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...
To successfully maintain the elusive forward feeling hands, imagine that you are pushing a shopping cart as you ride forward into the bit.
Horses speak through their actions. Try to listen to what they are telling you.
Spend time on the basics, such as straightness and suppleness, and the more difficult movements will fall into place naturally.
In the sport of Eventing, ensuring that our horses are truly fit for our level of competition is one of the best ways to prevent unnecessary injuries.