WARMUP

WARM-UP

The too-often neglected practice

(Reproduced from an article in SOAR Third Issue, January 1990)

THE IMPORTANCE OF A CORRECT WARM-UP

It is an art

that transcends

traditional training.

It is the first

and most important

step of preventative

conditioning.

TESTING FOR READINESS TO WORK

During warm-up

you have an opportunity

to feel if your horse

moves evenly

or where he resits being

stretched.

SUPPLING EXERCISES

are gymnastic exercises

meant to supple or stretch

stiff parts of the body

without the use

of any force.

PROOF OF THE PUDDING

An ex-Olympic dressage

horse I had treated

successfully was still sound

but had reverted

to his protective reflex

when ridden without

a correct warm-up.

To the relief of his owners

instead of treating him

I had to give his new rider

lessons on how to warm-up a horse correctly before

asking him to show off

his brilliant collected trot.

Too often, as I watch clinics I see a common mistake being made by the rider, at the horse's expense. The horse has usually not been warmed-up properly. In spite of it, the work starts, and systematically the horse becomes more defensive, thus triggering negative interactions with the rider. Warm-up is an art that transcends traditional training. It should be personal and customised to the horse's needs. In fact, a correct warm-up is the first and most important step of preventative conditioning.

As you get in the saddle, you should be aware of your horse's condition and readiness. if you are not, you should send your horse on a straight line, at the walk, on fairly long reins, and shut your eyes for a few steps to feel if he is even. If he is not, you should be able to detect which part of the horse's body resists being stretched, and design the appropriate exercises to eliminate the perceived stiffness. If stiffness persists, dismount, and rub.

Of course, some of these exercises are basic dressage movements. However, remember that they are done at the walk on a fairly long frame. They are only meant to supple or stretch independently a part of the body that was stiff. You will lose the cooperation of your horse by trying to set contact too soon.

Recently, I was at the stables of an ex-Olympic horse, whom I had successfully treated over a period of time. The owners greeted me with disappointment; he was off again. When I saw him, to my satisfaction he stood square, and walked clean. To make sure, I palpated his weakest points, and found them in good condition. I turned to the owners, and said that their was no reason for him to be off. But they assured me that he was off under saddle. I asked to see this. The rider got on, and started to ride. I stopped them immediately. He was not warmed-up yet and was already on the defensive. The session resumed with the appropriate warm-up exercises under my direction, and after a few minutes of correct warm-up he gave a brilliant collected trot, that drew a sigh of relief from the owners, who said they feared they would never see him trot like that again.

This page was last updated on: October 30, 2001

Permision to reproduce with source aknowledgment is granted.



WARM-UP The too-often neglected practice (Reproduced from an article in SOAR Third Issue, January 1990)

THE IMPORTANCE OF A CORRECT WARM-UP It is an art that transcends traditional training. It is the first and most important step of preventative conditioning. TESTING FOR READINESS TO WORK During warm-up you have an opportunity to feel if your horse moves evenly or where he resits being stretched. SUPPLING EXERCISES are gymnastic exercises meant to supple or stretch stiff parts of the body without the use of any force. PROOF OF THE PUDDING An ex-Olympic dressage horse I had treated successfully was still sound but had reverted to his protective reflex when ridden without a correct warm-up. To the relief of his owners instead of treating him I had to give his new rider lessons on how to warm-up a horse correctly before asking him to show off his brilliant collected trot.			Too often, as I watch clinics I see a common mistake being made by the rider, at the horse's expense. The horse has usually not been warmed-up properly. In spite of it, the work starts, and systematically the horse becomes more defensive, thus triggering negative interactions with the rider. Warm-up is an art that transcends traditional training. It should be personal and customised to the horse's needs. In fact, a correct warm-up is the first and most important step of preventative conditioning. As you get in the saddle, you should be aware of your horse's condition and readiness. if you are not, you should send your horse on a straight line, at the walk, on fairly long reins, and shut your eyes for a few steps to feel if he is even. If he is not, you should be able to detect which part of the horse's body resists being stretched, and design the appropriate exercises to eliminate the perceived stiffness. If stiffness persists, dismount, and rub. Of course, some of these exercises are basic dressage movements. However, remember that they are done at the walk on a fairly long frame. They are only meant to supple or stretch independently a part of the body that was stiff. You will lose the cooperation of your horse by trying to set contact too soon. Recently, I was at the stables of an ex-Olympic horse, whom I had successfully treated over a period of time. The owners greeted me with disappointment; he was off again. When I saw him, to my satisfaction he stood square, and walked clean. To make sure, I palpated his weakest points, and found them in good condition. I turned to the owners, and said that their was no reason for him to be off. But they assured me that he was off under saddle. I asked to see this. The rider got on, and started to ride. I stopped them immediately. He was not warmed-up yet and was already on the defensive. The session resumed with the appropriate warm-up exercises under my direction, and after a few minutes of correct warm-up he gave a brilliant collected trot, that drew a sigh of relief from the owners, who said they feared they would never see him trot like that again.



		This page was last updated on: October 30, 2001



	Copyright 1990, 1999, 2001. All rights reserved to Michel Kaplan and Beau Geste S.O.A.R. Permision to reproduce with source aknowledgment is granted.