Contact and feel

Contact is the connection from the rider’s hands along the reins to the bit in the horse’s mouth. The “feel” should be steady, the same on both sides and the weight in the hand is fairly light- definitely no leaning from the horse against you. This happens when the rider is stiff through the elbows and wrists, or when the horse is not in balance and cannot carry himself.

1 Sit centrally and softly, to allow horse to take shorter steps with the hindlegs.

2 Create enough impulsion to carry you along.

3 With a quiet hand and loose elbow, make a restistance to encourage horse to listen and shorten, immediately he hears, soften the arm without dropping the contact.

4 Repeat this making turns and corners maintaining a even, light weight in both hands.