What's Inside
Search the Site
Tip/Quote of the Day # 180
It is possible to have contact without a real connection (in fact it is quite common, unfortunately), but a true connection always involves good contact. The connection involves the horse's entire body… with energy created in the horse's hind legs traveling through the horse's supple body, and into the rider's hands.
Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share with your friends! Look for the share buttons on the far right side of the page. Thank you!
Related Articles:
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 918
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2343
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1797
- Riding From "Front to Back"
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1613
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1910
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1776
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2585
- Develop an Independent *Hand* - an Essential Skill That is Key to a Good Rein Connection!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 933
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1284
- An Exercise to Help Improve Your Trot to Canter Transitions
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise # 2
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1006
- Adding More *Scope* to Your Lateral Work - For Better Dressage Scores!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 760
- Are You Riding With Your Reins at the Right Length?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3573
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2710
- An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2105
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1221
- Clashing of Aids vs the Coordination of Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 894
- Horses That Wag Their Head From Side to Side
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3688
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3332
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1816
- The Crest Release, the Automatic Release, and Everything In Between (With Pictures!)
- Signs That Your Performance Horse Might Be Sore
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1314
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1295
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 631
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 393
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4290
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4278
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4215
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4057
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4007
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3852
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3850
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3770
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3630
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3521
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3513
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3320
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3196
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3162
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3035
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3034
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2975
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2608
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2603
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2558
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2519
- A Jumping Exercise to Help You to Turn Your Speed Into Impulsion
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2293
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2223
- "Reset" Your Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2142
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1984
- Video # 106 and Question # 320: Kayla asks if her horse looks to be accepting the bit as she lunges him in side reins.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1626
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1470
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1461
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1327
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1316
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1253
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1234
- A Test of Your Flatwork Training (For All Levels!)
- Horses that Tilt Their Head in Dressage
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1094
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 964
- Different Half Halts For Different Situations
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 887
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 747
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 545
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 427
- Video # 66 and Question # 208: This is Kymbre!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 133
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 52
- Does Your Horse Show This Positive Sign After a Flatwork Session?
- The Front Door Analogy, That Will Help Improve Your Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2857
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2677
- The Counted Walk - a Tool to Improve Your Horse's Carriage in Dressage
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1463
- Help to Ensure That Your Horse LIKES His or Her Job!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 971
- Question # 273: I'm wondering if you have any favorite exercises for strengthening a horse's back and building topline?
- Improving the Trot
- My All Time Favorite Suppling Exercise!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4487
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4486
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4447
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4409
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4381
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4365
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4348
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4326
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4303
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4144
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4083
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4063
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3871
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3801
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3735
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3674
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3585
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3569
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3524
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3520
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3503
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3462
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3443
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3431
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3381
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3322
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3310
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3238
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3234
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3222
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3198
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3175
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3172
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3112
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3041
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2961
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2904
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2883
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2764
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2712
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2670
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2669
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2544
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2527
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2510
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2501
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2485
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2469
- Question # 353: Amanda has a question about how to teach her young horse to lift and use his back correctly.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2370
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2322
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2257
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2244
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2200
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2199
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2131
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2113
- All Roads Lead to Rome.... Or Do They??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2022
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1960
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1946
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1923
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1895
- Question # 341: Amy has a question about a new horse she is riding, who is not a big fan of flatwork!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1893
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1878
- Ruth's Blog post # 5: Connection Issues in Canter Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1845
- An Exercise to Help Improve Your Horse's Connection Over the Back
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1780
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1755
- Video # 312 and Question # 331: This is Rachael!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1743
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1741
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1715
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1687
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1680
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1662
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1625
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1623
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1503
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1492
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1356
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1337
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1267
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1255
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1250
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1199
- 3 Signs That Your Bending Aids Are Working Correctly
- What Does it Mean for the Horse to be "Between the Rider’s Hand and Leg"?
- Video # 91: This is Vita!
- Question # 289: My ottb was trained before me with draw reins, and now he over flexes to where he touches chest almost at trot even when i let the reins loose. I drive him forward but he keeps doing it. How do i stop him? (Eileen)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1053
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1028
- The Number One Rule For a Rider When Approaching a Jump!
- Video # 86: This is Holly, doing a row of bounces in her small indoor arena!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 855
- Improve Your Canter to Trot Transitions!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 775
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 754
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 726
- Discussion # 125: Let's discuss this great quote from Christopher Bartle!
- Video # 82: This is Vita doing a Dressage test!
- Question # 253: When I allow my gelding to stretch down he will snatch the reins, often yanking my arms and hands very hard.... And when I collect the reins he anticipates any work by jigging and speeding up our walk...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 671
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 660
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 659
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 658
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 654
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 645
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 626
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 599
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 460
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 447
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 439
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 436
- Question # 192: I am stuck in my training right now. I know the concept of all that is being asked of me, but I have the movement of a brick. I am unconciously stiff in my movements...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 273
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 216
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 94
- Question # 146: Several of my students are struggling right now with keeping a consistent contact and soft elbows. Do you have any advice and/or exercises to help them (this is definitely something I can improve too!)? Thanks! (Kayla)
- The Ultimate Rider Hand Position Fix!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1726
- The Wiggly Worm Exercise
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1178
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 585
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 168
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4148
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2062
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1574
- The "Shoulder Yield" Exercise
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4506
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4339
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4266
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4204
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4114
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4073
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4067
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3963
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3808
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3763
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3542
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3536
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3525
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3476
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3451
- Monitor Your Horse's Stress Levels, For Best Results in Training
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3049
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2932
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2649
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2571
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2441
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2346
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2270
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2232
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2221
- An Exercise to Teach Your Horse to Be More HOT to Your Inside Leg Aid
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1777
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1709
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1648
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1425
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1424
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1283
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1282
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1202
- Video # 95: This is Krista and her horse Sparky!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1052
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1009
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 883
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 880
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 808
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 804
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 773
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 683
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 567
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 483
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 440
- Question # 180: My frustrating "ah-ha" moment ... I realised today, after spending the last few weeks trying to stop my horse from diving his nose to the ground and coming so far behind the vertical he sometimes seems to disappear, that I have been using
- The Horse That Wants to Shorten Its Neck
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4472
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4469
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4449
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4412
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4411
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4401
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4374
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4319
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4301
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4299
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4283
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4236
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4221
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4213
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4183
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4126
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4120
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4115
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4028
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4027
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4022
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4008
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4003
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3981
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3974
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3966
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3952
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3940
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3922
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3920
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3897
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3888
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3864
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3814
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3809
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3768
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3686
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3679
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3658
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3607
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3601
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3570
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3543
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3532
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3529
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3527
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3526
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3500
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3497
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3479
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3457
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3442
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3413
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3412
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3410
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3408
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3392
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3373
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3317
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3308
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3276
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3275
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3249
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3245
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3219
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3211
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3170
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3165
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3104
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3087
- Is Your Free Walk Really FREE? And Do You Make Good Use Of It?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3040
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3018
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2996
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2976
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2952
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 63: Personality and Why It Matters
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2916
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2909
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2903
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2896
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2880
- Video # 325: This is Bridget doing a Dressage test!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2811
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2809
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2787
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2785
- The 'Half-Go'
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2727
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 62: Coping With Stress Part V: Gratitude
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2708
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 61: Coping with Stress Part IV: Do What You CAN Do
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2633
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 60: Coping with Stress and Anxiety: Part III - Getting Grounded
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2624
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2614
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 59: Coping with Stress and Anxiety: Part II - Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2586
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2573
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2543
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2526
- Video # 322: Here is Bridget, trying the exercise from the article: An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection
- An Exercise to Help You Improve ALL of Your Downward Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2514
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2493
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2488
- Basic Suppling Exercise # 5
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2477
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2384
- Does Your Horse Like Rein Contact Right Up to the Point of Takeoff at a Jump? Or Does He Prefer a Soft/Loose Rein in the Final Strides? Find Out Here!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2285
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2283
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2182
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2180
- Question # 344: Question about pulling down on the bars of the horse's mouth...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2158
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2153
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2151
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2129
- Discussion # 167: Let's discuss the Dressage term, "the falling down neck."
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2099
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2080
- Discussion # 166: Which of these 2 horses is reaching more into the rein connection?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2052
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2049
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2033
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2032
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1985
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1975
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1950
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1868
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1864
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1855
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1813
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1769
- Quin's Blog post # 3: How are you and your horse communicating?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1762
- The Benefits of "Stair Stepping" Your Lateral Exercises
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1742
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1737
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1731
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1700
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1686
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1685
- Video # 309 and Question # 325: Kayla is finding it difficult to keep her horse on the aids in walk to halt transitions.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1615
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1611
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1606
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1600
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1590
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1582
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1570
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1564
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1542
- Lateral Work as "Medicine" For the Dressage Horse
- Video # 102: This is Kellyn, riding Novice level test B
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1431
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1401
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1373
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1300
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1275
- The Function of the Rider’s Elbow Joints
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1258
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1215
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1196
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1154
- The BEST Exercise to Loosen Up Your Horse's Tight Lower Back Area
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1114
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1096
- Guest Blog post # 74: "Imagine (there's no pulling)" by Bill Woods
- Video # 89: This is Eileen!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1049
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1029
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1016
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1007
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1001
- Question # 275: My little quarter horse mare likes to tilt her nose to the left at the trot and canter when working indoors...
- Bonnie's Blog Post # 4
- Question # 268: So, I took my 4 year old, Todd, to his first combined training last weekend. It was his second time jumping a full course and very first dressage test, and he was fantastic for how green he is. I'm a proud momma! I have a question about.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 828
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 814
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 792
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 783
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 749
- Question # 259: At a recent show I received multiple comments of "needs half halts" on my Dressage test. I am only riding at beginner novice, and wasn't aware that I should be working on something advanced like half halts. Please explain. (Anonymous)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 719
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 718
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 650
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 646
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 628
- Video # 79: This is Kellyn with her new mare, a 15 year old OTTB
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 582
- Video # 74: This is Jen on her young horse!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 511
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 508
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 471
- Question # 210: I recently bought a nice 14 year old Oldenburg mare that has been used as a lesson horse for several years. She is sweet, quiet, responsive to my leg; but the most stiff and resistant in the bridle that I have ever come across...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 327
- Question # 200: Is a Nathe bit legal for dressage in eventing? Also, would a plain mullen mouth eggbutt by the most similar to the nathe for the horse? Thinking I might want something a bit more … sturdy for show jumping and cross country...
- Is Your Horse Even in the Reins?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 304
- Question # 195: I have a client's horse that I'm working with, and she has an issue I've never had to deal with before. She thinks she is an accordion--she will shorten her neck and hollow her back whenever she has any contact in her mouth.
- Question # 189: I have been riding this little 13.1h pony for this little girl at my barn for a few months now. She used to barrel race and does not know what slow is. She has gotten so much better since I first started riding her, but...
- Question # 187: I'm working with a horse that insists on coming above the bit in the transition into the canter. She has a solid canter, a balanced counter canter, and can do the 1* canter work pretty darn well...
- A Quick and Easy Rider Hand Position Self Check
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 260
- Square Exercise # 2 - The Diamond Exercise
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 248
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 225
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 170
- The Rein Back
- Video # 48: This is Kayla on another very nice horse, this time riding Novice Test B!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 55
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 44
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 32
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 27
- Question # 137: How much contact on the outside rein is appropriate? How do I know when I have the right amount? (Sarah)
- Video # 37: This is Vita and her horse Toby doing Beginner Novice Test A!
- Keep Your Horse in Front of Your Leg in the Halt






