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The break at the end of the season is the ideal time to iron out any dressage problems. Jennie Loriston-Clarke offers her tips for effective winter training.
Balance, suppleness and preparation: these are the most important elements to consider during your schooling this winter. Jennie has these suggestions to help improve your flatwork:
• Work on regulating your canter - whether collected, working, medium or extended canter – so you can improve balance before asking for flying changes or lateral movements.
• Use trot work to increase suppleness through your horse’s back. Try trotting over poles on a 20m circle to improve balance and cadence, to avoid hurrying and maintain rhythm in medium and extended trot. Trotting up hills will help build up your horse’s back muscles.
• When walking on a hack, make sure your horse is going in a good medium walk, allowing him to use his head and neck forward into a correct contact, while building his back and neck muscles.
• After bringing your horse back into work, a month or so into your fitness programme, try some dressage competitions or combined training. Not only will this be valuable dressage practice, it will also help your horse settle mentally during a test, as he will learn not to expect to go cross-country every time he goes out.
• Practise riding your test properly. In particular, think about whether you’re riding a circle or a corner, and think further ahead. It is important to prepare your horse for a movement – such as shoulder-in or travers – with a half-halt before the corner so he is not surprised by what you ask him to do. Forethought about transitions is also vital – use more body language and your seat to control the pace, rather than relying on rein aids.
• Work on improving your seat: when hacking, try taking your feet out of your stirrups to help increase strength in your legs and seat.
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