Correct Contact
What happens in the horse’s neck extends through the rest of the horse’s body. Therefore, it is essential to address this topic in detail, especially since there are many surprising opinions circulating about what constitutes correct contact. However, if one examines the anatomy and biomechanics of the horse, it becomes clear why there is only one correct form of contact.
Close the horse from behind and open it from the front: With relaxed, natural neck carriage, the entire spine can swing freely, and the hindquarters can move forward freely. The horse actively seeks connection with the rider's hands. The neck forms a quarter-circle arc with the poll as the highest point, the topline of the neck remains evenly convex down to the withers, and the horse’s face naturally aligns with the vertical.
Excessive Rein Influence
Excessive hand influence, i.e., creating a connection between the rider's hand and the horse’s mouth through disproportionate resistance or even pulling on the reins, is the most common rider error. This is natural since humans tend to want to "tackle" problems with their hands. However, the true cause of riding problems is not in the horse’s mouth but in the hindquarters, which the rider has failed to engage successfully. As one of my trainers once said: “We should actually sit the other way around, facing backward, because everything that matters happens behind!”
When collection is forced through strong hand influence, the horse only bends its neck, without engaging its back or activating the hindquarters. The horse is not driven forward through its body to the rider’s aids and into balance; instead, it is forced backward into an unnatural position. Therefore, forcing a horse into a lower position with aggressive rein use is not only unattractive but also senseless. Even if the horse eventually yields, it doesn’t mean the back is engaged. A round neck is not an end in itself!
The same applies to bending the horse. Bending is synonymous with stretching. If force is used on the horse, its muscles tense and can no longer stretch. Bending cannot be forced. Generally, violence has no place in riding. Riding is more of a thinking or skill sport, certainly not a combat sport!
The use of harsh bits is also highly critical. It’s undeniable that "upgrading" the bit exerts increased pressure on the horse’s mouth. Careless, thoughtless use of stronger bits can quickly put a horse into an incorrect position, such as over-flexing. Even if the curb reins are slack, the horse senses the threat and tries to evade the influence by tucking its head. This position may appear proud and impressive to a casual observer and flatter the rider, but it has nothing to do with correct, relative collection. Even for the "correction" of contact problems, a harsher bit should never be used. If a horse can’t flex at the poll or strongly resists the rider’s hands, it is clearly a training deficiency. Using a curb bit in such a situation will only lead to further desensitization and hardening of the horse. Harsh bits should only be used by advanced riders who understand the concept of "curb bit maturity."
It should be clear to everyone that the position known as "rollkur" is incorrect. The horse is forced heavily onto its forehand due to the overly deep and tight position, the back becomes rigid, and the muscles cramp up. In talented dressage horses, this negative tension often results in spectacular front leg action, which sometimes leads to the mistaken belief that this is a legitimate and helpful training method.
Having the horse’s face in front of the vertical isn’t everything! This horse is being held in collection by the rider’s hands, leading to "absolute collection." This creates a "false break" around the third vertebra of the neck. The topline behind the withers dips concavely, showing insufficient activation of the upper line muscles. The hind leg strength is directed backward and upward into the croup, meaning the horse is being ridden "backward." This can be seen in horses that are asked to collect too early or by riders who try to collect their horse through the reins rather than using seat and legs. A highly raised hand can easily bring a horse into this incorrect position.
Here again, the "false break" is evident. The horse is ridden into shortening before the topline has been sufficiently developed through stretching work. As a result, when the horse is collected, its back does not lift, but instead presses downward due to the weak and underdeveloped muscles. In line with the underdeveloped back muscles, the hindquarters are also insufficiently developed. Because of the lack of muscle activity in the topline, the neck and back appear flat and lifeless, lacking any expression of vitality or elasticity.
Riding in Stretching Position
In the stretching position, it is important to note that the goal is not to set the horse as low as possible. The horse’s nose should generally not be lower than the height of the elbow. If the horse is placed too low, too much weight comes onto the forehand, and the croup lifts. Additionally, when the head and neck are carried too low, the muscles of the under-neck become active again. The ideal positioning is determined largely by the individual horse’s conformation. The rein connection should be maintained in the stretching position, and the horse should consistently seek the rider’s hands through the stretching of its topline.
Letting the horse run with a loose rein and its nose on the ground may seem to encourage a relaxed back, but it has nothing to do with stretching. Horses often remain willingly in this position as long as the rein is slack. However, when the reins are taken up, problems quickly arise if the horse has not been shown how to lift its back and step into the reins.
Stretching occurs when the horse is driven from behind and, in response to the rider’s inviting hands, reaches forward and downward on its own. Forcing the horse into a low position and holding it there with the hands does not lead to the desired stretching effect. Setting the horse too low, especially with its face far behind the vertical, only increases weight on the forehand.
Riding on a Loose Rein
A slack rein may seem to convey an initial sense of freedom. The neck vertebrae are free, so no harm can come from this, right? However, without the rein connection, the frame that encourages the horse to lift its back is missing. A horse can certainly achieve relaxation on a loose rein, but the targeted driving of the hindquarters to build back muscles cannot happen without a counterbalance to the driving aids (see Contact). The assumption that riding on a loose rein is "natural" and "doing nothing" to the horse is unfortunately not entirely correct. Riding itself is not natural; no horse’s back is naturally designed to carry a load. The contact allows the horse to carry that load in a healthy, artificially acquired posture.
Without the rein connection as a counterbalance to the driving leg, no tension arc can develop, and there is no stretching, nor is there any development of back muscles. The horse moves without using its back and on the forehand.
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