Randi Thompson.Connecting for the 7th time. Steps to Connection.Two Step...

Are you riding your horse in connection?  If so, then this blast from the past is for you.  In this video, we focus on Trudy keeping Ani connected for the 7th time at the trot. You will see how a horse learning how to stay connected (on the aids) is going to be inconsistent.  Watch the changes as we use the "Two Steps" to keep Ani stepping up into the rein and taking up and contact from one side of her body to the other.  The "Two steps" is a technique I use to help riders become aware when they get "locked up" on the reins or holding their aids to long.  It is also an excellent technique that teaches riders how to keep a horse on the outside or inside leg and rein. When something stressful happens, like a horse not wanting to pay attention, this helps a rider focus on asking their horse to connect on one side than the other.  Once the rider can do this for two steps that can move up to 3 and so on.



 In this session, Ani decides she would rather look at something outside the ring (this is not her barn..)   Trudy told me that her arms were hurting. This told me that she was locking up in her hands and holding the reins too tight for too long.  This is typical for most riders, especially those riding greener horses. To help Trudy get back in control I asked her to focus on something different.  It worked!  This is a great video as you can see that sometimes we simply need to try something different to get to where we wanted to go.



Are you ready to try the "Two Step" with your horse to check if you are really connected?  Let us know how it works for you.