One of the most common problems in training horses and riders is the lack of connection.
What does this mean? To put it simply, the horse is not pushing enough from behind to a secure, elastic feel down the rein to the bit. This often means they aren’t working the back properly from a good engine behind, and through the neck.
The first thing to assess is the rider - are they / you allowing the horse to work freely to a contact or is there a positional correction to be made in order to help the horse? Often a rider may be blocking the connection by sitting to one side, or twisting, collapsing, tightening etc.
My main motto as a coach is - 'Improve the rider to help the horse'. This is my starting point. Then I will look at the horse to ensure they are happy in the work, strong enough to do the work and ready for training. Often I actually spend my time when they are young or weak hacking, using the hills and fields to develop the horse’s muscles before even attempting to get them going better in the arena. A lot of groundwork can be done, walking poles, reversing, lateral work from the ground to get them moving and understanding without the added weight of a rider on board. I find turning on the forehand a super useful exercise in my toolkit.
Next, I am thinking about how responsive to the leg is the horse, are there good enough reactions to the small aids or is there some ‘’nagging’’ going on? We need power coming from behind to help the flow of the connection and improve the roundness.
Using lots of transitions, both in and out of the gait, and within the gait will help create more engagement and walk trot transitions are great for improving the roundness. This can be done from the ground too. I also find doing lots of transitions out hacking, up hills or across different terrains, very good for encouraging the horse to lift up through the middle and work the back muscles.
I will train every horse and rider individually, but usually using the pace the horse is most comfortable in enables you to develop the feel easier. Working along the scales of training: rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection is also so important in keeping things simple and remembering without a good rhythm, you can not improve anything.
My top training tip would be - ride forwards in balance, then work to develop connection. Remember, always ride with the thought you are on a rear wheel drive and not front first. This way our horses will develop a clear understanding within the work and probably have a smile on their faces whilst doing so!
Emily Watts, Simple System Supported Rider & BCDD & UKCC qualified coach.
Emily feeds her competition horses a Simple System diet of Sainfoin Pellets, Perform & Shine and Veteran Balance +. She also feeds NEW Sainfoin & Shine and actually features on the packaging with her young, up and coming horse, Frank.