Contact: How to Get the Horse on the Bit

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Groundwork exercises:
• Groundwork
#dressage #onthebit #horses
I get a lot of questions from my viewers about how to teach the horse to accept the contact and how to get the horse on the bit. This can be very challenging especially if you have a horse that has learned not to accept the contact in the first place! Here are some tips to help you teach your horse to accept the contact. Remember that it is extremely important that the rider maintains the correct position and an independent seat when working with the horse to accept the contact.
How to Teach/Reintroduce the Contact:
1. Start from the ground! Whenever I have a horse that really does not understand the contact, working from the ground is the best place to start. Teach the horse to bend and yield to the pressure of one rein. Lunging with side reins is another use full tool to get the horse to accept the contact and give to the pressure of the bit. I have several videos on groundwork available on my KZbin channel!
2. In the saddle, teach the horse to give to just one rein at a time. When you slide down the inside rein, the horse should bend their head around and their body should follow where their head is looking. In this exercise you are using inside rein and inside leg only!
3. Once the horse understands to give to the pressure of one rein, then pick up the contact on both reins. First establish just a steady contact on 2 reins. You may need to take your hands a little wide to help. Get the horse to go on the bit and then release the pressure of the reins
If the horse is inverted - take the hands a little wide to help get the horse to accept the contact. Ideally your hands should stay hip width apart, but sometimes taking the hands wide will help get the horse to better accept the contact and lower their head can be a useful tool. Circles and bending lines will also help with horses that tend to be inverted.
If your horse curls and tends to drop behind the contact….
Think of inside leg to outside rein and move the horse a little bit laterally to help get them up and out to the contact. Transitions can also help with a horse that tends to curl.
The stretch circle is the ultimate test of the contact. The horse should take the rein contact millimeter by millimeter out and down if they are correctly accepting the contact and maintain the same tempo and balance in the trot!
Happy Riding!
Amelia

[@ritaobrien2779]

I am an instructor for beginner riders. I teach the beginning basics up to the point where they decide which venue of riding they want to do. Watching your videos have helped me exponentially to bring them even further in their training before we search for another instructor to further their riding career. Furthermore it has helped me to become more confident with my riding as well. Thank you for your videos. I look forward to watching them, them applying what I have learned.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks for sharing! So glad to hear that the videos are helpful!

[@lindabonds8655]

Second video of yours I’ve listened to. Again I hear a simple, clear and accurate description of how I also do things and teach others to do. It’s so awesome to be able to point others in your direction so that they can play and replay and absorb this while at home relaxing. Thank you Amelia.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks Linda! I appreciate you watching!

[@samanthabohlman9100]

55 seconds in and this video is already super helpful!!

[@claresims9728]

Thank you very useful information. It was good to see a young horse learning how to take the contact rather than one who looks spectacular. More realistic for many people who are struggling with this process.

[@cbwawa]

Really great tips, I’m learning so much from you! Over the years I’ve learned valuable bits & pieces here and there of what you share in your videos, but you add to and fill in the missing pieces, making a whole approach that flows. Thank you so much!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

I"m so glad. Have you signed up for our Free webinar on Contact & Connection? amelianewcombdressage.com/contact-and-connection-free-webinar-2024/?KZbin&+DTR+2024

[@mairwright2806]

Very useful. I struggle to hold my horse in canter as he snatches the reins from my hand and I struggle to hold on to them. He does it in walk as well and I realised from your video that I probably don’t tell him to stop straight away. Thank you very much

[@redbanana9166]

Fantastic video, thanks so much, this is exactly what we're working on at the moment 😊

[@rileymonika854]

Me as well!

[@suebenbow6860]

I was working on this today in my lessons. So good to revise again at home with you. Thku x

[@fionaobrien3954]

Omg Amelia you are a life saver! When I used to not know how to get my horse on the bit, I could feel him getting more hollow every time I was riding him. Now, I’ve got the feel of it, but sometimes I loose the feel for a small portion of a ride. I stop and think, “What am I doing wrong?” and sometimes it’s impossible to notice what you’re doing wrong. After that happens I immediately go to your channel and watch videos. It always helps me so much! Thank you!!

[@melissatomasello2635]

Thank you Amelia. I ride a draft cross rescue and getting him on the bit is challenging. I work with an excellent trainer and currently doing first level. Your tips are extremely helpful and very clear. I have gone through the gamut of bracing and rooting. Keep these videos coming!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks Melissa! So glad they're helping, happy riding!

[@barbaramcmullen1963]

Excellent advice. Thanks so much for this and all your videos. So helpful

[@paulasalter4204]

This was very useful for my Friesian. Thank you!

[@juliefranck8510]

Very helpful thank you for another great lesson!

[@trishmarkey4258]

Love this! Just watched the Lazy horse and now this. Perfect combination! Excited to go to work!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Oh that's great Trish! Thanks for watching! And don't forget to subscribe so you get notified about my weekly videos!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Also, if you want help getting your position in the strongest shape to execute your dressage aids, come to my FREE webinar on Rider Position and Biomechanics on June 5th. bit.ly/3sJTa5R You can sign up to get my weekly dressage tips here! bit.ly/3FE0y8c I’m also on FB and IG bit.ly/3M9JCcc & bit.ly/3L8gP6g Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered! bit.ly/38ljQ64 Also, if you love my content, I’d love if you left me a review on google! g.page/r/CYIGmCINXFOQEAo/review And finally, there’s my website! bit.ly/3w6rABY Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴

[@goettling]

So, so good! Many thanks!

[@Aga687]

Nice explanation and really helpfull. That's much better way to ask horse to go down instead of using his mouth and play right left or with fingers that most people does.

[@racheldistefano5961]

A horse puts his head up when he falls out of balance/tenses. The horse naturally carries his neck long as in collection the neck is further lengthened. Contact is is what happens after the horse has achieved self carriage, and one of the best things you can do to prevent the horse from tensing his back is two point or posting. When the horse's head is held in a frame, and his balance altered to accommodate it, the second that support isn't there his entire balance is thrown off because he really was relying on the bit. You can force the hind legs to come closer to the front legs in this frame, but this is forced, difficult and damaging to the entire skeletal system. Holding a horse in a frame is not on the bit!!!

[@rheasingh1376]

Thank you for this video. I did exactly what you did and my OTTB got round and soft. Great content.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it helped!

[@carollinnan4268]

absolutely loved this video, so helpful, will probably watch several times. thx!

[@patriciasaul9544]

Thanks-I look forward to your weekly videos!!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay!! Glad to hear this!!

[@1mdw63]

Back to basics. Great video to watch now and again...

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Check out this webinar I just did! www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/trainingscalemasterclass-webinar-replay/

[@deborahking5498]

Love your videos. I am having to go back and fill in holes in training my 22 year old mare. She wants to stick nose out and not give to bit at all so I am looking at many of your videos to help. Thank you

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You can do it!

[@katkas.3066]

Great! Working now with 8 and 10 yo stallions that were only broken in (no work at all, maybe a little trot) as young but never ridden after, carriage horses all their life. Heads up in the air most of the time, interested how this helps us, can´t wait to try.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Good luck! That sounds challenging!!

[@michawika8991]

Thank you Amelia! There are so many helpful recommendations and hints in your video lessons. I appreciate it. Curious and impatient to try. Thank you.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Wonderful!

[@tinyliny4ever]

Great straightforward instruction. Well done

[@mariannelee2890]

I love your video lessons so much! Thank you

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay!! You’re welcome!!

[@ccr7187]

great overview thank you!

[@karenharvey112]

This is so good 😊 I will be practicing this for the next two weeks From a New Zealand fan

[@taniagarrybrowbands8874]

Love your videos thankyou. Such good explanations 💕

[@33CHRISTINA33]

Great tips thank you!

[@KimH11]

Great video Ameli

[@elnajensen6929]

Thank you so much Amelia; your video was super helpful.

[@LisaNunikyan]

Thank you so much, this video is very helpful!

[@karenz-d6530]

Excellent skills and videos for easily adaptable tips moving forward. Thanks!!

[@Ge_sus]

Great video! Helpful tips and straight to the point!

[@samanthastephens7562]

Good riding information given clearly. A basic all riders need to learn

[@mariadamen]

no

[@a.u.d.r.e.y.2785]

thank you so much- i was getting in trouble for no contact 🤧

[@channingmartinez3228]

Amelia! thanks for the video! I learned a lot in 10 minutes. I work with a lot of baby ottbs! I really enjoyed the trick of bending to either the left or right side for the give. That’s super helpful!

[@malise5983]

Trank you sooo much for the helpful tips. 🥳

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You are so welcome!!

[@anna-karinwiklund3216]

You explain so well. Thanks!!!

[@lindavanderhorst93]

Hi Amelia, thanks for your inspiring video's. I ride my (lease) horse since 2 month now (he is western trained, it's a Quarter Horse) and I am practicing for him to go on the bit. I mostly ride him for 20-25 minutes or so to get him forward and he's all stiff in that first 20-25 minutes. Then when he's loosen up he's getting on the bit. Don you have tips to shorten that time? Or is it ok this way and will it get better by itself?

[@sitonmyface3203]

maybe you can lunge him before you ride

[@asia5285]

I do some transitions trot - canter - trot after 15 minutes. Trot -walk as well. This help my horse to wake up. But I don't know how western trained horse will react on this. Amelia has some videos about warming up the horse it should be helpful

[@katieheller3788]

I’m new to dressage and it wasn’t until I took a lesson that I realized my horse was bracing against me. I thought we had contact. What’s the difference and how would I know?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

The horse should feel elastic and supple in the neck. The should not feel like a stiff block of wood!

[@CDN_Bookmouse]

You can try feeling what their back feels like. If you feel like it's dropped away from you and you have to keep reaching for it with your butt, that might be a sign of tension. When you feel it lift--you'll also see their head drop at the same time I think--you'll feel the difference. It should feel soft and like it's filling up the saddle under you. The horse I ride is really clear when I'm tense in my lower back or seat--his head comes up, his ears go back towards me like "what's going on? why are we tense? should I be worried?," and his drop backs away from me. When I relax, his ears relax to the side or forward, his neck drops, and his back rounds up towards me. You could try tensing your lower back to see how your horse reacts so that you can watch for those signs. Often I don't realize that I'm tense at all, but I see HIS reaction and I know I need to focus on relaxing until I find it and he tells me I'm relaxed. I think your first step is noticing when your horse's back is tense because it makes that soft contact kind of impossible, I would think. Just being aware of it and how to create it can help you ease it. You might not have to "do" anything to get better contact and less tension in your horse--honestly so much of the time all you need to "do" is relax.

[@racheldistefano5961]

This is not contact, this is hyperflexion. Contact comes from the feather light touch of the bit, or not. Horses do not need anything on their face to be balanced. Your horse is simply vertically out of balance. Working at the walk and posting at the trot- slow is better to encourage relaxation. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmHVi6GaopyHgMk

[@mohegantrainingcentre8206]

This was great

[@joieellington399]

I have a pony in which I have tried multiple ways to introduce contact to her. No matter how hard, how soft, or how long I ask she is just not giving me the result I am asking for, which is to become supple in the neck and flex at the poll. She always braces her neck and sticks her head out in order to evade the bit, and does so for minutes at a time. She looks like a dog that's pointing their nose in the direction of the scent. Is there any tips you can give for a horse/pony that evades the bit in this way? The saddle fits correctly, everything is adjusted correctly, and to my knowledge and my trainer's knowledge, I am not doing anything to make her act in this way. She has shown no pain or anything either.

[@TheTeapotte]

It's not all about the bit. They need to be moving correctly through the back, swinging, balanced and in rhythm. Try working on that and keeping a light consistent contact and let her stretch down and forward towards the bit with longer reins rather than keeping them up and short. Check out a channel called Art2Ride also. You need to get their bodies working correctly first before worrying about where the head goes

[@susie7035]

Thanks so much ⭐️

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You’re welcome 😊

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

I’m doing a FREE webinar on Dressage Rider Position - hope you can join! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/rider-position-webinar-june-2022

[@lindacox119]

Wow! I'm supposed to be working but this vid is just fantastic. Can I ask if when you widened your hands were you asking for contact i.e. squeezing the reins? I'm going to practise your tips - we're out of lockdown.

[@patriciabures3844]

Thank you!

[@dianenathan7525]

Super! Just what l am working on! Thanks

[@lindav3747]

I need to teach my horse to be respectful- he does root down when we are halted and even sometimes when walking (I thought it was a stretch at the walk but maybe not !)

[@Renaatje1983]

Really good !! Thanks a lot 🤗

[@sheilabuschette7648]

Love your videos! Would love to ride my horse with you!

[@no-it1et]

Horses are extremely smart and they can fly!

[@KristaChristian]

Thank you so much for this. I have 4 horses and they all have contact problems! The one really annoying one is the disrespectful rooting, especially at the halt. How do you correct that?

[@dstang623]

Is there any consideration for the type of bit used or discomfort coming from the horses back?I am struggling with this with a leased quarter horse that I ride western....anything more than a walk he lifts his neck and feels hollow. I worry something is bothering him or hurting him.

[@sarahbarber1122]

Great Video / Tips :)

[@katieomeara4345]

Hi Amelia, I love your videos! About how far should you spread your hands apart to soften your horse?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

HI Katie! Great question, so maybe 6-8 inches fro your normal hand position either side. Don’t forget to subscribe to get notified of my new weekly content! Also, I think you might like my new 30 Days to Round Challenge! You can sign up here! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/30-days-to-round/ Thanks so much for watching!

[@katieomeara4345]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage That's very helpful information. Thank you so much for your reply! I look forward to watching your new videos. Best regards, Katie O'Meara

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Click below to take my FREE Dressage Rider Assessment quiz and discover your strengths and weaknesses as a rider! Https://quiz.amelianewcombdressage.com

[@STAR4369]

When you bend the horse with 1 leg and 1 rein, if they do not want to turn any just keep tracking straight with their neck bent, how do you correct or address that? Tap the outside shoulder, more leg and more drastic bend?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Check out my 30 Days to round Challenge - it will help you!

[@naunettemartin7450]

Can I ask you how do I keep my leg still win i ride my horse thank you Nannette

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Nannette! Thanks for watching! This video should help you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn2nnZqsl52Zn68

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Also, if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ (If you’re already familiar with all this and have received this before, apology for the unnecessary message, I’m being super thorough today!) I’m also on FB and IG facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/ Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered! facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/ And finally, there’s my website! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/ Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴

[@naunettemartin7450]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage thank you this will help me to keep my leg still win I'm ride ing my horse thank you Nannette

[@merpequestrian5122]

Do you have a video on how to keep your leg back In canter?

[@annakowalks9040]

what if horse actively pulls against the rain downwards already in the walk, and does it really strong to get the rain out. when I pick up the rain she braces and jerks the head up.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Really make sure that you are sitting back in the saddle and have your fingers closed on the reins so that she doesn't pull your forward when she does that. This video will help you as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHWZlIiVdrSsrac

[@BagznBirdz]

Well, in the thumbnail your horse is actually behind the bit. Nose in front of the bullet straight line, ladies!

[@Boomerstar2018]

When I ride and take contact with my horse he grinds his teeth. Wondering how to increase his tolerance to contact,

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Nan, Grinding of the teeth can be a sign of tension, but also discomfort. Have you gotten his teeth checked recently?

[@Boomerstar2018]

He's good with dentals and a healed ulcer. So physically doing well. He is a very sensitive guy. I use myler bits so he is comfortable in his bit. I have soft hands and he stops grinding if I decrease contact.

[@naunettemartin7450]

And can I sake you want kind bite I use on my horse thank you Nannette

[@LizzieShaver-m1c]

Why do you always demonstrate with a horse that is completely trained? We're looking for real training on a young horse that doesn't know how to do it and watching you move forward in the moments and teaching them how to do it. While some of these are helpful it still does not answer the question. We want to see the real work

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi there! That's a great question. The reality is that at the time of making this video (and most of the time), all the horses I had access to were in a training program for a period of time and already knew a lot of the basics of going on the bit. Some of my newer videos show greener horses, and I have since incorporated more student videos and green horse videos inside my courses (because people like you were requesting them!). Hope that answers your question :)

[@hansmeier5536]

the ultimate nonsense

[@yogawithkassandra]

That beginning clip is how I look when I ride my horse 100% of the time 💀🫣

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

That's so great to hear! Yes, the Training Scale is your way to progress forward! Are you coming to my free webinar this weekend? I think you'll enjoy it too amelianewcombdressage.com/free-training-scale-webinar/