In today’s video I ride a 4 year old Dressage horse for the first time. This is an amazing dressage horse with lots of potential. He has amazing gaits and a super temperament. I use canter trot canter transitions to help improve the connection, straightness, and his balance.
To me, the biggest thing with him is the connection—finding a frame where he has to use his hind legs. The unsteadiness in the connection comes from weakness behind and from him not always wanting to stay on his hind legs.
I work on a couple of trot-canter-trot transitions. For a young horse, these transitions are a great tool to work on the connection and to get them stronger behind.
I just go on a 20-meter circle, keeping everything super simple for a young horse. First, I need to feel the straightness, ensuring he’s between my legs and not bulging out.
You can see how between the transitions the trot starts to improve and get really nice.
He’s a super cool horse, I’m glad I got to ride him!
Happy riding!
Amelia
