In this exercise to improve medium trot, we are using lateral work – specifically the half-pass – to improve the push in the more extended paces. Half-pass should only be attempted once your horse is established in both shoulder-in and haunches-in (travers), being able to bend around the inside leg, maintain a forward rhythm and […]

We know straightness is a crucial element of how our horse goes, and one of the scales of training. Canter, being asymmetrical, is the hardest gait to achieve straightness, with many horses falling out at the shoulder and swinging the quarters in. This flatwork exercise uses shallow loops to straighten the canter, improving engagement and […]

Free walk on a long rein is one of the most revealing movements in a dressage test – and one of the most commonly underscored.

In this guide for H &H subscribers, FEI judge Stephen Clarke and four-time Olympic medallist Carl Hester explain why the walk is so often where dressage tests are won or lost – and what riders can do to improve their marks

Back when I was training, I can’t remember…

This exercise also includes a leg-yield.This spiral circle exercise can help you avoid getting stuck in a rut of riding aimless 20m circles. With a bit of focus, you can turn those circles into a really productive flatwork exercise. Aim to improve your horse’s suppleness, engagement and focus. The setup Setup: No setup required. All you need is enough space […]

As you head towards the corner, prepare to make a downwards transition to walk.In today’s 20 minute workout you’re going to teach your horse — and yourself — not to cut corners

Your horse should become more responsive as you practise the exercise. Improving your horse’s way of going doesn’t require a perfect arena or a strenuous workout – this halting exercise is an excellent example. You can make significant gains using simple transitions without ever moving faster than a walk. You can ride this flatwork exercise out hacking, in the field or in an arena. Aims to […]

This exercise will help improve your horse’s balance and rhythm in the canter. Poles are a useful tool to improve the quality and balance of your horse’s paces, strengthening the core and boosting cadence. You don’t need intricate patterns and dozens of poles to work on the canter – this polework exercise to improve canter quality requires just three or four poles. Aims to improve your horse’s…

Riding accurate corners is one of the simplest ways to improve a dressage test. Just as importantly, riders must be able to show a clear difference between the corners of the arena and a 20m circle at either end. Too often, horses drift through the corners as though riding part of a circle, losing both […]

This exercise doesn’t have to be ridden in an arena – you could also try it out hacking You can practise this simple flatwork exercise in just five minutes, or use it every now and then in a regular schooling session to encourage engagement. All you need is to establish shoulder-in in trot, and you’re away. Aims to improve your horse’s engagement in canter to use shoulder-in to encourage your…

The aim of this polework exercise is not to trot over the poles, but around them.This polework exercise is a five-pole set-up designed to improve your horse’s suppleness and manoeuvrability in trot. Here, they are used as focus points to structure your training exercise, rather than stepping over. Aims to improve rider accuracy to confirm correct use of inside and outside leg to improve the…

Aim to make your transitions exactly on your marker. Perfect your trot-canter transitions in this straightforward flatwork exercise, which you can do in the field or an arena. Aims to improve your accuracy in making canter-trot-canter transitions exactly on the marker learn how far in advance you need to prepare your horse for accurate transitions build harmony and submission in the horse-rider…

Encouraging your horse to bend correctly will help improve his suppleness.This simple polework exercise is designed to help you create the correct bend in walk, using just five poles. Aims to improve rider accuracy to confirm correct use of inside and outside leg to improve the horse’s coordination and suppleness The setup You need: five poles Setup: place five poles on a straight line with […]

Using your outside aids to turn is important for riding a 10m loop.

Add this 10m loop exercise to your next schooling session – no equipment required

An oft-forgotten exercise, the 10m loop benefits every horse’s strength, balance and suppleness. They can also work as a gentle introduction to counter-canter. Plus, it’ll sharpen up a rider’s use of aids. If you’ve never ridden one before,…

Becky Moody on the ground teaching a pupil riding a horse on a circle

In this exclusive article for H &H subscribers, World Cup champion Becky Moody explains why good circles start with knowing your arena, your horse and yourself

We ride more circles than anything else in dressage. So it’s a bit of a problem that many of us don’t fully understand how to ride a circle for optimum benefit,…

Judges aren’t there to coach you, but their short comments can offer valuable clues for your training at home.Most riders have stood at the side of the arena, test sheet in hand, trying to work out what the dressage judge’s comments actually mean. Sometimes it’s the handwriting that’s the challenge. More often, it’s the comment itself. Turning a five-word remark into something useful to work on…