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Question # 25: The comment "needs truer or better connection" is written on every dressage test we get. Any specific advice on how to do that? (Briana) (Current Freebie!)
Hi Briana!
The quality of the connection is something that most riders struggle with, even at upper levels. Even when things appear to be going well, the connection can often be improved. The answer to what specifically improves the connection is dependent on what is exactly causing the connection problem. Here are common causes of connection problems, and how to correct them:
1. Rider position and aids: If the rider is out of balance, or is unsteady with their seat, leg, or hands, even a very well trained horse will have trouble with the connection. And an unschooled horse will have no chance. The best fix for this problem is lunge lessons for the rider! This is the fastest and most productive way for the rider to find that quiet, independent seat, which is what allows for good hands.
2. Horse behind the leg: If the horse does not respond to light leg cues, both to go forward and to move laterally, there will not be a good connection. This must be resolved before there will be improvement. Review getting the horse in front of the leg
3. Horse not accepting of contact: If the horse doesn't trust the contact with the bit, or doesn't understand that they should seek the bit, the connection will probably not be good. In this case, the more the rider tries to create the connection, the more the horse will resist. This can be more tricky to solve. But I like to spend some time with this type of horse lunging in side reins. The kind of side reins with the rubber donut is ideal, as their is some elasticity to them, but not too much. Sending the horse forward into the side reins will show the horse the idea of the proper connection, and sort through some of the contact issues. If you get on immediately after lunging in side reins for a few minutes, you can often see the improvement in the acceptance of the contact - IF your hands are as stable, quiet, and consistent as the side reins, and if your elbows and wrists have a little rubber donut in them. Look at the quality of the contact to review what the contact should feel like when it is correct.
4. The horse is laterally stiff: The mysterious "inside leg to outside rein" is a big part of a good connection. So if the horse remains laterally stiff, and doesn't respond to the rider's lateral aids , the rider will often feel a connection that is uneven, inconsistent, stiff, or heavy. Basic lateral work like turn on the forehand, leg yield, and shoulder in will help make your horse more laterally supple . Spiral in and out is also a great laterally suppling exercise. When your horse is laterally supple and responds easily to the lateral aids, you will be able to use every corner, turn, circle, and lateral movement to improve the connection to the outside rein. I think this one is really key for you Briana.
5. The horse is longitudinally stiff: If the horse is longitudinally stiff, you will feel like he is not adjustable. He will easily get unbalanced, and want to lean on you for support. Keep working on half halts and lots of correctly ridden from behind transitions to improve your horse's longitudinal suppleness.
When you have made some progress on these basics (and we are ALL a work in progress in these basics!!), you will have the tools to create a better connection, and keep it throughout your test.
The quality of the connection is something that most riders struggle with, even at upper levels. Even when things appear to be going well, the connection can often be improved. The answer to what specifically improves the connection is dependent on what is exactly causing the connection problem. Here are common causes of connection problems, and how to correct them:
1. Rider position and aids: If the rider is out of balance, or is unsteady with their seat, leg, or hands, even a very well trained horse will have trouble with the connection. And an unschooled horse will have no chance. The best fix for this problem is lunge lessons for the rider! This is the fastest and most productive way for the rider to find that quiet, independent seat, which is what allows for good hands.
2. Horse behind the leg: If the horse does not respond to light leg cues, both to go forward and to move laterally, there will not be a good connection. This must be resolved before there will be improvement. Review getting the horse in front of the leg
3. Horse not accepting of contact: If the horse doesn't trust the contact with the bit, or doesn't understand that they should seek the bit, the connection will probably not be good. In this case, the more the rider tries to create the connection, the more the horse will resist. This can be more tricky to solve. But I like to spend some time with this type of horse lunging in side reins. The kind of side reins with the rubber donut is ideal, as their is some elasticity to them, but not too much. Sending the horse forward into the side reins will show the horse the idea of the proper connection, and sort through some of the contact issues. If you get on immediately after lunging in side reins for a few minutes, you can often see the improvement in the acceptance of the contact - IF your hands are as stable, quiet, and consistent as the side reins, and if your elbows and wrists have a little rubber donut in them. Look at the quality of the contact to review what the contact should feel like when it is correct.
4. The horse is laterally stiff: The mysterious "inside leg to outside rein" is a big part of a good connection. So if the horse remains laterally stiff, and doesn't respond to the rider's lateral aids , the rider will often feel a connection that is uneven, inconsistent, stiff, or heavy. Basic lateral work like turn on the forehand, leg yield, and shoulder in will help make your horse more laterally supple . Spiral in and out is also a great laterally suppling exercise. When your horse is laterally supple and responds easily to the lateral aids, you will be able to use every corner, turn, circle, and lateral movement to improve the connection to the outside rein. I think this one is really key for you Briana.
5. The horse is longitudinally stiff: If the horse is longitudinally stiff, you will feel like he is not adjustable. He will easily get unbalanced, and want to lean on you for support. Keep working on half halts and lots of correctly ridden from behind transitions to improve your horse's longitudinal suppleness.
When you have made some progress on these basics (and we are ALL a work in progress in these basics!!), you will have the tools to create a better connection, and keep it throughout your test.
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