Contact in dressage: how to learn it step by step

What is contact, exactly?

Contact means that your horse moves with an even, soft feel on the rein — not evading, not leaning, but seeking the hand. The energy you create with your leg flows through the horse's body and is quietly received by your hand. Good contact feels like a weight of approximately 200 to 300 grams per rein — comparable to half a cup of coffee. If it is more, your horse is leaning on the hand. If there is nothing to feel, he is avoiding contact.

The three pillars of correct contact

Before working on contact, it is important that three fundamental elements are in place:

• Seat and relaxation: a tense rider does not transmit a fair signal
• Activity from the leg: contact begins at the hindquarters, not at the hand
• A chewing, relaxed mouth: a horse that grinds its teeth or holds its mouth open is tense
• Even rhythm in all gaits: irregularity makes contact impossible
• Straightness: a crooked back produces uneven contact

How to develop contact step by step

Start on the lunge or in walk without reins to let your horse move freely and straight first. Then pick up the reins with a soft fist — thumb up, little finger inward. Ask your horse to step forward with light leg aids and wait until he softly seeks your hand. Do not pull or hold: establish the contact, and let the horse respond to it. This process takes two weeks for one combination and six months for another. Be patient and consistent.

Common mistakes with contact

• Holding too firmly: the horse goes behind the rein or no longer tolerates the bit
• Reins too long: no contact, horse moves along on its own without connection
• Pulling on one rein for bend: leads to imbalance and discomfort
• Not coordinating aids: leg and hand must work together, not compete
• Rushing: pushing for a round outline without suppleness through the back

Exercises that help with development

A few focused exercises can significantly speed up the learning process. Voltes of 10 to 15 metres are ideal: they engage the inside shoulder and help the horse bend correctly. Also incorporate walk exercises such as shoulder-in — even in a light form — to make the contact more even. Transitions (walk–trot, trot–walk) are at least as valuable: with every transition you ask the horse for attention and activity. Ride 6 to 8 short transitions per session, and pay attention to what happens with the contact.

Use your horse profile to track progress

Contact develops gradually and it is easy to overlook small improvements. After each training session, make a note in the horse profile in EquiSight about what you noticed regarding the contact: was it even, was there a difference between left and right, was your horse more or less tense than last time? This way you build up a pattern over weeks that provides real insight. EquiCoach can analyse these notes and ask you questions that help you plan more focused training sessions via the agenda.

When should you call in a trainer?

If the contact does not improve after four to six weeks of focused work, or if your horse regularly opens its mouth, goes above or behind the rein, a second pair of eyes is invaluable. A qualified dressage trainer can see within a few minutes whether the problem lies with you or with the horse. Sometimes a small adjustment in your position — such as lowering the hands slightly — is enough to improve the contact within a single lesson.