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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThat\u2019s the big thing for me; response to the leg and when the horse is genuinely forward, you\u2019re catching the energy, you\u2019re not pulling back, the horse trusts your hand and it bounces up off the bit. I think maybe riders try too hard to create a frame, but at the end of the day, the horse creates the frame through correct training.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kit Houghton images<\/em> Read more, including what Valegro feels like to ride:<\/p>\n What is it like to ride Valegro? An interview with Vanessa Way<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u201cCharlotte used to correct me because she used to say if I didn\u2019t move my fingers she would chop them off. The thing is with your hand, it\u2019s the communication. The horse\u2019s mouth is like your own. I believe if you have a numb hand you have a numb horse. You want a chewy, light feeling rather than taking a hold. We don\u2019t ride with strength, we don\u2019t ride with hardness. It\u2019s like taking a two-year-old child for a walk. It\u2019s a nice feeling.\u201d
\n\u201cI think the bridle is still the most misunderstood thing. I think today there were some horses that didn\u2019t trust the bridle enough and they were a bit light. Those ones we want to push from the hindleg and feel that they can take my hand and are positive.\u201d
\n\u201cThe ones that are heavy need to take more weight on the hind legs, so it’s not always \u00a0on the forehand. There were a couple I kept throwing the rein at because I\u2019m not going to hold them. They have to look after themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n