Rein Aids: The Open Rein

The open rein is done by taking the hand or arm away from the horse's neck sideways. How the fingers are used on this rein determines the effect created. Squeezing the fingers(backward toward the rider) while opening the rein creates a direct effect on the hindquarter on the side of the squeeze, deflecting the hindquarter's energy backward or away to the opposite side. If, however, the fingers open and loosen together with a loose wrist, the effect is quite different. Now, instead, the shoulders are invited into the direction of the open rein. I sometimes call this an 'invitational' rein or a 'drawing' rein---drawing the energy of the horse.
The concepts of sending and drawing can be done with the reins and with the legs.