Exercises to help with Dressage

[Emma_G_NZ]

Can anyone suggest some exercises to help with dressage training? I am not looking at competing for another year or so yet but I would like to get into the swing of things. My pony collects himself well so he needs no help with that. We both get bored with circles etc.! We go out hacking alot,But when we cant I would be interested on what you guys do when schooling :)

[Tina J]

I do a lot of things when I am out hacking, that help with dressage. For instance I pick a spot (tree, bush whatever) and try to make a transition accurately at the spot. Down the length of a set aside field where I ride, I do things like 20 strides canter right lead, 4 strides trot, 20 strides canter left lead, 10 strides slow bouncy trot, 10 strides lengthened trot. If I am riding through our village then I do leg yields to pass parked cars. And I often do a few strides of shoulder in when walking. All things that help with obediance and accuracy in the dressage arena.

When schooling, I like to have poles scattered about, as well as trotting poles, and I do canter strides over single poles as well as trotting. If your horse is already good on circles, then try doing leg yielding on a circle, making the circle smaller and then larger. Also, transitions on a circle are good - for example start 10 strides trot, 10 strides canter on a circle, and then see if you can gradually get down to 5 strides of each. Both of these circle exercises are good for getting a horse more engaged, and good for making a rider more precise in their aids.

Hope that gives you some more to think about.

[Lgd]

Start doing some lateral work with him such as leg-yield and shoulder-in. They are wonderful suppling exercises and very good for improving balance and engagement. Practice your transitions, centre lines and halts - they are invariably done badly and it is really a waste of marks. I usually aim to have a horse working at least one level higher at home than the one at which I aim to compete eg. Tavia is competing Novice and elementary but works at medium level at home and is starting to learn the flying changes which she needs for Advanced Medium - this is because when you actually get to a competition their concentration will not be as good so they need to find that level of work really easy ie. takes less concentration on their part to do it.

Even if you are not competing yet it is worth having a go at some of the tests to find out where your weak points are, this will help focus your schooling aims.

[Aly]

Voltes, half Volte (circle) returns, reverse half Volte (circle) returns, change rein on short and long diagonals, utilize the 1/4, 3/4 and centre line, 5,10,20m circles progressively, figure 8's, serpentines, lateral work, collection to extension to collection....The list goes on and on.

Flat work and schooling need not be boring for either you or your horse, there are so many different things you can do on a basic level that will help you in your future training. Most of these movements etc, can be done outside of an arena situation too, so you are not at all limited to one thing.

[Emma_G_NZ]

Hi Aly,
I dont find flatwork boring,Dressage & Showing are the disciplines I want to get into. My pony is 18 years old and has done dressage up to novice level so I know he knows lateral work-It's me that doesnt :( I am the one who gets bored with just circles so thanks everyone for your suggestions! :) Could anyone explain in detail how to do a shoulder in? I am getting to grips with the leg yield.

[Aly]

Hi Emma, one of the best series of books I have in my collection are the "Molly Sivewright" Thinking Riding, and Thinking Riding book 2 ,In Good Form. These two books show in great detail how to perform such movements, why, and gives you an idea of what is right and wrong.

Get yourself these or similar books/videos, that show you in detail how to perform such movements. I suggest if you are really keen to learn lateral movements etc. get yourself off to an instructor too. The problem with advising you how to perform these movements over the forum, is that there is soo much to it. It is important to have a coach there to teach you to feel when it is correct or incorrect.

[Jan P]

Have a look at the articles under How to on this site there are lots of difference exercises to try.:)

[Cochise]

Hi Emma......its me!!
Anyway, I personally think that the warm up is one of the most important things when schooling. I always start Cheeky off on a long rein, walk 3 20 metre circles on each rein, then we move up to a trot on a long rein and work through several 3 loop serpentines on a long rein. This is all in aid of establishing a good rhthym and getting the horse to bend around your leg instead of relying on the rein. Then I ask for a small canter on either rein not asking anything bt to keep a slow lilty canter and to respond to body weight. By this stage he should be ready to work. Slowly take up a contact and ask the horse to do plenty of transitions and lots and lots of serpentines, shallow loops, circles of various sizes, and always concentrate on riding into your corners and getting nice accurate patterns, and establishing the correct bend. If you arent happy with something, go back and think of what happened and work through the problem in steps...never get angry with your horse as this is contradicting the meaning of schooling. And always try to work on something new each time....but only take it in steps. And when you horse does something right let him know it!! and always finish on a good note

[Emma_G_NZ]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks very much for the suggestions. I got "Centred Riding" by Sally Swift for my birthday and it is very informative. I shall try out some of the exercises you have told me about :)