Connect with horses from the heart and train your horse in the Relationship based Art of Riding® from Liberty to Piaff® via SPIRIT – MIND – BODY through a deep connection with the horse.
IN FREEDOM – AT HAND – BINDLESS CLASSICAL DRESSAGE with The Art of Lightness, – without traditional pressure and yielding methods – Touch Connection®.
Relationship based Art of Riding® originates from an ancient work where the handling methods used were rooted in matriarchy, i.e. women had the power in family and society and whose relationship-based cultures were once common.
These caring cultures gave rise to a concept of beauty, symmetry and divine interconnection which was the philosophy of Pythagoras which led to the creation of the teaching that would become classical horsemanship.
Through this method there is no resistance. A habit is created in the horse's mind that encourages it to seek harmony with the rider. The horse seeks the rider's touch and follows that touch where it leads and both are free to express themselves. The relationship with the horse is the core of riding with thought transference, feeling and ease. A training of the horse through a holistic way of working to achieve unity and consensus from the original holistic holistic view from ancient times.
The ancient understanding, first described as far back as Xenophon, offers the inspiration and origin of what came to be called classical horsemanship, academic riding and classical dressage, but this goes much deeper.
The training is based on a deep relationship and authentic communication based on the relationship between mother and child, between mare and foal and on authentic leadership. It is an unconditional love, kindness and softness that gives both horse and rider grounding and trust. Through the Freedom Work, Work by Hand and the Art of Riding that follows, the idea is to take it slow and achieve a togetherness, where we do not base the training on scientific learning methods that are based on negative reinforcement in the form of pressure, discomfort, fear or pain, but work horses from the heart and let our love for the horse be our guide and let ourselves be guided to excellence.
TOUCH CONNECTION® - TOUCH MEDITATION PÅ DJUPET
Touch Connection® begins with stillness and presence here and now with the horse. A touch that begins with energy, flows with the breath and grows into a shared state of presence between horse and human. With this soft touch, it builds trust and energy exchange into a magical connection that later invites the horse to move and develops the aids like the waves of the ocean.
Touch Connection® Deep Touch Meditation, a method for deep connection with the horse through quiet, conscious touch, without pressure or coercion, where human and horse share breathing and presence in a mutual energy connection that feels magical. Touch Connection® has its origins in an ancient relationship-based culture, and is the foundation of my concept Relationship based Art of Riding® with the aid of the lightest touch, The Art of Lightness - feeling of touch.
Definition – what is Touch Connection®?
Touch Connection® is not just a technique, but a living dialogue in silence.
We stand side by side with the horse, without asking it for anything, without demands.
My hand rests softly against the horse’s skin, not to control, but to listen.
We breathe together.
We follow each other’s rhythm.
The touch is light, supple and carries a feeling of the gentle movement of waves.
There is no pressure, no concession, no commands.
It is in this moment that the magic occurs, a deep contact that feels as if time stands still.
Purpose and development
In the beginning, it is just about being, still, present, listening.
But over time, Touch Connection® can develop into something more.
From stillness, we can follow the horse into movement.
The aids then arise not from control, but from consensus.
We move as if we shared one and the same body.
This is what I call ‘Feeling of Touch’, and it is the heart of what I also describe as The Art of Lightness.
Why it is unique
What makes Touch Connection® unique is that it is not an exercise among others – it is the very foundation.
It is a gateway into the world of the horse, where our touch is both language, listening and collaboration.
Everything else can be built on top of it – riding, groundwork, movement, but without leaving the presence and softness.
Touch Connection® is a structured and progressive method of equine communication that aims to develop deep contact between horse and human through conscious touch, presence and feeling.
The method is characterized by:
• Stillness & presence
The work begins in stillness, where the hand rests softly on the horse with a focus on joint presence, listening and synchronization.
• Energy-based communication
Communication is based on subtle changes in energy, intention and body awareness rather than physical force.
• Communication without traditional pressure-yield
Touch Connection® strives for ease and voluntary interaction through feeling, timing and relationship.
• Feeling of Touch
Touch is developed with softness, rhythm and compliance to deepen the horse and human's sensitivity in communication.
• Progressive development
The method can be developed from stillness and contact to movement from the ground and riding with increasingly lighter aids.
• The Art of Lightness
The long-term goal is harmonious communication where horse and human move together with minimal effort and maximum feeling.
Touch Connection® is a registered trademark. All course materials, educational content and method descriptions are copyrighted by the creator and may not be copied or used without written permission.
