There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse. Robert Smith 

Learning to become part of your horse and riding with feel and confidence, can be achieved by turning loose of many things you may have been taught were 'correct'. Heels jammed down, toes in, hands down and still etc. can all create brace against a horse's fluid motion. Riding with a relaxed, balanced posture and flowing with the horse's natural paces takes away a lot of the stiffness experienced by so many horses and riders resulting in a happier, more balanced attitude under saddle. Riding begins on the ground so for increased confidence, taking the time to ensure a horse is in tune with us mentally, emotionally and physically before mounting is going to make for a much safer and more enjoyable ride than a horse that is full of unfocused energy, anxious about saddling and lacking in gymnastic fitness. I like to practice a series of safety checks to ensure a horse is calm, attentive, thinking and connect before a ride begins. Once mounted, in order to be in harmony with a horses movement, the rider's body must be as active as the gait is - moving like a horse, at the horse's energy level. Learning to ride independently of rein contact and gripping legs by gaining greater consciousness and control of our bodies is essential to fluid, confident communication with horses. Feedback such as a high head carriage, jarring gaits, running off, tail swishing and resistance to go forward will begin to diminish as soon as horse and rider start moving together in mirrored rhythm.