This week’s live was all about one of the trickiest (and most important) topics in dressage: contact and connection. What do those words really mean? How do you find the “right” amount of contact, and how do you help your horse find a frame that’s soft, supple, and sustainable?

We broke it all down with real rider questions and practical answers you can try in your next ride.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The difference between contact (taking the slack out of the reins) and connection (the whole flow of energy through the horse)
• How to keep transitions balanced when your horse pulls, dives, or leans
• What “the weight of a soda can” has to do with correct rein feel
• Why curling behind the vertical or hollowing both come back to engagement
• Tips for motivating the “lazy” horse without nagging
• How to ride better corners — especially with older or less supple horses
• A preview of 30 Days to Round (with $10,000 in prizes) and how it helps retrain contact and roundness step by step

We also shared takeaways from watching the European Championships, where great contact looked effortless, and why “roundness” is about more than a pretty neck — it’s about biomechanics, mental relaxation, and creating a horse that’s truly rideable.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. Don't forget to sign up for my free Contact & Connection webinar!