Warming Up at the Walk, Riding Shallow Loops Down the Long Side

Now proceed to the 2 Shallow loops down the long-side.

Riding shallow loops down the long-side teaches both the horse and rider that inside and outside aids are relative to the bend and not necessarily relative to the direction that you are travelling around the arena.

Warming up walk part 1- 2 shallow loops long side

2 shallow loops down the long side

For example; if you are traveling clockwise around the arena (or, to the right) and you have your horse bent to the right, then the inside aids are the right leg and rein and the outside aids are the left leg and rein. However, if you are travelling counter-clockwise around the ring and you have your horse bent to the right, then you are riding a counter pattern and your right leg and rein would then be your inside aids (even though they are the aids closest to the outside of the arena) and your outside aids would then be your left leg and rein (even though they are the aids closest to the inside or center of the arena).

The inside aids are relative to the bend, not the center of the arena.

Next we will ride 2 shallow loops down the long side.

Leaving at H slightly bent left, straighten for a stride or two and then change the bend to the right once you are about 1.5m from the track and 1/4 the distance to E.

Continue to make the loop larger left until you are about 3m from the track and 1/2 the distance between H and E then start to ask the horse to return to the track with your outside aids, once again changing bend back to the left when you are about 1.5m from the track and 3/4 the distance between H and E.

The feeling should be like you are riding a smooth, shallow “snake like” path.

Repeat for the second loop between E and K and finish up with a 10m circle in the purple cone corner.

Now let’s repeat the exercise on the other rein, starting with 4 loops up the centerline.

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