DEVELOPING CONTACT & CONNECTION

Developing Contact & Connection

These photographs provide a good insight.

This is my friend Fiona and her lovely young quarter horse, Fred.

Fiona has been meticulous cultivating a rock solid foundation from the round pen up into the saddle. Therefore, he is relaxed in all gaits, is supple and is responsive to legs, hand, seat and voice cues.

I got to catch up with them last week and see how beautifully Fred is coming along. In our catch up we worked on developing his contact and connection. Fred does have a tendency to go behind the vertical and avoid contact when you pick up the reins.

It was very easy to correct this and to step up his training to the next level.

Fred was so easy to correct and he came together so well because he hasn't developed any brace and is confident working with Fiona. Fred has learnt how to learn from Fiona and this is important.

And, yes to all those surprised - he is doing all this in just a side pull! No bit! You don't need a bit to teach a good connection and posture.

Fred will eventually learn how to do this in a bit, after he has learnt to carry the bit and feels comfortable with it and then how to follow and understand the communication Fiona applies to it.

See each photo for an explanation of what is going on.

This is beautiful training and riding, well done Fiona!

Photo 1: This is Fiona releasing the rein when Fred placed a small amount of weight into the rein instead of sucking back.

Photo 2: Once Fred worked out that Fiona wanted him to place a small amount of weight into the reins, he started gently seeking into the rein.

Photo 3: Fiona would then picked him up and let let him gently seek into the rein (see Photo 4), at this stage he stopped sucking back behind the vertical.

Photo 4: Fred's gentle seek further developing and inspiring him to keep his back muscles in a dynamic state, spine flexed and leg movement swinging through.

Photo 5: Now pausing with the gentle seek to allow everything to come together and demonstrating beautiful posture and way of going!