This year I wanted to focus my Christmas Training tips on The Scales of Training.
Training Scales need to become instinctive so as riders we know what is correct and how it feels.
I shared many images on Twitter and you can see the complete set on Pinterest here
Rhythm
Find your horse's natural rhythm, the regularity of the beats in all paces, regularity in correct sequence of footfalls. Tempo is the speed of the rhythm.
#1 Half Halts help to prepare for the next movement. Ride frequent transitions and transitions within the pace to reaffirm communication.
* More on the Half Halt from Emile Faurie
Find your horse's natural rhythm, the regularity of the beats in all paces, regularity is the correct sequence of footfalls. The Tempo is the speed of the rhythm.
#2 Think of riding 20m circles as a clock face, keep a regular rhythm as you ride through each quarter. Let the shape improve your pace.
Circles help develop your horse's way of going. Ride them correctly to see and feel results.
#3 Serpentines are a great test of horse's working correctly. They also look fabulous in freestyles - feel the rhythm!
Develop good trot work by riding canter trot transitions. Prepare for each transition by rebalancing your horse.
A key aspect of rhythm is tempo, constant in each pace & between movements so that no change between the variations of walk trot canter. The tempo stays the same between working and medium trot for example.
#4 Introduce lengthening and shortening the stride, ride working pace on circle, establish tempo, ride few lengthen strides on long side then rebalance before corner and ride forwards to working pace.
Suppleness
The second scale of training. Scales overlap and many exercises touch each scale. Dressage develops longitudinal and lateral suppleness.
Supple horses can smoothly adjust the carriage and the position or bend without losing the flow of movement or balance.
#5 The familiar patterns, circles, 8s, loops, serpentines, all help to develop suppleness. Remember hind feet should follow tracks of forefeet.
A snapshot of young horse training with Ingrid Klimke- The Familiarisation Phase.
Watch dressage horses and showjumpers training for suppleness and good balance with Emile Faurie and Greg Best.
#6 Work with your horse on their strengths, build a firm foundation based on trust, communication and praise.
A good article from Dressage Today. encouraging your horse to seek the rein and stretch.
A supple horse can work with the correct bend, remember a horse must be able to flex correctly to achieve this. Watch this video from Emile Faurie
#7 Introducing early lateral work, test horse's understanding of aids with turn about the forehand, leg yield follows then shoulder fore.
As training progresses introduce Shoulder In. Watch this video from Emile Faurie.
Riders need to be supple too! Sitting trot is a skill to learn, watch this video for advice from Emile Faurie. Remember to breathe.
#8 Once your horse is confident and established in canter, introduce counter canter to develop suppleness.
Read about the trainer who created counter canter and flying changes.
Read about riders position statement, balance and the importance of core stability in this Dressage Today article.
Contact
Contact is the soft steady connection between the rider's hands and the horse's mouth. Horse gies forward from riders aids and seeks contact with the rider's hand.
#9 Every transition should encourage the horse to think forward and seek the contact, to want to work with the rider. Watch this Video from EmileFaurie
A relaxed horse, confident in its routine finds it easier to bond and learn. Contact = Communication
#10 Confidence, sensitivity and above all feel needed to train a horse to work confidently in a contact.
True contact- using legs and seat to develop forward dynamic in the hind leg that passes along back and neck to mouth , received by the rider's hand,m
Contact = connection hands so light, as reins are released horse remains in balance fir a stride of two.
#11 Try not to use speed to create a contact, too much and horse will rush, become heavy in the contact and the rider is tempted to pull back creating a short neck.
#12 Teaching a horse to work correctly takes time and muscle development, lay foundations for athletic career.
Rhythm Suppleness and Contact are building blocks to be maintained and improved. The last three scales begin the journey to advanced dressage.
Training your horse to work with you , helping them to be supple, happy and on the aids. A good article from Dressage Today
Dressage, training to restore the horse's natural balance? Great article on controlling the shoulders from Dressage Today https://twitter.com/solitairedtm/status/675755261655654400
Rider training. Work on your core stability, improve transitions! A must read article from Dressage Today https://twitter.com/solitairedtm/status/675755740187987968
Impulsion
Impulsion can only be shown through a horse's soft swinging back and is guided by gentle contact with the rider's hand.
#13 Be mindful of other scales when asking for more power,horse must be supple enough to cope with energy. Creating Impulsion is a fine balance.
What is Impulsion? Read more from Dressage today
Stretching in a natural way and with a degree of self carriage is how horses learn to swing through their backs watch this video from Emile Faurie
How to effectively use transitions in training
Understanding Forward A useful article
#14 How much impulsion is too much? If horse is tense, tight, hurried, difficult to control, ease back on forward!
#15 Impulsion developed in paces with period of suspension, trot and canter not walk when activity is asked for.
Creating impulsion without the horse getting tense? Advice from Dressage Today
#16 The moment of suspension means that impulsion can give a more pronounced rhythm to the paces but only if earlier scales are in place.
What can kangaroos teach us about impulsion? Read this article from Richard Weiss.
Riders have a training pathway too
Teach your horse to move off a light aid Advice from Dressage Today
#17 Straightness is a scale easy to recognise, trying to correct it can cause problems! Suppleness, Contact & Impulsion are vital for true straightness.
My favourite exercise to improve straightness, counter canter / medium canter transitions. Watch this video by Emile Faurie.
#18 Straightness means forehand is in line with quarters, horse able to bend and flex equally on both reins.
#19 Overuse of the rein aids to straighten causes tilting, resistance and blocking of energy. So use medium paces and lateral work.
Create patterns eg Shoulder In with transitions to medium trot to improve straightness.
Learn to ride with an independent seat, useful article from Dressage Today
How equine physiology relates to Dressage more information from Dressage Today
Dressage exercises help develop your horse's confidence , read how in this article from Dressage Today
#20 Every day there are different challenges, horse will never be absolutely straight but continue to work on straightness.
Finding a state of optimum balance through feel, an excellent article by Emile Faurie
Some new patterns to try, I like the canter paper clip exercise described in this article from The Horse Channel
Collection the final training scale, a Dressage Today article
#21 Collection is the ultimate scale with a big role to play in advanced work. The novice horse shows first sign of collection in the trot to halt transition.
How to ride an Elementary test, the first time collection is judged. Watch this video with commentary from Judy Harvey.
Monday Motivation! This training exercise from Ingrid Klimke is a joy to watch!
#22 More intensive bending of hind legs leads centre of gravity being shifted further backwards. Results in increased lightness of the forehand.
Dressage Training reveals -
Freedom and Regularity of the paces
Harmony and lightness and ease of movements
Lightness of the forehand and engagement of the hindquarters originating from a lively Impulsion
Acceptance of the bit with submission/ throughness without any tension or resistance
#23 Collection - steps and strides become shorter but activity is maintained, movement appears more cadenced.
Cadence is shown in trot and canter and is the result of proper harmony that a horse shows when it moves with well marked regularity, impulsion and balance.
#24 Transitions with no change of tempo is so important to develop control and bring out natural ability and expressiveness.
The Object of Dressage is the development of the horse into a happy athlete through harmonious education. As a result it makes the horse calm, supple, loose and flexible but also confident, attentive and keen thus achieving a perfect understanding with the rider.
I would like to thank Emile Faurie, Jane Kidd and Britsh Dressage for the inspiration to create this series.
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