sam136 wrote:
The straight up hand as pictured is not flexable, tends to create tension in the arms, and doesn't create the softness in your wrist and fingers. Puppy paw hands tends to make you use your arms instead of wrists and fingers. The best way for overall flexable use and a pretty "picture" is having your hands on the same angle as the horse's shoulder - crossing the pencils above you hands seems about right.

Sorry I was taught this was wrong and the above pics is right. I have many years of experience showing and riding both in dressage and in flat in general doing english and everyone I know here is Canada as been taught this way and if you look in pony club books for Canada and the States you will also find this. Also if you look at Grand Prix rider's both dressage and jumping you will see they also hold there reins the same way as in the diagram.. I am also training to get my level 1 to teach riding and my coach is also a registered coach with horse council of BC so I do not agree with what you are saying as if you rode holding the reins they way you said then in shows you would be docked for that as a judge has told me herself.