Training idea # 1: A surprisingly challenging yet fun warm-up exercise

Originally published: 02/20/2020. Republished with a few small changes.

Last fall, my friend Melissa introduced me to this fun warm-up exercise. She had learned it from her riding instructor, Pamela Byers. Mya–my latest training project–loves it. It provides just the right mix of repetition and challenge.

For a more advanced warm-up exercise at the walk, see Training Idea # 2. For a deceptively easy exercise to do at the walk, trot/jog, and canter/lope, see my Clover-leaf exercise.

Although I explain the pattern with reference to a dressage arena, it can be done anywhere!

Step-by-step instructions

Note: This shouldn’t be the first exercise you do. Begin with 10 minutes or so of walking, and then 3-5 minutes of trotting on a long rein.

Steps 1–3: Enter at A, follow rail to E, half circle, return to rail

1. Enter arena (at A) and track left or right along the rail. In my example, the horse turns left but tracks right: “right/left” is determined by bend. In practice, I’d simply start at one end of the arena rather than turning sharply on entry.
2. Continue to E. At E, ride a half circle. In the diagram it’s 5 m (a standard arena is 10 m wide). That’s small for trot; walk it or make it larger as needed.
3. Return to the rail. Where you rejoin depends on half-circle size. Aim to be on the rail in time to set up the corner bend.

Above: Illustrations of Steps 1 -3. Adjust the size of the half circle to your horse’s size, speed, and conditioning.

Tip: You can incorporate the bow-tie warm up exercises in this pattern! Read about them in My Training Idea # 9 blog post.

Step 4: Full circle at A

4. At A, 10-15 meter circle. In the image, it is a 10m circle, but that is unrealistic if you are trotting. It might be perfect at a walk! The size you choose should depend on the fitness of your horse, how warmed up it is, and your gait and speed.

Steps 5 – 7: Continue to E, half circle and back to rail (mirroring Steps 1 – 3)

5. Continue from A to B.
6. At B, half circle to the left, mirroring the first half circle.
7. Return to the rail as before.
8. Ride the corner, back to A, then a 10–15 m circle right, mirroring your first circle.
9. Repeat as desired, keeping rhythm consistent.

Repeat the pattern as many times as you like. Try to maintain a steady rhythm. Some horses really enjoy the repetition, and will learn to do the pattern by themselves. You might need to remind them to work!

Mix it up!

Try it at a walk and trot or jog. With some adjustment, you can do it at a canter or lope. Remember to make the bends large enough for your horse to do comfortably, according to its fitness!

Note that it is work to do this properly. Keep your horse stepping up under itself through the bends. Maintaining the rhythm throughout is a challenge.

Here is what it would look like with bigger circles!