Thinking about the first rat of the video, the neutralizing or flattening of the back..when you reach down to feel the motion of the points of the horse's shoulders, look between the horse's ears (always look where you are going!) and keep your sternum aligned with the horses crest. Don't worry yet about making contact though the reins, contact actually has to start with the legs be transmitted up trough the rider's spine, through the shoulders, and arms, through the hands and reins throught the bit to the mucous membranes of the horse's mouth. A rider must prepare for this in stages, starting witht he stabilzation of the calf, absorption of "shock" in the ankles, and absorption of shock in the thighs. Don't worry yet about your arms and hands, except for holing onto the reins and learning to shorten and lengthen them with your fingertips (with out looking down) you should otherwise FORGET about your upper body.  But consider this image of yourself (for which I give Sally Swift's Centered Riding, FIRST EDITION, credit. "Be a string puppet HUNG FROM ABOVE!" Imageine yourself being tethered to the cloud your horse is following forward, and let yourself go with it, hugging your horse just in front of the girth with your calves. At all three gaits. 

Good for you Chris!

Hi Chris,

I was kind of shocked when I saw how long it had been since we were in contact.

How are you doing? I hope your plans to compete have gone well and that you continue to pursue your dream as a horseman.

I'm riding less at the moment as winter here in South Eastern Ontario is quite brutal this year, so even when holiday social life has allowed its often been too cold, too wet, snowing too heavily. Zuckie and I went for a trail ride yesterday but there were drifts that he had real trouble getting through and his movement was so extreme, it was hard to stay on. It was good in one way because he was really wired, and the snow slowed him down. Lol.

Take care, John