On the lookout for some some new workout routines so as to add in your dressage coaching at house? Having some new concepts to shake up your training is regularly advisable for each horse and rider, because it’s simple to get caught doing the similar issues each day.
Fortunately the German dressage legend this is Christoph Hess shared quite a few concepts for helpful dressage workout routines on the 2021 British Dressage Nationwide Conference, to revitalise your coaching regime and assist succeed in a greater approach of going out of your horse.
1. The only-handed circle
Experience a fifteen or 20m circle in both trot or canter, then pop your reins into your outdoor hand. Let your within hand drop down through your thigh as you give along with your outdoor hand.
“Many riders use an excessive amount of within rein,” explains Christoph, who advises the use of this workout at displays earlier than you trip into the sector to assist your horse loosen up. “This is helping the pony be in entrance [of your aids] and opens the body. Let it occur, and don’t be terrified of the description converting.
“It is a just right dressage workout to assist a horse loosen up and be supple and it’s just right to assist the rider be supple and balanced within the saddle.
“The pony would possibly pass over the bit, however the suppleness and leisure will expand. For me, from a scales of coaching standpoint, suppleness is crucial. With out suppleness not anything else works! And glad, comfortable horses are extra supple horses.”
2. Transitions on a circle
Canter a 20m circle, then make a transition to trot and trip every other circle, earlier than repeating.
Christoph advises moving your mindset round transitions, in order that a canter to trot transition, as an example, must now not be framed as the top of the canter, however somewhat, the beginning of the trot.
“You aren’t completing the canter, however beginning the trot. Proceed to make use of your riding aids, somewhat than making the transition along with your reins,” he says, explaining that keeping up this ahead pondering on your training “is helping stay horses mentally glad” right through their dressage workout routines.
3. The sunshine seat
In canter, come into a gentle seat at the lengthy aspect, and provides and take the reins on a protracted rein, earlier than using right into a circle and giving and retaking the reins once more. Christoph explains that using in a gentle seat is helping the pony paintings extra over the again, and likewise expand extra herbal stability, which can result in higher self-carriage.
“It’s important for the pony so as to produce herbal gaits. It’s just right for riders of all ranges to provide the again a little bit extra freedom. Giving an extended rein is helping a horse use his frame and open the frame. You must be capable of trip an entire check in a gentle place,” he says.
“Many riders suppose dressage is simply sitting trot, however I believe the sunshine seat can be crucial a part of a dressage consultation. The sunshine seat is a place that makes horses glad; this is a welfare place.”
4. The give and retake
No longer simply that irritating motion within the check; Christoph explains that the easy give and retake of the reins is without doubt one of the most dear dressage workout routines to make use of in coaching.
“We need to all the time open during the throat-latch, so the pony is all the time looking for the bit and takes a gentle touch,” he says. “Particularly in irritating horses – don’t be afraid to provide that rein. When the pony will get an increasing number of open within the neck and the body, they may be able to begin to swing extra over the again.”
5. Protecting the saddle
Suppose the times of keeping onto the saddle for stability are at the back of you? Suppose once more. For Christoph this can be a treasured workout to assist make stronger your sitting trot.
“To start with, by no means use sitting trot in the event you don’t have already got a just right feeling. Use emerging trot as a substitute,” advises Christoph. “One of the simplest ways to be informed to take a seat with the pony’s motion is to make use of emerging trot, then trip a transition from trot to stroll. For the ultimate 5-10m pass sitting, and put one hand at the saddle so that you to find stability, whilst swinging along with your pelvis for the previous couple of metres earlier than you return down to stroll.”
6. 6-8m circles
To paintings in opposition to assortment whilst keeping up power from at the back of, in addition to straightness, Christoph advises using a 6-8m circle within the nook of the sector, earlier than popping out of it and using shoulder-in down the lengthy aspect.
“Assortment with out impulsion is nugatory, and I’ve but to look a horse at any stage who has no problems with straightness,” Christoph issues out.
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