The warm-up is the key to having a successful test on competition day. If you have a bad warm-up, or no warm-up at all, your test will probably not be very good! You should view the warm-up as PART of your dressage test because if you leave it out, or don’t do it correctly, you’re absolutely going to get a lower score than you would if you do it!
Design your warm-up:
The objective of your warm-up is to get your horse relaxed, in a rhythm, and on the aids.
The Walk:
I like to spend a lot of time at the walk. It not only loosens up joints, and gets the horse’s legs moving but it also relaxes them and gets them focused. At home, I like to spend a full 10 minutes in walk! The walk is also an expensive movement in the test (it’s a coefficient). Depending on the horse, leg-yields and lateral work at the walk is also a great warm-up.
The Trot:
In the trot, it is important to find a frame and a tempo where your horse is balanced. Some horses I stretch long and low at the trot in the beginning, others I start in a more uphill balance – it really depends on the horse and their conformation. The warm-up is the place to solidify the base of the training scale: so Rhythm, Suppleness, and Connection. Always keep the Dressage Training Scale in mind when you are warming up your horse.
Canter Transitions:
Trot-canter-trot transitions are one of the best warm up exercises to work on suppleness and to get your horse on the aids. Make sure the quality of the transition is where you need it to be and stays consistent! Do as many transitions as you can, as this will really get your horse thinking and listening to you.
Here are some important things to remember:
- Take your time and focus on the basics. Make sure you follow your warm up routine from home, and only then start practicing the movements from your test.
- Don’t practice any movements that are not on your test!
- Talk to your horse. They’re at a strange place and hearing your voice will always help relax them (and probably you too!)
- Smile! This is important! You’re there for fun! If you smile, you will automatically relax slightly!
- Breathe! Remember to breathe, sometimes we hold our breath accidentally but try and breathe consciously and deeply!
Have fun! This is the thing we love! So enjoy!
Have a look at the video where I demonstrate a warm-up and go into more detail! If you like this video, please share it and let me know in the comments!
Thanks for watching!
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