Revamp your warm up

Turn your usual warm-up regime on its head and focus on the canter for a more supple and relaxed horse, says grand prix dressage rider Elizabeth Allen

AWELL-STRUCTURED WARM-UP will help you to minimise the risk of injury to your horse and help him to move easily in his work. It also mentally and physically prepares you both for the session ahead. If you find yourself short of riding time, it can be easy to miss or shorten a 10-minute warm-up. But asking your horse to work without one is like asking you to go straight into a workout class after a whole day sitting behind a desk.

What does a good warm-up achieve?

Cold muscles and tendons are not as flexible as warm ones, making them more prone to injury. A good warm-up will: Increase circulation, which warms up muscles and tendons Loosen stiff joints Minimise delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

Think differently

Elizabeth suggests turning your warm-up on its head and using canter as your main pace — this is what she does when she rides. “I find that using canter as the main part of my warm-up works well for many horses,” explains Elizabeth. “Canter is often the pace horses find easiest and it makes them more rideable sooner, because they’re more relaxed. With relaxation you’ll find you can achieve a soft and elastic contact quicker, as well as using half-halts to influence your horse’s balance.” Remember to ride each warm-up step on both reins so you’re thoroughly preparing your horse to work.

1. Walk first

On a long rein (right), walk your horse for five minutes, making regular rein changes and encouraging him to stretch forwards and down. Then pick up your reins so you have a fairly loose contact and your horse is in a longer, soft outline.

2. Go lateral

In this relaxed outline, ride some leg-yield from the corner of your arena to the quarter line and then to the centre line (left). This checks your horse is moving away from your leg aids and will help you to warm him up more laterally.

3. Find canter

Make a transition to canter (below) and ride a few large circles to check your horse is: Soft in the contact and maintaining an even canter rhythm Relaxed through his back In front of your leg With these checks in place, go large to see if your horse stays straight and in a good rhythm.

4. Step sideways

Try riding some easy leg-yields in canter (above) to work on your horse’s general athleticism. Ride this movement from the corner to the centre line, or the quarter line if it’s easier for your horse.

5. Improve his straightness

Now ride some counter-canter each way (right). Use the corners to help you maintain the suppleness and to encourage your horse to take more weight onto his hind legs.

6. Check your aids

To introduce trot into your warm-up, ride some canter-trot-canter transitions (left). This will help your horse loosen over his back, and check that he is reactive and listening to your aids.

7. Finish soft and supple

Finish your warm-up with some leg-yield in trot (right) to help maintain the softness. If your horse is a bit onward, riding leg-yield will help to naturally slow him down.