Forward is your friend!

FORWARD:
adj.  : Ready, Prompt, Eager.

One of the most made mistakes I see in riders is the lack of forward in their horse.  Perhaps it is fear related, perhaps they feel as though things will happen too quickly to manage, or they may even believe they are not physically capable of riding a forward horse.  But to tell you the truth, I think there is a confusion between a forward horse and a quick horse.
I'll be honest with you, I don't like riding a quick horse.  They feel unorganized, unbalanced, choppy, and rushed.  Overall, disconnected.  These horses often lack in strength, training, and confidence.  All things that can be fixed with proper training and riding.  But, what if I told you, even a horse being held back in the bridle can be quick?  What if I told you, a horse in a collected western jog can be forward?
Forward is not about speed, it is DRIVE and IMPULSION.  With out forward a proper western pleasure horse can not make such effortless gait changes at such slow speeds, a hunter can't get it's self through a combination cleanly, and a dressage horse would never accomplish a flying lead change at X.
I am not going to talk about how to teach your horse to be forward today, rather I am just going to talk about how to RIDE a horse that is forward and how to embrace forward.

The first thing to remember is our horses can not be forward if we don't let them (remember talking about trust in the last entry?).  Learning to feel comfortable on a forward horse, can be difficult.  There often feels as if there is much more power than you have experienced before as they driving through their hind end more, and you may be concerned as to whether or not you can control that power.  Well, here come the catch 22's again!  In fact a forward horse is more tuned in to you and the work.  They are less likely to be distracted, spook or shy.  But, just like developing trust, I don't expect you to be comfortable riding a forward horse right away.
So, let's begin with a very simple exercise to get you comfortable, and allow your horse to feel you getting comfortable (as well as strengthen your mounts hind quarters and deep abdomen muscles).  This is done at every gait (Yup, gaited horses, you can do this too) and uses your arena as a tool.

Begin at the walk, now as you approach the corner in to the long side of the arena as your horse for more walk, as much as you can with out breaking to a trot.  BUT relax your elbow and shoulders, as your horse's head and neck action increases with the size of the walk, allow your hands to follow.  ALSO, be sure to relax your lower back and really allow your hips to follow as well. DON'T PUSH! Simply allow your horse to move you. As you enter the corner to short end of the arena take in a deep breath and ask your horse to slow.  Both of you relax as you work through the short end and as you pass to the long rail again ask for more walk and repeat.  Do this several times around both directions.  You will notice it is easier for you to follow one direction than it is to follow the other.  NORMAL! None of us are 100% symmetrical, and slow precise work is what develops it.
I know, I know, once AGAIN this exercise seems dull and boring.  Until you are in the saddle that is.  While the simplicity of riding this walk exercise is clear when we read it, our bodies don't always do what we are trying to tell them to do.  Nature and survival instincts tend to kick in.  But I promise you, once you master this feel at the walk you will begin to notice a different horse under you; a horse that wants to be forward, because he knows he will not be (as accidental as it may be) punished for being forward.  Then you can move in to doing this exercise at the trot, and eventually the canter.
Regardless of the gait, the key is to learn to be soft.  Follow.  Allow your mount to move beneath you.

Now, I know this is a very simplified version of forward.  But everyone needs an introduction at some point, or even just a reminder.  So long before you even THINK about collection, THINK FORWARD!

Do not fear FORWARD!

FORWARD IS YOUR FRIEND!