Firm foundations

The early stages of your horse’s training are the most important of all, says dressage rider Jezz Palmer

Whether your horse is just starting his dressage career, or well established, the fundamentals of flatwork are something that we can all benefit from regularly revisiting. After all, they’re the foundations for everything else your horse learns.

It’s good to get into the habit of assessing how your horse feels in the contact, how well he’s accepting your aids and whether he’s feeling calm and confident mentally and physically. And there’s no harm in checking in to make sure you’re riding your horse in the best way to achieve the results you’re looking for. Here are some pointers on both…

Start as you mean to go on

During a warm-up, I like to work my horses with their necks in a stretched position in all three paces. At this stage, I’m assessing how they feel to the left and right and whether they’re supple and easy in each rein, or a little crooked.

I always work my horses evenly on both sides during a warm-up, but if they feel crooked, I might address that issue first, before repeating the exercise on the other rein.

For example, if the horse feels heavier in the left rein, I may include some leg-yield steps away from that rein – to the right – to even him up, before repeating the exercise in the opposite direction. 

TOP TIP

Riding without stirrups if it’s safe to do so, or investing in some lunge lessons, are great ways to improve your seat and, therefore, your ability to keep a horse in good balance.

TOP TIP

If your horse struggles with stretching, try introducing the idea on a large circle, using the shape to help him stay balanced.

For more of Jezz Palmer’s exercises for training the fundamentals of flatwork, check out November Horse&Rider – on sale now!