Riding with contact

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katesmith22

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I'm really trying to improve my riding at the moment. I have been riding since a young age but was only ever really taught basic walk, trot, canter and small jumps. I'd never even heard of working in an outline or doing anything to improve the horses way of going.
I have now found a decent instructor and am having private lessons. It's quite expensive and a long journey but I think worth it as I am learning and she is good.
She's been trying to teach me taking up more of a contact whilst pushing the horse forward with my legs. Sometimes it feels like it all comes together and I can feel the horse become soft in my hands. However I struggle to maintain this softness and sometimes feel like I'm riding with two much contact and worry that I'm restricting the horse if that makes sense.
I guess I was just after some reassurance really as to whether it sounds like I'm on the right track. I'm really trying to go up a gear with my riding from just being a passenger to actually riding properly.
Of course I have my instructor to advise me and am continuing with my lessons but just wondered if anyone could offer any help of advice?
Also should I be riding with this level of contact and aiming for this softness all the time? Even when hacking?
Sorry if these are stupid questions but just trying to get my head around it all as its not how I was originally taught
Thank you for reading
 
A contact and outline comes from behind so without that power, you won't get a true contact anyway. As you ride imagine the horse as a tube of toothpaste - use your legs to get power from the hind legs, whilst your hands control what comes out. By restricting, not forcibly stopping with your hands, the horse should begin to come into a contact and outline.

If it's correct, it should also feel quite light in your hands rather than a heavy dead feeling that comes with being overbent or on the forehand.
 
Until both you and the horse become more used to the "new" way of going it will be inconsistent and there will be times it feels as if you are restricting the horse, as you become more accomplished the moments of softness will last longer and be more frequent until it all joins up.
I would spend some of your time hacking aiming to get the same feel as it will help the horse muscle up correctly, if you are swinging along nicely on a hack the forwardness can make it easier to keep a good relaxed contact without trying so hard, if the horse does some good work then let it have a good stretch and chill for a while, riding should be enjoyable for both of you if you just want to go out and have fun do so a mixture will benefit you both.
 
There's an awful lot of people out there who can't ride with a contact. As far as I am concerned, (and I train a lot of young horses), the rein should look straight, no looping in it, and the minute the horse gives to the rein, you relax the tightness of the hand whilst maintaining the straight line. I found a very good way in an old book of teaching this "feel". Attach reins or rope to both sides of a ladderback chair. Stand in front of it, and take up a contact until the chair tilts onto the front legs. Keep it balanced like that with the rein taut. Its not as easy as it sounds!
 
I was exactly the same as this a few months ago. Now when I work my mare properly (I'll admit to being an on the buckle hacker!) I don't even think about the contact as my leg aids and position have become so much more consistent thanks to building up my muscles and balance through regular lessons and schooling, she just does it! It's all about the impulsion from behind and the horse carries itself, hence why it feels so light. My advice is keep at it and it will start to be more consistent, if horse feels heavy then push on with your legs and seat to get them moving from their hind legs. I by no means have it nailed, just commenting as I was exactly like you not long ago and now it's all coming together- I almost cried when I felt her true powerful from behind trot for the first time! keep at it!
 
Thank you for all the replies, this is very helpful and good to know that other people have experienced the same issues. I like the toothpaste analogy, will keep that in mind when I have my lesson today
 
Remember not to tense your arms, I was helping a friend recently from the ground with the same issue and she was bracing her arms without realising it, meaning that she was unable to keep the contact and it switched between good contact and washing line reins. Best of luck and let us know how you get on in your lesson today x
 
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