Connected Riding™, a method created and developed by Peggy Cummings, is based on work with the rider to become aware of how the riding position affects the horse and teach him to comfortably support the rider’s weight.

We often hear that a horse doesn’t want to listen, or that it is hesitant or stubborn, but these attitudes are not the horse’s intention. Even if we take care of our horses and show them affection, we can still create tension and stress in the horses if we are tense and stressed. The result is a rigid ride, lacking elasticity and balance in both horse and rider. The horse, who cannot talk, responds by refusing its cooperation.

Learning how to ride in the correct position, and with the proper help, allows the connection with the horse. We sense the movements of the rear legs traveling up through our bodies, being transmitted through our arms, through the reins, to the back, the neck, and the head of the horse. This movement travels back to the body of the horse, and the cycle repeats. This is how the energy flows.

The benefits of Connected Riding™ are:

• influencing the movement of the horse in an easy, simple way, adapting harmoniously with their movement.
• learning to ride without bodily tension, which reduces stress to the joints and muscles.
• riding with less effort because of deeper bodily awareness, for greater balance and safety.
• working dismounted from the horse teaches it the correct posture to support the rider’s weight comfortably and educates its body to move more freely, with which we get greater balance and impulse from the back legs.
• helping the horses re-pattern bodily habits that can cause tension, pain and injuries.