For Horses – Sacred Connections Equestrian

What Is True Connection or a Good Relationship with a Horse?

Signs of real connection between horse and rider are subtle:

Does your horse come willingly when called?

Do you feel safe handling and riding your horse?

Does your horse feel safe with you?

Does riding make sense to your horse?

Are your horse’s mind, heart and spirit engaged?

Does riding feel Easy for you and your Horse?

Real connection with a horse is not the showy tricks used by self-proclaimed “horse
whisperers” to “wow” audiences and create an “image” that masks as true connection.
True connection is based in real trust, not submission or learned helplessness. Real trust
comes from a logical, progressive, proven system of training that never overwhelms,
scares, confuses, rushes or hurts your horse.

Such a system makes riding easy for you and your horse.

The horse that has real trust and connection is calm and quiet in unusual situations, yet
he is engaged, interested and eager to cooperate because he has been TRAINED—rather
than desensitized into submission or learned helplessness.

The The Authentic Forward Riding
System uses used four simple basics to create calm, quiet, sound horses that willingly cooperated with their riders:

Non-interference

Communication the horse can understand

Non abuse of the horse by the rider’s seat, hands or legs

Never over facing the horse

Because Sacred Connections Equestrian uses a proven, comprehensive step-by-step,
logical, ethical system of training, horses become eager, willing partners with their
minds, hearts and spirits fully intact and engaged.

Following this system can help riders avoid the pitfalls of rushed, competition-focused
training that is damaging so many horses today.

“I told Catherine there was no way I could put her [mare] on a loose rein because I was afraid she’d run off and hurt me. I’m at the point now I could probably ride this horse without a bridle.”

Trudy A., Competitor and Breeder

This system is divided into 3 phases:

Phase 1: Non-Interfering

Ideal foundational training for every horse.

Ideal for rehabilitating a horse damaged by today’s rushed training practices.
This phase allows horses the freedom of non-interference to build healthy muscle,
balance and natural movement that makes carrying a rider easy for the horse. This phase
develops quality self-carriage, lateral and longitudinal agility, rhythm, relaxation and straightness.

Riders and horses develop a bond of trust, communication and willing cooperation
based on non-interference, voice communication, and reward horses can understand.

Horses completing Phase I training are ready to walk, trot, canter and jump 2 feet
both inside and outside the ring. They are ready to enjoy trail riding, low jumping,
second flight foxhunting and low level competition.

Phase 2: Cooperative

For the rider who wants more communication, more connection, and a better
quality of performance.

This phase makes increased quality of movement balance, connection, impulsion and
performance natural and easy for the horse.

As the level of performance and precision increases, communication becomes more subtle, and

horse and rider become an even more cohesive unit. Rider and horse develop a mutually cooperative bond through communication based on give and take,

soft contact and improved balance and agility.

Upon completing this phase, the horse is ready for more challenging trail rides, first
flight foxhunting, endurance riding, intermediate level jumping, historical cavalry
reenacting, mid-level competition, and much more.

Phase 3: Influencing

For the rider who wants it all.

Phase III focuses on a high level of performance of the horse through movement,
balance, agility and communication. The horse develops the quality of muscle, balance,
agility and movement for working on the bit, semi-collection, flexions and a higher level
of engagement through the back and hindquarters. The horse’s performance is of a high
quality both inside and outside the ring, riding at speed, and in jumping.

Rider and horse share an even deeper, more focused bond. Horses completing this
level have achieved a healthy foundation from which they can specialize in Grand-Prix
level dressage, show jumping, and other high-level specialties.

Make Riding Easier for you and your Horse

“Catherine set me free and made all my riding dreams come true. Folks are amazed at how well I ride now and of the performance of my horse. They always want to know, ‘How do you do that?’

Before riding with Sacred Connections Equestrian, I was a tight rider, looking good, but clutching for dear life to my horse, unable to achieve the performance from my horse Shaddeaux, and feel good about my riding. Whatever a person’s riding dream is: dressage, cross country, trail, jumping, anything Catherine can make that happen for them.”

Jeanine W

Because individual circumstances may vary, no guarantees are made regarding the information contained in this website. Sacred Connections Equestrian, LLC, staff, officers, instructors, employees, representatives, and others acting on behalf of Sacred Connections Equestrian, LLC, make no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience by following the advice and strategies contained in this website, and you accept the risk that results will differ for each individual. The information provided is in no way intended to diagnose or treat any health, soundness, nutrition or other imbalances. It is recommended a qualified equine practitioner be consulted for any questions regarding the horse’s health.