What's Inside
Search the Site
Tip/Quote of the Day # 37
A horse must first be able to travel in a connected long and low frame before a proper higher head carriage can be achieved. If you struggle with lengthening your horse's neck while still maintaining a soft contact - be sure to master this connection before moving on to more advanced work. If you don't all of your "upper-level" work will be incorrect and will lack the back connection necessary for engaging the hind end.
Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share with your friends! Look for the share buttons on the far right side of the page. Thank you!
Related Articles:
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3508
- Question # 268: So, I took my 4 year old, Todd, to his first combined training last weekend. It was his second time jumping a full course and very first dressage test, and he was fantastic for how green he is. I'm a proud momma! I have a question about.
- An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1402
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4417
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3981
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3431
- All Roads Lead to Rome.... Or Do They??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4326
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3421
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3219
- Is Your Free Walk Really FREE? And Do You Make Good Use Of It?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2150
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2038
- An Exercise to Help Improve Your Horse's Connection Over the Back
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1585
- Riding From "Front to Back"
- Horses that Tilt Their Head in Dressage
- Question # 273: I'm wondering if you have any favorite exercises for strengthening a horse's back and building topline?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4299
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2581
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1631
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4301
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3529
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3165
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2514
- Question # 353: Amanda has a question about how to teach her young horse to lift and use his back correctly.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2285
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2033
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4463
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4450
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4209
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4333
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4153
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3086
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2817
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1868
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1742
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1731
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1685
- Quin's Blog post # 1: Tiny Signals
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1496
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1453
- Signs That Your Performance Horse Might Be Sore
- Question # 299: My OTTB was recently diagnosed with some major back pain associated with saddle fit (I guess two different saddle fitters looking at it 4 different times wasn't enough!)....
- Question # 297: Suggestions for how to figure out when you're ready for a double bridle and also how to possibly figure out which curb? I currently ride in a French link snaffle bradoon. (Jennifer)
- The BEST Exercise to Loosen Up Your Horse's Tight Lower Back Area
- Video Discussion # 96: This great video shows exactly why it is SO important to get your horse moving correctly through his back!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 984
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 454
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 296
- Improving the Trot
- Does Your Horse Show This Positive Sign After a Flatwork Session?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4464
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4144
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3415
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3234
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2047
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1808
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1737
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1425
- Clashing of Aids vs the Coordination of Aids
- Adding More *Scope* to Your Lateral Work - For Better Dressage Scores!
- Improve Your Canter to Trot Transitions!
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise
- Are You Riding With Your Reins at the Right Length?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 409
- Discussion # 72: Let's discuss this quote!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4039
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3570
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3497
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3479
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3443
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3413
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3412
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2811
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2780
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2099
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2080
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1379
- 3 Signs That Your Bending Aids Are Working Correctly
- Question # 195: I have a client's horse that I'm working with, and she has an issue I've never had to deal with before. She thinks she is an accordion--she will shorten her neck and hollow her back whenever she has any contact in her mouth.
- Video Discussion # 57: The great Reiner Klimke shows us the right and wrong way to ride deep!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4289
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4249
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3993
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3990
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3968
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3744
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3645
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3623
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3437
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3383
- Guest Blog # 120: Too Focused? by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3062
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2834
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2641
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2421
- Is Your Horse Sore in These Very Common Areas??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2009
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1701
- Does Your Horse Pick Up the Canter With His Haunches In?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 727
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 573
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4380
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4191
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3525
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3297
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3296
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2633
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2603
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2495
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1845
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1829
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1827
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1816
- Quin's Blog post # 4: Praising the Snort
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1776
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1705
- Video # 309 and Question # 325: Kayla is finding it difficult to keep her horse on the aids in walk to halt transitions.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1626
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1356
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1219
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1173
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1113
- Question # 288: How do you tell the difference between a horse in correct self carriage and one that is merely posing? A posed horse will pass the test for self carriage even though is not relaxed or through. (Sharon)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1007
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 923
- Question # 275: My little quarter horse mare likes to tilt her nose to the left at the trot and canter when working indoors...
- Question # 266: My horse hollows his back and throws his neck up in canter to trot downward transitions? What can I do to fix this? (Anonymous)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 760
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 683
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 631
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 626
- Video # 66 and Question # 208: This is Kymbre!
- The Horse That Wants to Shorten Its Neck
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4513
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4410
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4328
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4109
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4063
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3994
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3917
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3790
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3739
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3711
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3564
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3504
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3474
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3317
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3166
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3129
- The 'Half-Go'
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2660
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2570
- Rider Leg Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2508
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2505
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1858
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1779
- Question # 318: My horse and I are continuing on in training and he has really become much more balanced over all in the show jumping. Before he used to land and have such a large canter stride that it seemed like most of my focus was...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1574
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1525
- Video Discussion # 100: Let's watch Michael Jung's complete warm up for Dressage at this year's Rolex 3 Day Event!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1114
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1100
- Introducing the Counter Canter
- Guest Blog post # 60: "Beyond the Mo" by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 447
- Throughness
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4365
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4290
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4236
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4126
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4057
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3735
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3679
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3658
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3630
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3457
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2880
- Video # 325: This is Bridget doing a Dressage test!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2526
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2501
- A Jumping Exercise to Help You to Turn Your Speed Into Impulsion
- "Reset" Your Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2153
- Discussion # 167: Let's discuss the Dressage term, "the falling down neck."
- Question # 341: Amy has a question about a new horse she is riding, who is not a big fan of flatwork!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1864
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1797
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1743
- Video # 106 and Question # 320: Kayla asks if her horse looks to be accepting the bit as she lunges him in side reins.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1613
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1542
- Lateral Work as "Medicine" For the Dressage Horse
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1470
- Video # 102: This is Kellyn, riding Novice level test B
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1253
- A Test of Your Flatwork Training (For All Levels!)
- What Does it Mean for the Horse to be "Between the Rider’s Hand and Leg"?
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise # 2
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 933
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 645
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 628
- Question # 201: How do you get a horse to stretch long and low and go foreward with its nose? I have a horse that ends up running when I give the reins, but evades the bit by going behind the vertical if I pick up the contact! (Sandi)
- Video # 45: This is Becky!
- Dressage Warm Up
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4211
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4206
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3475
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3444
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3285
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3158
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3107
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3051
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3045
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3026
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2984
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2898
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2789
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2504
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2445
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2251
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1860
- Video # 311 and Question # 329: Kayla is practicing BN test A, and has a few questions.
- Quin's Blog post # 2: The Ultimate Answer to Riding, the Universe, and Everything
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1428
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1413
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1406
- Guest Blog post # 80: "The Professional Edge: Classically driven or Client driven?" by Bill Kraatz
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1009
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 998
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 943
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 813
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 782
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 692
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 618
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 416
- Guest Blog post # 22: "Streeeeeetch" by Amanda Tamminga
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1591
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4396
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4355
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4308
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4237
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4013
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3964
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3957
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3933
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3893
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3821
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3814
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3787
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3740
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3675
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3674
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3669
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3561
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3536
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3494
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3430
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3409
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3274
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3210
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3134
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3116
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3071
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3049
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3012
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2995
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2981
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2939
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2902
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2658
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2636
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2629
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2551
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2537
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2475
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2346
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2323
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2314
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2221
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2212
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2173
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2157
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2144
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2058
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2023
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1942
- How Your Driving Habits Relate to Your Riding Habits
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1834
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1807
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1793
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1789
- Question # 333: Kayla has a question about core/ab exercises for her horse.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1752
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1746
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1647
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1636
- Question # 319: Question about your advice to do lots of transitions back and forth from trot to canter to loosen up a horse's back...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1605
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1581
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1509
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1490
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1483
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1442
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1350
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1346
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1343
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1085
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1076
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1002
- Question # 281: My mare has always had an issue with bucking/pulling upon landing in the next stride after landing from a fence when doing cross country...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 926
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 903
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 882
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 857
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 807
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 641
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 519
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 498
- Question # 242: What generally causes a horse to slip under himself with his hind end? Weak hocks/stifles, unbalanced horse/rider? My horse slipped out behind three times at the 2DE on the weekend. (Shelley)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 418
- Video # 62, and Question # 191: I asked a Dressage Judge to score my horse's trot. She gave him a 6.5-7 at best. When I asked what we should try differently (this is a trainer/judge who knows both me and my horse) to get an 8, she said...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 260
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 259
- A Trainer's Responsibility! (That's YOU!) (Current Freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 175
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 52
- Video # 40: This is Kayla doing Novice Test B!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4509
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4416
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4368
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4367
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4349
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4318
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4297
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4265
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4262
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4253
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4240
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4214
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4155
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4062
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4040
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4032
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4011
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3929
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3845
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3807
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3767
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3696
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3605
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3599
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3554
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3490
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3461
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3395
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3366
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3347
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3258
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3221
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3217
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3212
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3203
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3178
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3157
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3151
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3141
- Guest Blog # 115: "The Words Are Not Magic" by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2922
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2867
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2762
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2748
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2734
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2661
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2593
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2586
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2583
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2580
- An Exercise to Rev Your Horse’s Motor - Building Impulsion & Hind Leg Engagement
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2498
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2490
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2446
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2440
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2390
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2338
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2330
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2325
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2227
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2165
- The Counted Walk - a Tool to Improve Your Horse's Carriage in Dressage
- A TEST of Your Horse's Rideability & Adjustability
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1906
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1894
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1856
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1838
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1766
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1751
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1628
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1588
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1579
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1555
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1552
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1548
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1546
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1486
- A Spanish Riding School Exercise to Increase the Collection in Your Horse's Canter
- A Variety of Exercises to Do With 3 Poles on the Ground - For Riders of All Levels!
- Question # 309, and Video # 97: This is Susanne!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1225
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1079
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1072
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1059
- Different Half Halts For Different Situations
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 938
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 871
- The Return to the Track in Counter Shoulder In Exercise
- Question # 259: At a recent show I received multiple comments of "needs half halts" on my Dressage test. I am only riding at beginner novice, and wasn't aware that I should be working on something advanced like half halts. Please explain. (Anonymous)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 599
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 554
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 479
- On Riding Goals!
- The Different Schools of Dressage
- Maat's Blog Post # 1: Using Trot Lengthenings to Improve Your Training
- An Exercise to Help Your Lengthenings Last the Full Diagonal
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 27
- The Scale of Compression in the Horse's Stride
- The "Walk Two Steps and Trot Again" Exercise
- Video discussion # 23: Tips from Sally O'Connor on improving the canter!
- Accepting the Bit VS Giving to the Bit
- Video Discussion # 18: Let's watch this video of Steffen Peters warming up at the World Dressage Masters!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4486
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4472
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4456
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4449
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4447
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4445
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4423
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4412
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4411
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4409
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4401
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4381
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4374
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4319
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4303
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4283
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4278
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4215
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4213
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4120
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4115
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4114
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4083
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4028
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4007
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4003
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3974
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3952
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3922
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3897
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3888
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3871
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3864
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3853
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3852
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3809
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3801
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3780
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3768
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3686
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3607
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3601
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3594
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3569
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3543
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3527
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3524
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3521
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3520
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3503
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3500
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3442
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3410
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3392
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3381
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3373
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3322
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3310






