TAKING THE CONTACT | OTD.TV

[@horses2850]

This is so helpful! I used to constantly fight with my gelding until watching this video, and after using your techniques he was quiet and comfortable in himself and the contact which made the whole ride so much easier to practice new movements. Thank you for making me a very happy rider with a now very happy and accepting horsey ❤️xx

[@KatePerry-y5s]

Just about the best explanation of getting a horse on the bit!! So helpful thank you!

[@kittygoesboomgaming5284]

Olivia please dont get disheartened. I understand your self confidence issues. Ive been recently diagnosed with complex P.T.S.D and i watch your videos as part of my therapy/counselling. I do admit im not a hard core equestrian that confesses to know everything about horses and the right and wrong way to work a horse but thats one of the things i love about you is that you provide information thats valuable to all on the spectrum from the beginners to the advanced. Dont change one thing about this channel or your methods of what you do. You are helping people like me and everone else who follows you to learn and grow. We love you olivia #towerstribe. Xxx

[@5makenna5]

The comment about not flexing a horse past their shoulder is very helpful to me personally. Thank you!

[@OliviaTowersDressage]

It was an amazing breakthrough for me too x

[@OldFashionedWisdom]

@@OliviaTowersDressage why do you feel the need to sit on the spine of another living thing and put pain bit in the horses mouth?

[@kirshajo]

Leg to rein. That's exactly what a very picky, pushy, opinionated mare taught me. I learned to ride and engage on that mare and now I have her son who I hope will teach me just as much if not more! Lovely lesson. I look forward to more! Also, you look fabulous and getting very toned! My goal this summer for my 3 year old is to ground drive, build muscle, and get him accepting contact while ground driving, and then back him for the first time! Then personal goals for myself, inspired by you, is to keep a journal of exercise and positive thoughts, how to conquer any negative thoughts I'm having, and of course a balanced diet and regular exercise. I have 4 project horses I get to work for fun this summer, so perhaps I will one day look and feel like you! Thank you for posting these videos!

[@emmaxx8850]

I just love these little videos, they are so useful! Thankyou so much for your advice. Love you xoxo

[@OliviaTowersDressage]

Thanks Emma! So glad you liked it xx

[@imba.hjaltalin]

So many gold nuggets in this!! Thank you

[@sandraward8197]

Wow, best explanation ever, you really know your stuff!

[@jjg5927]

thank you for the great tips! my horse and i have been experiencing some issues surrounding contact, and a fresh perspective is great

[@Open2OpenUT]

I love this! The way you have explained it makes so much sense and Eagle was such a good boy showing us his reactions. More like this please 😉👍❤️

[@3peeks776]

Great video. So informative and well explained. Eagle is a Trooper through it all and so beautiful. 8,000 + subs whoohoo!

[@jenniferkarlsson1970]

A really great video and well explained! Thank you! I’m struggeling with this and I get too hard in my hands. But this helped me

[@stephdavies5153]

Yeesss! I am the exact same. I used to find it so confusing! And every now and again I still do. But I agree with everything you’re saying. Sooooo many people saw and it drives me MAD! I do exactly what you do but probs don’t look as good 😂 keep going, and ignore everyone who’s negative! F*** the haters hun! Xxx

[@RobinT346]

Thank you this is something I have been struggling with on riding school horses (who let's face it aren't brilliant at this themselves). Due to muskulaskeletal issues in my elbows and wrists finding a good hand position is difficult and I have a tendency to then just hold it rigid instead of asking and giving. Seeing the different between wrong and right methods really helps.

[@jberard3752]

Continue your informational videos. Please keep your spirit and heart up. Don't worry or allow judgements to bring your spirit down. You have information to share and help others both in and out of the arena. God's peace will settle your worries. I like your step by step explanations. Not everyone shares this type instruction. Keep it up.

[@Kaia_Bolster]

I found your channel about a month and a half ago and I am truly in love. Taking notice of how you ride your horses especially eagle and it has really helped me and my mare, she tends to ‘fall out’ (as i put it) through the corners and over bends to the side going out of the shoulder range as your basically said but since watching you and actually trying more with my flat (I’m a jumper) we have improved loads and she will only fall out now when excitable or super lazy! This video is also really good and tomorrow I can see myself taking it all in and improving more! So grateful for your channel, by far one of my favs 😍

[@goldentintin]

May I just this so good I have learnt so much keep up the great videos. Learning loads thanks very much

[@bonniecox7749]

I love you girl, I know it’s hard with negative comments, but you help so many people and I love the way you’re getting your horses into the right frame and to me that’s care. You’re amazing and try not to let the comments get to you. You inspire me and that counts! Hope this comment made sense 😂❤️

[@bethstaiano387]

Hi Olivia. I love this. Would you please do more instructional videos?

[@AmandaPandah]

I struggle a lot with contact and after a really bad lesson yesterday where the horse basically ran with her nose to the ceiling I'm going to try your tips today.

[@adelesdarcy]

Love these videos! You have some much support from a huge amount of people.. non of us want to see you upset about the negative people. Keep on doing you! We love you! ❤

[@AtlanticIIITheHorsie]

This was sooo helpful. What you said about moving your hands with the contact as the horse moves seems so obvious now you've said it! I tried it riding today and I felt such a difference from such a small change in my riding!! Please make more videos like this, you are a fountain of horsey knowledge :)

[@kmiklaszewski]

Great video. These types of videos are especially helpful for all the rider’s who are at much lower levels (no matter the discipline) that want to learn more and the right way, but don’t have the ability or means for weekly lessons or quality trainers.

[@megkay2838]

Thank you so much for this video!!! I’ve really been struggling with contact recently and this explained everything very clearly and made a lot things click into place! Thank you!

[@EK-dq4yz]

Olivia, this video is really amazing it’s super helpful and informative. I watched your recent vlog before watching this and heard you talking about the hate comments you got on this video I know this may not help mutch but I just wanted to say how truly amazing and inspiring you are, your videos are amazing quality and you provide amazing content and I’m sure your otd.tv videos have helped so many people out there you really are so inspirational please keep carrying on what you are doing xxxx

[@maijas3207]

These videos are so helpful! Thank you Olivia!

[@addifraser2386]

Love this! A great way of explaining it. I definitely would love to see more of these videos!

[@mandymeadows2736]

That is such a good video. It was clear and brilliantly explained, well done. KEEP DOING THESE.........THEY ARE FANTASTIC. Mx

[@chloebaxter6804]

These videos are so good! I love how you explain things simply. But can also explain why not to do other methods, I feel like trainers never talk about this so transparently. Ah, love it! Thank you!

[@amyhuggins9842]

You honestly inspire me every day Olivia ❤️

[@deewestbrook]

Hey, this was so helpful, are there any more videos on contact that I have missed. Thank you.

[@juliawelch5809]

Wow, this was so helpful. Thank you!

[@sofiamilne7220]

Thank you, this was very helpful, I’m working on getting contact at the moment but people have never explained it as well as how you did

[@harrietsr4617]

Very useful

[@lucybaldwin6772]

This video is really helpful. I struggle with this with my youngster. The biggest problem I have is that he's so hot off the leg I feel like I can't have my leg on him at all. He's not like it out hacking, he's just so so forward in the school!

[@betsylee8618]

This was so useful, thank you! Love your videos so much and enjoy watching them, they help my mindset a lot! ❤️

[@raisat4892]

Great video. Can you show how to walk to trot and to canter gradually? Thanks

[@laylabromley6123]

Great tutorial!

[@katebrits3461]

I love this plsss make a part 2 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@amandasawyer4784]

Thank you Olivia. I found this extremely helpful. Can’t wait for more 😍

[@kabyrne2202]

Thank you so much for your videos, this was the fist one I watched and am now a fan! and can I say you are an inspiration don't ever change I wish I was like you at your age.

[@kateeden4560]

Awesome video Olivia 💜💜💜🙏🙏🙏🙏thank you so much💜🐴

[@izzyl8299]

could you do a video explaining what it means if a horse is in front of the leg and how to get a horse in front of the leg please xx

[@katiegoodger3984]

Omg Olivia x this is so helpful. Can you do any videos on how to sit canter please? As I need a bit of help. Love your videos sooooooo much x

[@lolacarpenter9426]

Your videos really do change my riding in a very positive way O

[@OliviaTowersDressage]

Thats so great to hear :D Keep up the good work x

[@sturdygirl7772]

Eagle's face! ☺ what a good man!

[@susanrussell9590]

Please do the next video soon. Brilliant xx

[@erinc8487]

Loving these new types of videos ❤️

[@charlotteruncie1186]

thank you this is amazing it really helped me, can't wait till the next video. Your amazing!

[@bookmaster_420]

Can’t believe I’ve only just found your channel! It’s absolutely brilliant - you’re so down to earth and an amazing rider. Do you have any tips for helping an older horse want to be more straight and supple? My horse is 21 and an ex racer so is generally quite ‘wonky’ as we put it. I’ve put a lot of hard work into his flat and eventing this weekend we managed a pb of 34.3 which isn’t great but is a huge achievement for us! But the main comments were that he didn’t want to travel very straight (tends to stick his hindquarters out in canter) and could do with more inside bend.

[@kmiklaszewski]

Check out this trainer’s clinics with this horse and rider. The horse is an older (19) horse that is also an OTTB Working through some suppleness and straightness problems. Hope it helps. m.kzbin.info/aero/PL5TDh832WpquUdydTPG6bpL9RirU2YIcp

[@bookmaster_420]

kathy mik thank you very much!

[@kmiklaszewski]

You’re welcome 😃 Did you get a chance to check out those clinic videos with the older OTTB? Just curious on what you thought and if any of the exercises from that trainer were helpful at all.

[@christinestephenson4500]

Very interesting .good advice .thank you .

[@superjill]

Hi Olivia! I stumbled on to your video where you talk about this one so I found this one to see what all the fuss is about and honestly I don't think there is ANYthing wrong with this method for contact. it seems very forgiving and not super tough on the horse. My trainer teaches a combo version of the "see-saw" and your "stress ball". I am sorry people are so cruel and NO ONE knows everything about horses or training or riding. If people think that they do, that is one thing they can be surely wrong about.

[@stephenquinton2400]

You are amazing, love your videos so much xx

[@poppyballantine9507]

That was so useful! I’m filming an online dressage today and Mazie struggles to maintain a contact so I’ll try this 😊

[@lornie0912]

Helpful video 😊

[@charlottebrookes6453]

I love your videos they help me so much thankyou!!!❤️❤️

[@lolacarpenter9426]

I love your videos they are really positive xxx

[@buckinggoodride882]

lovely explanation! Thanks for sharing!

[@OliviaTowersDressage]

No worries glad you liked it x

[@TheBevAngel]

Saw your emotional ‘haters’ vlog, so came here to see what the fuss was about. You must have deleted the bad comments as was trying to find a few to see what people had written. This vid does what it says - it’s about contact. I’m assuming people were slating you as they thought you just wanted a shape without the work behind it?? Contact is so important, why have the engine (quarters) powered up without proper contact. Without that containment the horse becomes unbalanced, rushes and drops straight onto the forehand. All your observations were on point, that annoying see-saw, fixed hands, no give through elbows. Brill work, keep it up. ❣️❣️❣️

[@loissmariee07]

So so sooo helpful!

[@myequinelife6447]

Really helpful!

[@snickercappydo]

Great instruction but I need the 2nd half quickly! Thanks!!

[@OliviaTowersDressage]

haha I will film it next x

[@josieengland3308]

do you have any tips for remember a dressage test? I find it so easy to remember a sj course but always forget dressage

[@gracepurewal]

Great vid , could you do one on half halts ?

[@isabelhunt130]

Can you do a video on how to sit a canter well please please

[@simonshusse]

Very good. I wished videos like this showed a "normal" horse. Meaning, the one you're on is both gifted and well trained. Mine is neither and also I'm no where near your abilities. But still, consider show a green horse. Your channel will be big i hope because you put so much personality in.

[@josiejenkins3020]

Thank you so much!! So helpful I fall into the trap of pinning but this really helped!! You da best!! Keep these videos coming I love them!! #bossbabe

[@chaostglive3404]

you are awsome i love you please like this comment olivia

[@OliviaTowersDressage]

And you can have a comment :D Thanks for your support x

[@flingaflake]

Eagle's face really is like "woman what on earth are you doing up there?" So yielding in the end is a slight but consistent pull backwards, have I seen that correctly?

[@OliviaTowersDressage]

The horse should be pulling, not us pulling. This is why its important that they are engaged and in front of our leg x

[@charlottebrookes6453]

I think Olivia is an amazing rider🤷🏼‍♀️

[@kylanorton3260]

Eagles face is not thinking that! Olivia is a great rider and Eagle is many people’s dream horse! They are perfect for each other, I wish people would stop criticising. Many people find her videos really useful! If you don’t like what Olivia does then don’t watch her amazing videos! It’s your loss.

[@sophiet4427]

Kyla Norton I think they meant that when she was explaining what not to do

[@kylanorton3260]

Sophie T but everyone rides different and some people will find this very useful. This is how Olivia gets her amazing results and if you watch her videos she’s getting a lot of hate and getting torn up about it, no one should be made to feel that way when she is trying to help!! It’s totally unfair!!

[@lucylottie8222]

What bridle do you have in this?

[@OliviaTowersDressage]

stroud saddlery x

[@leaposgard234]

love the video but the cameraman :/

[@michaelsamuels9901]

You still didn't explain what to do ?? Squeeze