Connected Riding

What Is Connected Riding®?

Before - Rider is slumping behind the verticle, disconnecting the horse's hind legs. The horse is on the forehand and behind the bit.

After - Rider is in neutral posture, supporting the horse coming through from behind.

Connected Riding® is a holistic approach to classical riding principles that bio-mechanically enhances freedom of movement for the performance, health and longevity of both horse and rider.

In order for there to be self-carriage, flow, and brilliance in a horse’s movement, a horse must be allowed to release at the poll, lift the back and withers, telescope the neck and push through from the hindquarters in each stride. The rider, whether working in hand from the ground or riding, must be free in the joints to balance and receive the horse’s motion without bracing or blocking the movement.

The techniques of Connected Riding® show riders how to find the place where the body can automatically rebalance itself while influencing and moving with the horse’s motion. There are five primary points of connection that enable the rider to stay connected in motion:
• “Neutral” pelvis – the foundation for unobstructed movement of the rider’s body. This position connects the spine of the horse and rider.

• Torso/core muscles – place where the rider’s body can steer, regulate tempo, and engage the horse.

•Elbow - the receiving end ‘from bit to elbow.’ This allows the rider to take an elastic connection on the rein through a soft wrist and hand without pulling from the hand.

•Calf – moves the horse’s ribcage and invites the lifting of the back and engagement of hindquarters for impulsion. The upper thigh initiates the movement of the calf.

•Foot – just behind the ball - allows the arch to flex to receive the horse’s movement.

Connected Riding® will help you:
• Become a proactive rider
• Use your body more efficiently to aid the horse’s movement
• Ride without compression, pain and stress
• Readily synchronize and dance with the horse’s movement
• Bring more fun to your riding through the sensations of lightness and ease
• How to engage a horse’s hind end and feel a horse coming through
Connected Riding® will help your horse:
• Learn how to use his body more effectively to develop self-carriage
• Reduce rider induced stress injuries – “bridle lameness”
• Become a willing partner through connected communication
• Develop proper muscling to be a better athlete, for any discipline and any level of performance

Connected Riding® provides the basis for all higher level movements and can be applied to all riding disciplines.