Dressage Technique: The importance of varying the work with your horse
To ensure your horse engages willingly in its work and maintains a good relationship with you, it's important to break its routine, change its habits, and engage in playful activities together.
Working while having fun or having fun while working? Both, of course! To engage your horse in its work and foster a good relationship with you, it's important to break its routine, change its habits, and share playful activities together.
Knowing how to vary the training and types of sessions to break your horse's routine and daily life should be among your concerns and objectives. If your horse is a sports partner, it should above all be your best friend.
Hacking
Going for a ride or a forest trot can greatly benefit the mental state of both the horse and the rider. However, be cautious about the surfaces you choose: not too hard, not too deep, not too rugged, and not too rocky.
Going out it the paddock
A horse should have a daily opportunity to enjoy some time in the paddock. If the ground is too wet or frozen, it's important to provide them with a moment of freedom by letting them loose in the arena, for instance. Remember that this is natural for them, as they know how to manage themselves perfectly. They are not immune to accidents in their stalls, mishaps during rolling, or colic. The outdoors is the safest option!
The ball game
If your horse is playful and curious by nature, you can offer them a large ball to play with!
Cavaletti training
For both enjoyment and training purposes, cavaletti are a fantastic tool. Beyond the playful aspect, working with ground poles can teach certain technical movements, such as passage. The cavaletti will guide the horse, without the rider's constraint, towards a more suspended trot. To start, have the horse go over a ground pole at a walk, then at a trot and canter. Gradually increase the number of consecutive poles, first in a straight line and then on a curve. You can slightly raise them for more elevation.
