True lightness does not come from playing with the bit until the horse feels lighter in your hand. Only real hind leg engagement and lowering of the quarters will bring about the true lightness that you are looking for.

"You are connected with your seat to the horse’s back, connected with your legs to the horse’s body, and connection can only work if it goes through the whole horse and into the rider’s body, and from the rider’s body back to the whole horse." ~ Susanne Miesner

"I discovered that the horse is life itself, a metaphor; but also an example of life's mystery and unpredictability, of life's generosity and beauty, a worthy object if repeated and ever changing contemplation." ~ Jane Smiley

"Dressage is the art of teaching the horse to carry you. Riding is the art of learning to be a good load to carry." ~ Richard Weiss

Both horses and riders ultimately learn from and cement behaviors through repetition. Make sure you are repeating things correctly to avoid cementing incorrect responses. 

You have to have your core muscles engaged when riding, so that the horse's movement doesn't displace you.

"A horse's energies are gathered up from behind and by yielding on the reins and giving him the room to step through to the center of gravity, the neck will shape to reflect the activities in the haunches. Trying to achieve collection by working on the horse's neck cuts the horse off in the front, confining him and preventing the hind legs from lifting, suspending and powerfully supporting the rider's balance." ~ Charles de Kunffy

Success isn't about how far you get, but the distance you traveled from where you started.

"Sit on your pockets like you got a million bucks in there." ~ Unknown

Technically it isn't correct to be sitting all the way on your back pockets. This can, however, be a good thing for a rider who has a tendency to lean too far forward to think about doing!

Forward and speed are two different things. And balanced speed is not inherently dangerous. But if there is a fundamental problem in the horse or rider's basics, speed will make it more apparent.

"Riders of all levels must allow their horses to make their own decisions when jumping, as even good riders don’t always get it right." ~ Eric Smiley

The horse's jaw unlocks when their back muscles relax and begin to swing with the movement.

"The main reason that I'm 150% behind mares is that they will give you 150% in return once they trust you. I think they will work harder for you, because once they learn to trust you they develop a bond with you that's completely unlike any other bond with any other rider. You become their person." ~ Rebecca Rigdon-Blake

"Young horses are like a blank slate. In my experience they naturally give you the right answers often, especially when you first start riding them." ~ Bridget Hay

"I think riders can very easily lose the ability to comfortably ride out in the open at more than a walk if they lock themselves into a dressage arena. I feel so strongly that the horses need to be allowed out of the arena from time to time." ~ Lauren Chumley

"Ask often, be content of little, reward always." ~ Nuno Oliveira

"All equestrians, if they last long enough, learn that riding in whatever form is a lifelong sport and art, an endeavor that is both familiar and new every time you take the horse out of his stall or pasture." ~ Jane Smiley

"A horse will never tire of a rider who possesses both tact and sensitivity because he will never be pushed beyond his possibilities." ~ Nuno Oliveira

"You get that horse to really operate as if he's your legs and you can take that anywhere you want. You can dress up in any kind of clothes you like. You can be a jumper, dressage rider, trail rider, cowboy, anything." ~ Buck Brannaman

"Just as experience dictates to the ballet teacher the length of time necessary to train his students, so the horse, too, needs time to mature into a great four legged dancer." ~ Alois Podhajsky