True Connection Live Courses
We are currently offering courses in different nations where Ingela is personally teaching you the concepts, theory and practical application of how to reach True Connection with your horse. The courses contain theory and practical sessions, in which you will go deeper in your understanding of your own heart and the heart of your horse.
For a description of each course, please scroll down.
True Connection
Reach true connection with your horse through love,trust, honour, understanding
and communication.
Switzerland
13th – 15th March 2026 3 Day True Connection Advanced Course
Liberty & Riding
This course is only for those who have previously attended.
This course is full, but spectator places are still available.
Venue: Steinlera, Düdingen
For bookings and detailed course information, please email Jana at fury_coeur@hotmail.com
Austria
15th-17th May 2026: 3 Day True Connection Course
All levels, semi-private liberty sessions & group lessons
There are both participants and spectator places available.
Venue:Hofsteigstraße 140, 6890 Lustenau, Österreich
For bookings and detailed course information, please email Sabrina at s.feuerstein@gmx.at
Switzerland
30th & 31st May 2026: 2 Day True Connection Course
All levels, semi-private liberty sessions & group lessons
There are both participants and spectator places available..
Venue:Winznauerstrasse 43, 4654 Lostorf
For bookings and detailed course information, please email Karin at karin@tanner.li
Switzerland
5th-7th June 2026: 3 Day True Connection Practical Skills Course
All levels, semi-private liberty sessions & group lessons
There are both participants and spectator places available.
Venue: Steinlera, Düdingen
For bookings and detailed course information, please email Jana at fury_coeur@hotmail.com
Portugal
16th – 20th July 2026
An Exclusive Horsemanship Retreat with Ingela Larsson Smith
This is a special course that comes with full board (accommodation & meals), a loaned horse for liberty sessions in the morning and advanced level dressage lessons on a trained Lusitano with a well known trainer. The group size is kept small for personal attention.
This retreat is full.
Venue: Morgado Lusitanos
To view the package, bookings and detailed course information, go to: Cavago
England
7th-9th August 2026:True Connection Course
All levels, semi-private liberty sessions & group lessons
There are both participants and spectator places available..
Venue:Bromsgrove, Birmingham
If you are interested in attending a course in the UK, or you would like to host a course, please email Hilary on: billie.rands@btinternet.com
Switzerland
30th Oct-1st Nov 2026: True Connection Advanced Level Course
Liberty & Riding
This course is only for those who have previously attended a True Connection course.
There are both participants and spectator places available.
Venue:Steinlera, Düdingen
For bookings and detailed course information, please email Jana at fury_coeur@hotmail.com
Portugal
To be announced: 5 Day True Connection Liberty & Advanced Classical Dressage Lessons
This is a special course that comes with full board (accommodation & meals), a loaned horse for liberty sessions in the morning and advanced level dressage lessons on a trained Lustiano with a well known trainer.
Venue: To be announced
For bookings and detailed course information, please email Ingela at ingela@secretsofthehorse.com
South Africa
To be announced: 4 Day True Connection Liberty Course & Safari Rides
This is a special course that comes with full board (accommodation & meals), a loaned horse for liberty sessions in the morning and safari rides in the afternoon.
Venue: Near Kruger National Park
For bookings and detailed course information, please email Ingela at ingela@secretsofthehorse.com
Course Descriptions
True Connection Foundation Course
The focus of this course is on understanding how to build a deep and true connection with your horse – a heart connection.
Ingela will teach how belief structures affect our human/horse relationships and how barriers between us and our horses are broken down. You will learn about the healing of your heart and how to build an intimate connection with your horse. This process will teach you how to overcome fears in yourself and help your horse overcome his fears.
You will learn about the family structure of the horse herd and how the lead mare cares for and protects the herd. By understanding the motives and mindsets of the lead mare, you gain insight on how to become your horse’s safe place.
Through Ingela’s teaching you will receive the keys to become a true lead for your horse and learn how different types of horses communicate. You will study phases; how to shape space; skills for gentling; awareness of living in the now as well as how to be one with your horse. You will understand how to communicate with your horse using thought and energy, through which true lightness and harmony are created.
Pre-requisites:
Before attending the Foundation course, you need to have a good knowledge of natural horsemanship principles. You need to be confident in working with your horse on the ground in a natural rope halter and 12ft line, using phases to communicate. You need to know how to apply a block and be able to do the following exercises:
- lateral flexion
- hindquarter yield
- forehand yield
- ask your horse to go forward and backward
- ask your horse to go sideways
- send your horse on a circle (minimum in walk and trot)
You need to be able to ride your horse in walk, trot and canter on a loose rein. You do not need any experience with liberty.
True Connection Online & Liberty Course
This course is concentrated on refining the communication learned in the True Connection Foundation course and going to a deeper level in the connection with your horse.
Ingela will share how your thoughts affect the way your horse sees and perceives you, and will teach you how you can further develop your skills as a lead for your horse.
You will learn how to communicate more clearly using thought and energy and how to offer your horse what he is looking for. You will discover how to become his place of peace. The focus is on relaxation and harmony in motion.
Ingela will explain the principles for building a strong connection at liberty and a relationship that is free of fear for both horse and human. You will be equipped with the keys to be fully connected with your horse over a distance and to communicate without lines and in open spaces.
You will be able to take notes on a step by step liberty guide that starts at a standstill and builds up to canter circles, figures of eight, flying lead changes and more. The goal is for your horse to want to be with you.
You will practice exercises to help your horse move with straightness on a circle, build power and engagement as well as increase relaxation and trust. The results are true connection, lightness and straightness. This course may also include long reining.
The minimum requirement is having attended the True Connection Foundation Course either with a horse or as a spectator.
True Connection Riding Course
The focus of this course is on applying the concepts and philosophy from the True Connection Foundation course to riding. You will learn how to move as one with your horse and to become a true lead for your horse when mounted. The goal is harmony in motion.
Ingela equips her students to progress to a deeper level of connection and communication using ‘thought’ and ‘energy’ when riding and teaches a range of exercises to encourage suppleness, straightness, engagement and power. These begin with focusing on a soft, calm, relaxed horse that is willing and able to mirror the subtle changes in the rider’s body.
Ingela will teach on the importance of relaxation when riding, because your horse will be most connected and capable when he is relaxed, happy, trusting and free from fear. You will learn how to help your horse reach relaxation in motion in all gaits and movements. The result is that your horse becomes soft in his mind and body and willingly focuses on your thoughts.
The minimum requirement is having attended the True Connection Foundation Course either as a participant or a spectator.
Experience True Connection
Come and learn how to reach true connection with your horse through love, trust, honour, understanding and communication.
The more healed your heart is, the better you can connect to your horse.
– INGELA LARSSON SMITH
Our Latest Product
The H-Factor Horse Handling & Horse Riding Books and DVDs Combo
This complete set contains all the DVDs and books that you need to build a true connection with your horse.
Theory and concepts as well as practical exercises are clearly explained and demonstrated. The H-Factor system starts on the ground (online), progresses to liberty and then builds into riding in a halter, a bridle and finally to bareback and bridle-less riding.
