Callie, one of the reasons you are so effective for me is because of HOW you talk. You are calm, informative and explain, then give examples. I took lessons for 30 years and gave up because I got so sick of being screamed at-when I was and am a pretty decent rider. It is so refreshing for someone to explain it without being too animated and more informative. THANK YOU. Your videos are my favorite!

Your description of the horse meeting your contact with an appropriate amount of their own pressure reminded me of a good handshake. Where, when you offer a good, firm, but not overwhelming grip; and it is met with a similar grip in return. Not a flaccid "dead fish" limp hand, nor a crushing vise like "King Kong" grip. The result is a "PARTNERSHIP" and a pleasure.

Carley’s expressions are so cute... sweet girl. Does rein management change based on western and English riding?

I have been so impressed with these helpful videos. I actually take notes while watching them. Thank you for offering so much information for free on your blog, KZfaq and your website.

Thanks so much for these tips. I've just begun riding again after more than 30 years and I'm finding my balance is off along with my confidence. These videos are a tremendous help.

Great detailed video on the use of reins, especially for those who ride with a bit and how important it is regarding the horses' mouth. Thank you!

Great explanation!

Appreciate all of your pointers. Will you please make a video on the use of different bits, fitting bits for your horse and what your opinions are on the knots on the halter over the nose (I see them used more frequently on western riders.) The knots placed correctly on halter are suppose to offer a quicker and more controlled response if your horse need quick correction from a spook or mishap. Likewise, the pros and cons on which bit is best for you and your horse. A lot of my friends swear on the Hackmar bit being better...I’d like your opinion on how to select the perfect bits for your new horses...please. Thank you.

Thank you for the info.

Love your videos! Thank you so much

Your about the only one who uses a bit in a good manner! And at least you keep in mind of how sensitive the horses mouth is. And I’m glad you use soft rubber bits!

I love watching this horse. It is an excellent comment on the rider.

I unfortunately hear so many beginners of all ages, but mostly young rider talk about and praise other riders on the subject of “framing the horse” and how well the horse’s head and neck look and the methods of using the hands on the reins to get the head down and put the horse in a frame. This is “framing” word and correct hat the under educated riders are talking about and doing to the horse to get it done is like nails on a chalkboard to my ears. I hear and see it taught by soooo many instructors still in all styles of tiding, but in my experience, I’ve seen this term “framing” mostly in hunter/jumpers and western and unfortunately so many riders believe that using the hands on the reins and keeping the horse moving forward is the correct and effective and kind way to do things and I think most of them don’t even know Why they would even want to do this unless only to make this horse look better in front of the judge. I have even heard many instructors tell students “I don’t care how you get it done, but you better get that horse’s head down.” Some riders even saw on the mouth so much and then hold the horse’s head and neck into position to the point of being so far behind the bit that the horse just looks defeated. I’m so frustrated with the amount of instructors who teach this method and it’s even worse when it is with children and beginners of all ages. Would you do a video going into this issue just to maybe even help a few horses and riders just to understand what is incorrect and why???

Good training

Thank you!

Once again a great little video thank you. Contact is the one thing i am struggling with in my later life riding and am struggling to find that happy medium. So, the horse I am riding at the moment; an older, ex-racer with little schooling education... will brace against the contact. Now i'm aware that it is probably just as much my hand as it is his lack of trust, but what can I do when he does this? What steps should I take to stop this? Also, when I offer a longer rein he will snap his head forward as if snatching the rein from me even though I'v given it. What can I do to stop this? I don't want to block the movement there for banging the bit in his mouth and causing more mistrust in him and my hands. Thank you for your help. XX

Great tips for beginners. Learning to coordinate can be so hard. 😊

By the way very nice vedios in general I consistently watching most

Excellent thankyou

Perfect timing ❤️ thank you

So helpful

Hello Calli, thank you for yet another great video. I have a question about this session. My horsre at a trot on the left rein tends after a few minutes to "bob" his head up and down. I release any back pressure he may have by occasionally staying raised in my stirrups for several strides and then return to a rising trot as usual. Eventually, his "bobbing head" passes, but I must be annoying him by doing something with my hands which is unpleasant. On the right hand, all is well. I have a horse who tends to stick his chin to his chest as this is how he has been trained, but I'm trying to break that spell by riding him in a more "open" position which will give him great comfort for his back. Thank you for any assistance you can lend.

I riide with a bitless side pull. Can you speak to what the feel and the difference is from riding with a bit? Thank you! love all of these tutorials ;)

Really like this segment on contact, thank you. My just 6 year old has all of a sudden started pushing his outside shoulder towards the rail , as an effort not to continue with the corners of the ring. I floated the reins a bit , just to check my contact was not snug, so I don’t stop the forward motion. Can you remind me of a few exercises to improve my path on corners. Thank you. Hershey Bar Farms

I will keep studying your instructional video. I really understand the way you explain. Also, is Carley is Missouri fox trotter? She looks almost identical to my neighbor's passed horse, Willow. She is gorgeous.

I will try thesez excersices with my hands as i think my mare trying to tell me have to much pressure in my hands. This is first time I have seen this .

Anyone know what brand saddle pad Callie is using? It looks very cushion-y and I want it :)

One topic suggested: I have steady hands but I always shake them on a jumping line, specially 10 meters before the fence. Please let me know what kind of exercise you recommend for fix this issue. Thank you for lessons. You are a very good teacher.

is there any problem , when we loosen the reins when horse moves, I means there is no any pressure on the corner of there mouth??

Is there a way I can send you a video? Of my horse just going crooked and having a issue with his neck and mouth

We compete in Western Dressage. 2 of my horses won World Titles at the WDAA World Show in Oklahoma out of huge classes of 33 to 25 entries in their classes. We are currently riding a 3rd horse, but having issues with an ‘unsteady head’. Any ideas?

i find i switch off on rein contact mentally ...i don't know what it is ....i think my hands must feel dead sometimes or harsh unless i am concentrating and i can't concentrate all the time ..some people just have subconsciously aware hands..its NOT coming from my seat...i also feel i dont FEEL enough or interpret any info i get from the reins from the horse very well. I can feel with my seat but not with my reins. Also when i MOVE my hands or shorten reins i know i don't keep contact. I never balance on the reins ..but i have zero idea of what i am feeling or what to do with my hands...or how much pressure to use.

A beginners question: If I need to work on a balance first, can I just make the horse move with long reigns without trying to steer it - will it walk itself in circle or it'll need constant guidance from me to keep turning at the corners of the arena? Thank you.

Hello. My horse will begin to chew on bit or pull head forward with contact. Is that negative? What can I do to correct that? Thank you

Hiya, just came across this, how do I teach the horse not to brace against the reins in trot. Walk and canter is good. Trot is a giraffe..

One more question: I'm a bit confused about what horses like (positive reinforcements) and what they don't like (negative ones).I read that horses are not so sensitive, as humans. So, if you touch it gently it could feel nothing or maybe be spooked, thinking that it's some insect. So, how to reward a horse, how to pet it, what it really likes? And what are the signs that it likes it or not? Thank you.

I ride English with a flat nose hack and long shank. Does your Contact also apply to my use of the hackamore?

Question: how exactly do we get into a canter, trot etc?

The link doesn't work :(

Heloo I just started ride , I have little bite stress , do you think he feel it during ride , and I have issue with my hand sweat 😓 during ride makes harder for me

How to work on contact with bitless bridle

Omg the throat lash

I never feel like I am all over the place or stiff, I am always afraid of falling off and not being able to give proper cues because I have terrible balance hha.

What if you ride without a bit that’s way more good for any horse

been a mucky one decades .. seen rides/der too.. a 4 footer ace dude endurance skilled yet new filler rider but not too new.. ,,fine rides yet out of blue .4 /5 months prox .. 4 legged is to hot HOT to ride.. all foods suppressed.omcase mumies to rich ~? not! tagged data.. ! portions covered.. as normal.done .endurance style vetted! . and chick en still a no show.endur came back 1 leg lame... thus how should anyone assess what to look for before someone else is walking in to a ride time while an aging rider buddy can not go the distance.... some do chat of abilities..(horse/~rider) galore ... overwhelming galore so convincing .. moments seem fine.. but the 4 legged that is well conditioned ..become a statement out of the blue after beautiful glowing rides of comments yet is now hot.. is hot possibly due to a inflated expression of rider ability ///endurance horses as much as owners/main riders do the same course runs..very tested... when a break time various factors for the main rider does happen .. the horse already is skilled very skilled.. thus the new rider has a great time. over yr!. ... some where within those times the horse become hot ..what is hot ...what is that rider saying... and later horse becomes lame ?H not to aged and lots of pastures..nor over plumped with munching.... back to same query how to really find out what is on the horses back.. pro saddled special fits etc best vets... horse 14 ish and lovely rider apparently knowledge able....~ debatable..... horse needs exercise .. but by how to assess.... of fluffy stuff right..~! the horses are skilled...heart the whole associations with endurance. aced buddies but newness ... could be learning process ?how to assess the pairing of another rider with the main mount.. ground work? skill level?/ interaction?? .. that too has many aspects... or does the horse need many riders to bounces along and any approach that is handle and stupid enough to sure get on that thing and woo ride the trails in to zones... ~!????????????????????

low audio :(

And this is why I prefer endurance riding, ride and ties, and trail riding. You don't have to worry about all this fancy crap.

I don’t trust her she posts on the wrong diagonal too much

She talks about getting really effective cues with horses I'm sorry but my horse has a really hard mouth and stuff would not work on her soo if your horse is like that TRY USING YOUR FEET

Get to the fkn point