School Exercises
Whether you are having your first riding lesson, or preparing to take your horse into a dressage test you will be riding similar exercises in the school.
Exercises are important - for the rider it teaches proper use of the aids (that is, the instructions you give to your horse), and helps you balance. For the horse it helps him to use his muscles properly and to become fit.
A well trained horse and rider will move together and bend properly round a circle, and will be able to progress in a perfectly straight line across the arena.
Before moving on to more complicated exercises, in your early lessons simple bends (circles) will be introduced, along with walking down the centre or three quarter line. Later, both will be combined into the serpentine exercise which practices half circles and straight lines.
Circle exercises are the basis for figures of eight, and prepare you for shallow bends.
Exercises are important - for the rider it teaches proper use of the aids (that is, the instructions you give to your horse), and helps you balance. For the horse it helps him to use his muscles properly and to become fit.
A well trained horse and rider will move together and bend properly round a circle, and will be able to progress in a perfectly straight line across the arena.
Before moving on to more complicated exercises, in your early lessons simple bends (circles) will be introduced, along with walking down the centre or three quarter line. Later, both will be combined into the serpentine exercise which practices half circles and straight lines.
Circle exercises are the basis for figures of eight, and prepare you for shallow bends.
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Impulsion
Impulsion is important in any school exercise. Impulsion describes the energy with which your horse is moving. A horse which is stepping out well with his hindquarters under him will perform the exercises better, a sluggish horse or pony will have difficulty in keeping the correct degree of bend, and may well lean in or out of the circle. Concentration on both the part of horse and rider will also help the circle be more rounded, and of the correct size.
As your riding improves you will find your exercises improve, as you will be able to control the impulsion of the horse, and keep his concentration on what you are asking him to do - not on what the horse in front is doing!
Trotting poles
Trotting poles are important to improve the riders balance and in preparation for jumping. The aim is to trot over the poles at a steady speed and to encourage your horse to take even strides. Poles are usually one or two strides apart. Placing poles before a fence can help a novice horse or rider time take off on the correct stride.
Impulsion is important in any school exercise. Impulsion describes the energy with which your horse is moving. A horse which is stepping out well with his hindquarters under him will perform the exercises better, a sluggish horse or pony will have difficulty in keeping the correct degree of bend, and may well lean in or out of the circle. Concentration on both the part of horse and rider will also help the circle be more rounded, and of the correct size.
As your riding improves you will find your exercises improve, as you will be able to control the impulsion of the horse, and keep his concentration on what you are asking him to do - not on what the horse in front is doing!
Trotting poles
Trotting poles are important to improve the riders balance and in preparation for jumping. The aim is to trot over the poles at a steady speed and to encourage your horse to take even strides. Poles are usually one or two strides apart. Placing poles before a fence can help a novice horse or rider time take off on the correct stride.
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