Transitions are EVERYTHING in Dressage Training. If you are not sure what to work on during your ride, work on transitions. Seamless, harmonious, transitions with uphill balance and an engaged win end are the goal!
How do you teach your horse walk canter?
To teach the walk-canter transition, start with some trot-walk-trot transitions in quick succession. Then go walk-just a few trot steps- canter. Gradually just do less and less trot steps until you can go directly from walk to canter.
How much warm up do you do first before you start doing the transitions? Or do you start right away? How much do you do of a certain transition? Do you mix them up?
It depends a lot on the horse and the situation. Usually I start my ride with some trot-canter-trot transitions in both directions. If it is a lazy horse, then I will do the transitions a bit sharper and closer together. If it is a hot horse, I will make sure to keep the relaxation between the transitions. After the warm-up, if the horse knows collection, I will start working on the collecting transitions such as the canter-walk-canter transitions.
Do you give half halts before every change of gaits, and corners? Are you also giving them constantly during riding?
Yes! Half-halts are basically a “gathering up of energy” so that you can do something with the horse’s energy. In a half halt, the rider momentarily uses the seat, leg and rein to gather the energy in the horse so that they can then do something with the energy. The amount of each, seat, leg and rein, depends on the horse. Some horses need more leg in the half-halts and require more energizing half halts!
What is your inside leg doing during a transition?
Your inside leg is directing the horse’s inside hind leg to stay stepping forward and through during a transition. I like to ride a little shoulder-fore during the transition to help the horse really engage and step through from behind during the transition.
Happy Riding!
Amelia
