I really need help, it has to do with contact.?

Question

My instructor for my private lesson gave me an assignment to do before our next lesson and i need to know the definition on contact. I have looked it up on search engines but all i can find is how to have contact, not the definition. I know what it is but i can't put it in definition form. Could anyone help please?

Answer 1

contact is the resistance between the horses mouth and your hands, conected by the reigns

Answer 2

Contact is connection, and in riding, would be tactile (touch).  You are in contact with your horse when the horse can feel your hands connected to the bit in his mouth via the reins, and when you can feel your connection to his mouth through your hands.

Your legs are in contact when your legs are close enough to your horse to feel his movements, and the horse feels the presence of your legs against his sides. Your seat is in contact when you are sitting in the saddle and moving with your horse's movements.

Answer 3

Contact is ability to feel your horses mouth on the other end of the reins. At least that is how I define it when people ask. Hope this helps!

Independent seat is when your hands and upper body don't move in the same motion as your hips.

Answer 4

Contact is difficult to define because it is more of a concept. It is when your reins have no slack in them and you have contact with the horses mouth. It is not pulling or forcing the horse forward while holding his head really tight. It is when your horse accepts the bit and is freely moving forward.

An independent seat is when you move seperatly but in unison with the horse. Meaning not posting with your hands and driving unnecesarily with your seat (there is other things but these come to mind first). You also need to know how to properly use and coordinate your aids.

Open and close rein have fairly good definitions online.

I love that your trainer is making you do this. It really will make you learn

Answer 5

Contact is definatley a concept and not only is it with your hands it is with your entire body.  I would describe contact like this:

The ability of a rider to be "connected" to their horse through not only soft hands but through leg and seat.  A horse that can move freely forward with a "connection" to your hand with fluid motion.  Contact is conclusively the ULTIMATE suppleness in a horses mouth, when a horse comes round (not behind or infront of the bit) but accepts your hand and your using your centre of balance with your seat, your horse in turn learns to round out, stretch down and accept the bit and balance in all gaits.  

Hope this helps!  I should assure you that contact isnt an instant thing, it takes time to establish the proper muscle development in your horse to acheive this balance and supple contact.

And yes. I agree with Katie in that it is GREAT that your coach is making you learn these definitions!!!!  

Great Question :)

Answer 6

First, contact is a little difficult to just define.  Contact is a physical connection between the rider and horse.  It is soft and giving but firm enough to maintain a connection.  Contact is achieved by asking the horse to move forward from its hind quarters and push itself forward from behind, instead of pulling with its front legs.  This energy is then held in check, and the horse balanced, using "contact" with the horses mouth through the bit and reins.  There is much MUCH more to this but it would take a lot to explain it all.

Second, an open rein is when your hands and upper body are soft and giving to be able to encourage your horse to move more forward (NOT faster).  A closed rein is still gentle but is firm and not giving and is for encouraging your horse to collect or to maintain a frame of body.  (can only be done if you have contact)

Third, an independent seat is when the rider's seat and balance is maintained separate from the horses balance.  Meaning, your balance should not be dependent on your horse, i.e. your should not balance yourself on the reins, prop yourself up on the front of the saddle, stand in the stirrups, or anything similar, but rather be able to supply your own balance so you can help your horse learn how to balance.

Lastly, dressage is defined as a French term meaning "training".  It is a style of riding based on the concepts of rhythm, regularity, relaxation, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection.

Also, check out wikipedia and search dressage if you want more information.

Answer 7

well it could mean several things but heres a few

if ur trying to get contact with his mouth then try pulling back or give and release and squeeze with legs to drive him forward but his front will come into you. this may work, it may not. but youll have to try:]

Answer 8

get a dictunary mabey, not sure if ur talking about contact wen riding, or just being with ur horse like peting, rubing, stroking, ect

Answer 9

look up contact for horses hope this helps

Answer 10

you need to elaborate a little bit.  Was the entire homework session just to find the definition of the word "contact"?  If so you need to just go to the dictionary and look it up.  There isn't a horse term for the word that is different from the official definition.  www.dictionary.com