. Anyway, kicking it around with (some of) you has given me food for thought.

Ta.

BB

[AuntLydia]

you are very welcome Bill. Glad your mind is now at rest.

[Prudie]

Well having read through this twice I think I get the purpose now but no rider would use the verb reining (hardly ever except in dressage) and nigh (never) these days but had we known it was in olde worldy English then maybe....

[Spicerack]

Bainbrig is being obscure.

[Ken4155]

If you were riding a horse my money was on and you were 'pulling it up', i'd be angry enough too come looking for you :-)

[Spicerack]

They all pull up, Ken. (hopefully)
I'd be more worried to hear they were stopping it.

[-Talbot-]

bainbrig
You are not trying to help me, Lydia, in fact if you are, then don't bother.




Big Bairn is very selective with who he will accept help from.

[Spicerack]

It's one of life's little ironies, talbot.

[bainbrig]

Very smart, spicerack. You’ve gone up in my estimation (not hard, but up).

[Ken4155]

Spicerack; "They all pull up, Ken, hopefully". True, just not during the race, please :-)

[AuntLydia]

Funny thing is this is in 'Sport'? I've never heard the term 'reining nigh me' on ITV Racing......in fact the only time I've ever seen it written down before is in the Thomas Hardy Poem I quoted earlier in the thread. Think this should be moved to Arts and Literature'

[andres]

For goodness sake just bring the horse to a halt and get off!

[bainbrig]

At risk of rising to the bait, I would say this.

My interest in 'reining nigh me' is about the riding term, and (a) whether it is accurate and (b) whether there are other terms which could be substituted.

Hardy's poetry and novels are already well known to me.

BB

[AuntLydia]

// My interest in 'reining nigh me' is about the riding term, and (a) whether it is accurate and (b) whether there are other terms which could be substituted. //

There is no bait. Why on earth would I want to aggravate you I've better things to do.

'reining nigh me' is NOT a riding term. I have been riding for 50 years and at one time an approved BHS Riding Instructor. This is a poetical term used by Thomas Hardy in one of his poems. The nearest substitution would be slowing ( reining in) nigh (beside)
so, slowing beside me.
Reining in, is a dressage term for slowing or moreover collecting a horses pace, for example working trot to collected trot. It describes the slowing process of slightly shortening the reins while maintaining the impulsion of the pace -in layman's terms pulling in the rein.
I would presume in the Poem it means the lady was slowing her horses pace to keep in step with her lover. Again I conclude this is NOT a riding term and never has been.

[DTCwordfan]

you use your reins...the backward pull should bring them to a halt, no verbal needed. Also you can use your legs and body in pulling back and this too sends a message to the horse to hit the brakes.

[AuntLydia]

Thats a bit more John Wayne than Charlotte du Jardin lol!

[bainbrig]

Thanks, DTC ("you use your reins...the backward pull should bring them to a halt, no verbal needed"). My fault for a clumsy question. I was trying to discover how you might DESCRIBE the action. Hardy wrote "and reining nigh me" meaning the woman on the horse stopped riding, near him, and I have always thought it a bit clumsy (the phrase, not the riding!)

It's a 3-in-the-morning thing. You wonder to yourself 'how would I write that line', 'how could I improve it?' Often the answer is that you can't, improve it that is, but it keeps me sane some of the time.

BB

[weecalf]

Steady there you boy ya usually works for me

[AuntLydia]

you are a very welcome