How Do You Warm Up A Dressage Horse?
A dressage horse has a difficult job that requires strength, stamina and flexibility. It is easy to burn a horse out by riding him too fast or too rough, and a proper warm-up before every ride is essential. Make sure your horse is loose and flexible before attempting any difficult maneuvers, and adjust your warm-up if your dressage horse develops soreness or stiffness after the ride. Walk the dressage horse on a long rein for at least three laps of the arena both directions. This gets the blood pumping and the muscles moving without adding any strain to the horse. Don’t worry about framing the horse up until after these relaxed laps at the walk. Shorten your reins gradually to bring the horse into frame. To warm-up a dressage horse, make sure your movements are slow and deliberate and that you think about every step before you do it. Alternate the pressure between your right and left calves in order to step up the walk. Your left leg should squeeze when the horse’s right leg comes forw
