Training Exercises

    Training exercises benefit riders and horse's of any level.  Using exercises to work on a problem, to add to a horse's adjustability or to just break down the training a horse is required for his or her discipline helps by taking the fuss off of the horse's frame, or the big picture and lets the exercise do all the work putting the horse and rider in the frame of mind that is needed ending up with the horse  and rider working in harmony with balance, relaxation and confidence.  Focusing on the exercise, the aids required and not the fussing of the horse or the problem that is plaguing you this week shifts the mind frame from frustration and perfection seeking to that of concentration and focus.

    The key to exercises is to stick with it.  Picking an exercise to work on say the flower pot exercise, then getting frustrated about a stiff horse and going off to work it out will not work.  Instead sticking to the exercise, focusing on the shape, the aids and your equitation will put the horse where he should be, relax him, and create balance, suppleness and agility.

    The rider should focus on her equitation and the aids being proper.  This puts the rider in the most effective position to carry out the exercise.

    Each exercise works on several different aspects of training each which are highlighted at the beginning of the exercise with links to the related training area.  Most exercises use the arena letters (most often used in dressage rings) for reference.  If your ring does not have the letters up and you are not familiar with the letters you may want to post them up using pieces of paper or cardboard.  Below for reference is a diagram of the dressage ring with the letters.  For the exercises the arena does not need to be the standard dressage arena size but twenty, fifteen and ten meter circles should be easily available (if your ring for example is more then twenty meters wide you may want to mark the twenty meters to help make sure you are doing the exercises at the right size.  Using too large of a circle will not work on your horse's balance, suppleness and agility nearly as much.


Small dressage ring 20X40 meters

Large Dressage Ring 20X60 meters

The Serpentine
The Shoulder Swing
The Flower Pot
The Square
The Diamond
The Change Through
The Fifteen/Ten
Reverse to the Outside
Moving Off the Leg
The Shoulder In
Haunches In
The Leg Yield
 Trot Poles