[QUOTE=mbm;5050250]
well, if you are commenting on my comment re: withers lifted, it isnt only the withers… and you yourself gave a spot on description of how it is done. or, at least how i was able to do it with my mare (i have zero clue about what i am doing with this stuff)…[/QUOTE]
Actually if this post is directed at me then no I was referring to the post that I quoted from Eagles aka The Master or the post that I quoted from catonlap. Yes to get a horse to connect from back to front at a halt lets say right after you mount is not hard at all. One has to imagine that unless you do something really strange i.e; lands on back, poor saddle fit, hands pulling right away, cold back etc. The horse is about as balances and as natural as he can be. So to put your legs at the girth and to give the horse a little tickle at the girth is getting the horse to lift his back not just the withers.
the horse while standing still assumes the position of correct body usage that we seek in motion. except i dont have to be in motion to get it!
Well no nobody does really, I don’t really believe that you have to practice Baucher to come to this realization if you are using more leg than hand this will come naturally.
i started just experimenting with different things by feel and little by little she was able to use her body correctly. !
Rounding at the halt is correct however you have to beable to keep this feeling while the horse is in motion. That is where you feel and balance comes into play. The quieter you are with the hands an the more you are direct with the leg you will maintain connection during all transitions and gates
now i can be standing still and ask her to connect and raise her withers and back etc etc this carries over to all ridden work.
Once again good it seems that you have a concept of what basic connection is with out having to pay the mater $50.00 bucks a year to prove it.
ps - think of a horse working and asked to halt correctly, connected and on the aids - that is what it is. except i dont have to have the preceding movement to get it.
I think of where the misunderstanding is, is that some people are referring to connection as raising the withers. When actually you are feeling the whole back lift. That is connection your dressage foundation. Then by working transitions, lateral movements,etc. . By working on the horse adjustability in a gate i.e. keeping rhythm but asking for smaller steps not slower steps starts collection.