Connection, Collection, and My Blood Pressure
We need to talk.
One of my biggest pet peeves are people who interchangeably use the terms “connection” and “collection,” so I’ve organized for us to have a little sit-down.
Get something to drink and maybe a snack for this one, ok?
I’m curious if this is a regional thing, because I’ve heard it increasingly in the southern states where I teach- but there seems to be this collective confusion that a horse simply “yielding to pressure” is “collected,” and boo-boo… that’s not what that word means
So with an open mind let’s break this down into baby steps, shall we?
(And I’m citing the national federations here too, so no one gets to say, “oh, she’s a dressage rider- it’s different for us.”)
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STEP 1: CONNECTION
This is step one, and the foundation of riding ANY horse.
(Also, the thing your trainer’s been begging of you for since forever)
ps- this is not collection
• Connection is the contact created from leg to hand, *not hand to face* (For ease of understanding, we will define contact as: the physical connection between a rider’s hands and the horse’s mouth.)
• The horse is seeking the bit and energy flows from behind, through a supple back, into soft and elastic contact.
• Connection feels like a conversation, not a hostage situation. The connection is reliable, but not stagnant (OR PULLING!)
USEF says:
“Connection is the state in which the rider’s hands receive a consistent, elastic contact from the horse’s mouth via the reins.”
WDAA says:
“Connection: State at which there is no blockage, break, or slack in the circuit that joins the horse and rider into a single, harmonious, elastic unit. A prerequisite for throughness. The energy generated in the hindquarters by the driving aids must flow through the whole body of the horse and is received in the rider’s hands.”
In “dressage land”, connection is required at the Introductory and Training levels.
This isn’t yet “on the bit” this is your prerequisite.
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STEP 2: ON THE BIT
This is only a result of correct connection.
ps- still not collection, folks
*And yes, it takes time and correct training to consistently achieve “on the bit”, there likely will be moments when the poll is too low, the horse tucks behind the vertical, or the horse engages the underside of their neck like a camel, but the objective is* :
• All the benchmarks of correct connection: energy created from behind, traveling through a lifted and supple back with an engaged core
• Additionally, the poll is the highest point
• The nose is slightly in front of or at the vertical, with an open throat-latch
• The horse is relaxed, supple, and moving forward into the bridle- with a connection that’s still elastic but consistent
USEF says:
“‘On the bit’ is when the neck is raised and arched [their terminology] according to training, with a steady contact and a supple poll.”
WDAA says:
“It’s when the horse accepts contact and moves forward with the poll as the highest point and the nose slightly in front of vertical.
The horse is correctly connected from back to front and willingly accepting contact with the bit. In fact, at that time he should accept the rider’s seat, weight, and leg aids as well.”
(STILL not collection)
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STEP 3: COLLECTION
This is *not* a headset.
This is *not* a foal yielding to pressure in a rope halter.
This is *not* a jumper tucking its chin into its chest in a hackamore.
• Collection is an advanced state of balance and engagement, achieved not only through proper connection, but also with a horse that is on the bit…. so we have to achieve and maintain steps 1 & 2 before collection can be properly accomplished (or really even approached)
• The horse lowers the croup, lifts the forehand, and carries more weight via the booty and hind-legs, while compressing the frame
• The stride becomes shorter, but more animated and energized (IMPULSION!) This is *NOT* a slow, disengaged shuffle with an arched neck (so help me…)
• Collection is developed over time with strength and gymnastic training. It is *earned* through correct efforts and training, not manufactured with rein pressure and a prayer.
USEF says:
“Collection is achieved by increased engagement of the hindquarters, resulting in a lowering of the croup and lightening of the forehand. This allows the shoulders more freedom, and the horse’s stride becomes shorter but gains animation and height. Collection is not to be confused with ‘headset’ or merely slower or shorter strides. It is achieved through correct training and increased weight-bearing of the horse’s haunches.”
WDAA says:
“Collection is achieved by increased weight-bearing of the horse’s haunches, thereby lowering the croup and lightening the forehand to allow the shoulders more freedom. The horse’s stride becomes markedly shorter but gains animation and height. At collected jog and lope, the support phase of the hind legs is more pronounced than in the other paces of the gait. Collection is not to be confused with ‘headset,’ nor with slower or shorter strides. Collected paces have relatively shorter steps and more uphill balance, while the frame is shorter and the neck is stretched and arched upward. The horse should reach calmly to contact with the bit with the nose nearly at, but never behind, the vertical. Many riders erroneously shorten the horse’s strides by pulling on the reins, believing that shorter and slower steps equal collection. Collection is not produced by such incorrect aids. Instead, using seat and leg aids, riding the horse briefly into a slightly firmer contact, will cause the horse to round and lower his croup and step in more deeply under himself from behind.”
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Let’s Review in order of operation:
• Connection = Communication
• On the Bit = Acceptance
• Collection = Power, Balance, and Engagement
These terms are *not* interchangeable; it does not matter your discipline or riding objective
One way I really like to phrase it:
• Connection = Conversation
• On the Bit = Agreement
• Collection = Mastery
Our vocabulary matters!
Let’s be better.
For our horses and for our scrutinized sports.
*And for my blood pressure. (Please)*
And yes this last week a “horse trainer” proudly boasted to me that a foal is already “collecting” in the rope halter.
...I still can’t form words because what the actual…
This isn’t Dressage vs. The World.
This is literally pulled directly from USEF and WDAA- aka the national organizations most of you are competing and operating under. The WDAA even has a pretty exceptional and publicly available glossary, seriously, check that out!
Thank you for coming to my TED talk
The Athletic Development of the Dressage Horse - Charles de Kunffy. Photographed is Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg.
Dressage: A Guideline for Riders and Judges - Wolfgang M. Niggli