When you start a dressage schooling session what do you do first? Do you walk round for a couple of circles doing nothing in particular not even asking for an outline etc? When I get on I from the start want a soft frame, this doesn’t mean up in a competition outline this means soft through the back and stretching forward in to the contact. If it doesn’t happen it needs to be immediately remedied.
I also get straight on asking for basic gentle work. The point of warming up is to stretch gently and warm up the muscles and the best way to do so I find is with lateral work as it works the entire horse. On a baby this will just be simple leg yields both on straight lines and on a circle. Not asking for large amounts just a few steps here and there in walk to stretch and soften the horse. With a more advanced horse a great exercise I have known for many years and which numerous instructors have used whilst teaching me (they are often pleasently surprised to find I already use it!) is a combination of shoulderin, travers and renvers. It is quite hard to describe so instead below are diagrams to explain.
I will often start off a schooling session with this exercise in walk but it is important to note I do not expect test standard work at the start infact nothing even close its more asking for the changes in bend and being answered correctly! If you ask for too much bend early on in the session you risk causing damage. Just think of it in the same way you would warm up for a run, you would start of stretching and flexing before jogging then running at say 50% speed before building up to your ‘100%’ you should work in your horse the same in that it should be correct at the start but the accuracy and intensity increased through the session. This exercise actually becomes very beneficial in trot once warmed up to increase engagement and lateral flexibility.
