Description
Almost every day I’m asked “How much contact should I have on the reins?” The answer to that question is as varied as the horses we drive, and drivers who drive them. Contact can even vary when driving the same horse, depending on the work you are doing with him.
This 7-page article explores the factors that go into establishing the right contact at the right time. It discusses how contact can be used to establish bilateral communication, recycle energy, and of course, “How much is too much.”
Improve your understanding of contact by adding this article to your cart today!
Old Johnny Brown (verified owner) –
This was very good information for me. I am training a pony that seems to want contact but I was unsure if it was good to give that much contact. Andy made it clear that it was good and also necessary. I followed the advice in the article and it is working very good for me and Gipsy. She seems to get confidence from the contact. It is so much fun when you get it right with a horse!
I suggest this article and the “Get it Straight” article be read in sequence as, it seems to me, they complement each other.
Susan Prentice –
What a well written article! As a rider with many decades of experience in the saddle, this article has really helped me find that connection to my driving horse that I experienced with him under saddle.
Carriage driving is a second career for my horse, and a new sport for me. I really appreciate the straight forward writing I’ve found here. I’m looking forward to reading many of the articles and lesson plans available on this site.
Thank you Andy!