Exercises To Sharpen Your Transition Game
Walk. Trot. Canter. Walk to canter. Canter to halt. No matter what discipline you ride, sharp, balanced transitions from one gait into another is a great tool to have for rideability’s sake.
Transition work helps build muscle and strength in the horse. And quality, crisp transitions can go a long way in the show ring, if you’re a hunter, equitation or dressage rider.
Heels Down Mag rounded up our favorite riding exercises meant to help sharpen transition work, both up and downward. Here’s how to get started.
To Keep A Horse On The Aids
In this video, dressage trainer Deanna Corby explains why it’s important to ride balanced transitions. “Transitions are important because it can set the tone for what you’re about to do next… from a leg yield to higher or lower gait,” Deanna said. “It can also test how much your horse is on your aids.”
To Create A More Reactive Horse
In this video, dressage rider Amelia Newcomb describes how transition work can help make a “hotter” horse, which is great for horses who tend to be more sluggish or lazy. These exercises can help make the horse more “reactive” in that it sharpens the response time and get the horse in front of the leg.
To Encourage Uphill Movement
British Olympic dressage rider Emile Faurie offers some tips on how to ride the perfect trot-to-canter transitions in this video. Emile reminds riders to use the half-halt to maintain balance, but to allow the horse to stretch into the next gait.
For Smoothness And Fluidity
In this video, Callie King from CRK Training says the key to getting good transitions is planning ahead. “I slowed my posting at the trot first before I just walked,” she said. “You have to create the transition. You can’t just expect your horse to stay balanced.”
For Softness Under Saddle
Horseman Jack Lieser explains how he uses his seat and leg to ask the horse with light aids to create a soft upward transition. “We have to have our horse responsive,” he said. “If they’re not responding to the light, soft cues of my seat and energy, I am going to back it up with a whip.”