In Dressage, the idea of contact and connection is so important. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are actually quite different.
In Dressage, connection is everything!!
Contact refers to the feeling you have in your hands, specifically the communication between your hand and the horse’s mouth. For instance, when you’re working with a young horse, you might notice that some horses are stiff and strong in the hand, while others might be light or avoid taking contact altogether. Contact is essentially about how the horse feels in your hand, whether they’re willing to accept the bit and how evenly they do so.
Connection, on the other hand, is much broader. It’s the relationship from the horse’s hind leg, through their back, and into your hand. As you progress in training, you move from simply establishing contact to developing a true connection. With a well-trained horse, you should feel the energy from the hind legs flowing through the horse’s body into your hands, creating a continuous circle of energy. This connection is what you’re aiming for as you move up the levels in dressage.
When I first started riding dressage, I found this concept confusing. My horse would get stiff and heavy in my hands, and I knew something was off, but I wasn’t sure how to achieve the correct connection. Over time, I learned that true connection makes everything feel smooth and balanced. You can feel the horse’s back and hind legs swinging through, and this energy flows into your hands, seat, and back, creating a harmonious ride.
To improve connection, transitions are one of the best exercises. Whether you’re doing a walk-trot, trot-canter, or canter-trot, the key is to maintain consistent contact.
Another great exercise to test and improve connection is the stretch circle. When you give the rein, the horse should stretch forward, maintaining balance and the same tempo. This shows that the connection is consistent.
I hope you find these tips helpful!
Happy Riding!
