If your horse can’t steer and stop with one hand, you’ve got a cool new task to do. That might sound daunting but let me explain—because once you ride a nice, one-handed horse, you'll wish you had done this earlier.

A horse that rides one-handed is a horse that’s more handy. Not just “handy” like it can side pass in an arena, but handy like it can do real-life things:

• Open a gate without spinning in circles

• Drag a log, rope a steer, or pony a horse

• Wave traffic past while your neighbor’s cows play chicken with the highway

• Peel a granola bar or wrestle your coat off without ending up in the dirt

• Take a picture and trust your horse not to change lanes into traffic or off mountain trail

• Shoot a gun or bow and arrow, fight with a sword, carry a flag (if you're into reenactment)

One hand on the reins means the other hand’s free for living.

But It’s Not Just About Multitasking

A one-handed horse isn’t just convenient—it’s responsive. It listens to a neck rein, understands shifts in your seat, and stops when you pick up the reins. You’re not micromanaging every step. You’re guiding. It feels like driving a good truck that doesn’t need constant corrections.

How Do You Get There?

Start with two hands, build your foundation, and then start testing it. Set out some cones or barrels and practice steering through them with one hand. If you get stuck, go back to two hands for a moment—but always try to return to one. The goal isn’t perfection on day one. It’s progress. Keep at it, and pretty soon your horse will handle like he came factory-installed with power steering.

The Bottom Line

​The handiest horses don’t need babysitting. They listen, respond, and leave your other hand free to get the job done—or just scratch your head and wonder why you didn’t train this way sooner.