Another Contact Exercise to Practice at Home

Here's another exercise to help improve your contact.  Thanks to my friend of 32 years, Lisa

I used to use the reins exercise as well but also had people stand face to face holding each others hands lightly, linked like holding the reins, but having to be flat because of arm physiology.. One rider and one horse... I found this way the rider could tighten/loosen their shoulder, elbow or wrist joint and the 'horse' could feel the impact it would have on the contact. The 'horse' also could help to 'wiggle' suppleness into the contact or sometimes be able to tell the rider exactly where they were the tightest - shoulder, elbow or wrist by what part of the arm wasn't following the movement. It seemed to help some people understand the differences in the weight of the contact... or the difference between using lats muscles rather than shoulder... lol - now of course, I was focused on the steady contact of dressage... 

A steady contact that is required in all horse training communication, english or western.  The only difference being the amount of "drape" eventually in the reins.