Dressage is one of the most graceful and beautiful equine sports, a show of the connection between horse and rider. The event, which has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1912, is an art in the mastery of horsemanship. There is something magical about watching this combination of flexibility and skill in the arena. If you’re looking to get you and your steed ready to compete in this wonderful art form it’ll take a lot of hard work and training! At The Insurance Emporium, we want to help you and your horse enjoy your adventures together! That’s why we put together these tips on training your horse for dressage!
Remember to reward
Horses have quite a short memory so it can be important to reward them straight away when they’ve performed well. This sort of positive reinforcement might help when you’re looking for consistency from your steed!
Be positive
It can be very easy to dwell on the negatives when something isn’t going as you’d like. Try to keep your chin up and be positive. Build on the good things and move on from the bad!
Don’t overwork your horse
Just like any of us, horses feel fatigue and become tired. If you keep pushing your horse, especially if they’re young, you might find yourself getting negative results. Knowing when to quit could be vital!
Walk before you can trot!
When learning a new skill it’s important to start off slow, build the perfect technique and then speed this up. If you try to control something in canter straight away you might find it very difficult to do!
Get the basics right
If you maintain the same quality when it comes to the basics, you might find that your horse manages to progress and get to the next level with greater ease.
Make it even
It could be vital to make sure that everything you do is even and well balanced. When you’re pulling on the reins, make sure that you mirror what you’ve done in each exercise.
Fail to prepare…
When you’re looking to ride a shoulder-in, give yourself a better chance of success by ensuring that your shoulders are parallel with the horse’s. Getting yourself set could make all the difference.
Dedication’s what you need!
Dressage is all about repetition and making the exercises become your horse’s normal way of moving. It should result in a well-trained horse and that’s surely everyone’s goal!
I’m looking at the mare in the mirror
Using mirrors could be a fantastic tool when it comes to training your horse for dressage. You’ll be able to see what your horse is doing, check that he is straight and also keep an eye on your own posture.
Mix it up
Working on technique in the yard is great but you could also think about taking your steed out for some uphill hacking. This can help with their fitness and muscle development.
Training your horse for dressage can take a lot of patience and hard work but could be well worth it in the end. Having a well-trained and disciplined horse might be the ideal way to bond you with your steed. You might also want to think about purchasing some Horse Insurance to help protect your pal! At The Insurance Emporium, our new Horse Insurance policies include a 20% Introductory Discount* and include cover for Saddlery and Tack up to £3,000^! Take a canter to get a quote from The Insurance Emporium today!
*20% Introductory Discount is available for the first 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies.
^Saddlery and Tack covered up to £3,000 on Lunar Monthly policies.
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