Lighten up
Transform your horse’s softness, lightness and balance with these five simple – but highly effective – flatwork exercises
Photos: Jon Stroud
"Horses naturally carry around 65% of their bodyweight over their front legs"
Developing your horse’s training in the right way will give you all the foundations you need to go further up the levels in dressage, jump clear rounds more often and make hacking out a more enjoyable experience for you both.
Horses naturally carry around 65% of their bodyweight over their front legs. This not only increases the amount of strain on the front limbs, but also makes them more prone to tripping or knocking fences, and they’ll feel ‘downhill’ to ride.
The good news is, through correct training you can transform your horse into a more uphill ride. As his balance improves, he’ll feel lighter in the contact, more athletic and in better self-carriage. After warming up in walk, trot and canter, ride your way to a lighter horse with these useful exercises.
EXERCISE 1
On and back
Transitions within the paces are a great way to lighten your horse’s forehand and you can do this exercise in walk, trot and canter.