I am a hunter rider who will be taking some lessons from a dressage rider who works with some of the top horses in the country. I’ve taken some dressage lessons before but they were w/ my TB who was a complete natural & very forward. My new guy is a small paint that up until last month didn’t know he had legs, let alone a butt. He takes a bit to get going (which I love) & I know he’s gonna need to be forward for our lesson. Any warm up tips to get him moving so that I don’t look like an idiot in front of her. Thank you to anyone that can offer some advice.
I am a hunter rider who will be taking some lessons from a dressage rider who works with some of the top horses in the country. I’ve taken some dressage lessons before but they were w/ my TB who was a complete natural & very forward. My new guy is a small paint that up until last month didn’t know he had legs, let alone a butt. He takes a bit to get going (which I love) & I know he’s gonna need to be forward for our lesson. Any warm up tips to get him moving so that I don’t look like an idiot in front of her. Thank you to anyone that can offer some advice.
I doubt you’ll do anything to shame yourself or your horse. Please don’t allow that concept of “dressage” to make you tense or nervous. You will also probably be asked to change your position in some ways. Don’t be one of those annoying student’s who constantly argues or whines at the trainer-after all you’re there to learn something new. Have fun and report back with your impressions-I’m very interested.
before you have even taken your first dressage lesson!
I am guessing that someone, somewhere, told you that was important.
My most helpful tip would be to assist you in understanding what “Forward” is NOT.
- It isn’t FAST.
- It isn’t HECTIC.
- It isn’t achieved by using more leg, or spur, or whip.
A horse, to be truly forward, must first be RELAXED and working in his own best TEMPO, which for many, many (I would venture to say MOST) horses is a lot slower than many, many (again, I’d venture to say MOST) riders think it is.
Here’s a link to an article that will help in explaining this concept. www.ultimatedressage.com/cgi-bin/links/pages Then see Teaching and Training, and look for the article on “Understanding the Role of Tempo in Achieving Relaxation for the Horse.”
Then… once your horse is working in his own best tempo, he will be come relaxed, and THEN you can ask for him to add more ENERGY to the mix without changing the tempo. Imagine the difference between someone walking home from school, at a speed of, say, 2.5 miles per hour, and a drum major leading a parade a 2.5 miles per hour. The drum major has the same tempo, but the steps are filled with much more energy. This is what we are asking the horse to do: take more energetic steps, perhaps longer steps (but a horse in collection can also be ‘forward’), but not go FASTER.
FORWARD is the beginning of the ‘calm, forward and straight’ that all of us dressage riders strive for.
The second most useful tip is that you might want to do some of these exercises in advance!
Go to the same link as above, and under Teaching and Training, look for “Exercises to Deepen the Seat.”
[This message was edited by Lynne S on Apr. 02, 2001 at 05:56 PM.]
I agree very much with jl and Lynne S…
Don’t worry about looking like an idiot, because it’s not going to happen that way. Just relax and have fun, and learn from your new instructor.
Many people don’t understand the concept of “forward”. During the last Charles de Kunffy clinic I attended, I heard him say “Slow the horse down, please. The poor animal is running all over the school.” at least a dozen times. It seems that many riders think “forward” means fast. Big mistake! Lynne S is right on the money - I couldn’t have said it any better myself.
Don’t go with any preconceived notions about what your horse should or shouldn’t be doing. If he starts out as a slug when you start riding, let him do so for the lesson. Let the instructor tell you what to do with the “problem” if there really is one, after all isn’t that why you are paying her? I know after my lessons, my trainers usually have a ten minute talk (though on occasion they have lasted for a half hour!) about the lesson/training in general. I voice my concerns then and get feedback, and those ten minutes of discussion are invaluable.
Good luck, have fun!
I don’t know how much time you have between now and your scheduled lessons, but you might try schooling “prompt” response from your leg aid.
This can be from walk/trot, halt/walk, or even trot/canter depending on your level. Just be sure your horse is paying attention to you and your aids. The “frame” is less important than the fact that when you asked for a forward transition you got a RESPONSE.
I have found most instructors/clinicians are more impressed or pleased if their new student is attentive and receptive to new concepts. It may also go without saying, appear in suitable riding attire, clean and in good repair tack, a plain snaffle usually is appreciated, and with a workmanlike attitude, and a gleaming horse. (You indicated a paint horse, oh getting rid of those nasty stains, yuk.)
Have on hand, ringside, a dressage whip if you don’t usually carry one, spurs, and a hole punch THAT WORKS. That way any and all adjustments can be made with the least amount of time lost.
And most importantly go with the idea you will have a great time!!! 
And a PS to HStapleton, I rode with Charles many, many years ago. He always compared the quick horse as “a mouse scurrying across the kitchen floor.” That and telling me “I must suffer with courage”, while trying to get my mare on the aids. I always enjoyed riding with Charles.
