That Little Thing Called Connection

The bit and the reins are not the only connection point between horse and rider though you might thing so when discussions come up about that little thing called connection.

 

GP rider Paul Alvin-Smith schooling -

  It seems almost inevitable that the beginner rider will focus almost entirely on their hands when they learn the basics of equitation. This is likely more the fault of the instructor who is understandably similarly focused worried that in all likelihood the horse may take exception to errant pulls on the reins and his sensitive mouth.

Of course pointing the horse in the direction you'd like it to travel is not accomplished the same way as steering a car or bicycle. Although in some ways more a bicycle than a car, the neophyte equestrian may be forgiven for not making that connection.

The error on the instructor or trainer's part however, could easily be corrected. The connection between horse and rider occurs at all points of physical and verbal contact. Mounted riders have the ability to influence the horse simply by how tall or how tensely they sit in the saddle.

Advanced dressage riders have perfected the nuances (or hopefully have), of the many points of contact with the horse. They know how to influence connection through cadence and collection, how to supple and bend the horse both laterally and longitudinally, with subtle instructions that mostly emanate from the seat and the legs.

Paul Alvin-Smith riding Westminster

As riders progress in their training they often blame the horse for the issues they experience with connection. The truth is, that no matter the breed, height, depth of girth or angle of shoulder or hip/hock, a horse can be elevated and light in the bridle and be truly connected in lightness through its back i.e. engaged.

Take a look at the two photos above. The Palomino is clearly a mucb lighter breed than the Hanoverian below, but both horse are able to execute lateral bend with lightness in the hand and in self-carriage.

If we begin by teaching riders to focus on their hands and issue useless directives like, " keep your hands still," we can expect an epic fail in the progress of the rider. Much better to address issues in the student's seat, instability of their legs and holding patterns against the horse's sides that seem to offer them a false sense of security.

Sadly in today's modern lesson programs the longe lesson is very much a thing of the past. A rider naturally seeks to overcome their fears by their perception that they can control the horse with pressure on the reins. Nothing else in life, mechanically speaking anyway, works for us by releasing pressure instead of  applying pressure. This is a hard mental habit to break. As experienced riders all know, it is the reward of the release that brings control as we train our horses. Or as I'd rather call it, obedience.

A horse begins life as a willing partner. He does not seek to bolt or run, to pull or use force - given he understands of course that we are not present to hurt him. A young horse comes to us full of promise and potential. There is much thought given to how we treat the horse, as there should be of course. But what about the rider?

We,as teachers, must not exacerbate their fears and nervousness by not addressing this alien (to them) concept of working on their body and core, their posture and position rather than going first to the extremities. 

'Heels down," cannot be accomplished by pushing their heels down, shoulders back cannot be achieved in tension, a soft and following contact cannot be achieve if the rider is not sitting up straight without tension in their back and elbows lightly brushing their sides.

Relaxation is key in training a horse. It is also key in training a rider. Think carefully about how you do both. I think you'll find the way you may have been taught at the start of your career is not the best way forward.

The student benefits from the work the trainer has put into the horse - given it is the correct training!