Warming Up – Part 2, at the Trot.
Warming Up – Part 2.
The last post I made on this subject we had completed the walk warm up, stretching our horse from side to side and initiating some lateral stretching of the abductors and adductors. Now we will use the same series of patterns for the trot. It is important to confirm these exercises at the walk before we try them at the trot.
There are several notes that I would like to add that deal with this pattern at the trot. For the most part, the working trot during the warm up should be executed rising. The diagonal that you rise on will have an effect on how well your horse is able to balance through this pattern, plus some parts of the pattern are quite useful for developing outside rein therefore the correct diagonal will be of benefit in helping that outside rein connection.
10m Circles at the Trot.
We will start with Lateral stretching at the working trot rising, so, from the walk on the left rein in the purple cone corner by K, ask for the working trot rising and ride a 10m circle left.
Riding 10m circles
As in the walk, pick up the reins lightly, just enough to feel a connection, let your reins be as long as you dare, but do not dare to lose the connection. So you should have a slight feel of the bit and it is not important if the horse has his nose out, he will come to the bit soon enough. As you ride through this pattern your horse should start to offer you some loose rein, gently pick it up as you go.
Once your 10m circle feels good, change rein into the blue cone corner by F. Since early in our warm up we should always take several strides of straight before changing bend I like to ride up the centerline just past the quarter school (and my orange cones) change diagonal and then do a half 10m circle back to the track.
Once this 10m circle feels good I then proceed to the shallow loops up the centerline.
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