The Right Way to Warm Up Your Horse

exercises performed will now have a greater strengthening and suppling benefit.
What to Look For
Every horse should feel differently after a proper warmup period. Its like shaking out the cobwebs every day. Learn to observe and feel your horses movement at the twominute point in your warmup then the fiveminute and at the end. What changes can you detect? Things you want to feel include looseness longer strides more responsiveness to your aids and physical signs that he is ready for work i e. his muscles are warm to touch salivating mouth freely swinging tail mental focus.
Do not assume that if your horse has access to a turnout paddock he is already warmed up for you to ride. Horses in their natural state move around with short bursts of energy followed by being still. This kind of movement does not prepare their muscles and joint fluidbloodelectrolyte circulation for the kind of consistent movement and energy expenditure we require in dressage. Also remember that we need to warm up the horse specifically for the kind of movements well be performing so that means he needs to be warmed up stretching through to the contact in order to exercise his back topline and haunches. Even if he has been in turnout he will not do this on his own.