When training horses correctly, we improve and progress over time, but day to day it sometimes feels as if we’re getting nowhere or even taking a step backward. While this can be discouraging, it’s perfectly normal in dressage and other equestrian sports.

Horses are like us. When I’m in the gym, some days I feel stronger, looser or more motivated than others, and I adjust my workout depending on what my body is telling me. With horses, we need to do the same. When you go through your warm-up on any given day, figure out how your horse feels and adjust your training accordingly.

Here, I’ll provide steps you can take to truly assess your and your horse’s progress and avoid frustration for both of you.

Pinpoint What You to Work On

Be aware of your horse’s strong and weak points. Your trainer is a good source to help you identify them. If you’re sitting on a new horse for the first time, you may or may not be able to figure out his weaknesses in one ride. As you develop more of a relationship with that horse, you’ll know where his weaknesses are and where to zoom in first.

If your horse is on the lazy side, you might need to make him respond quicker to your leg aids. If you have a horse who is weak bending one way or the other, you may need to work on that. For example, with a horse who is weaker bending to the left, you might notice that he wants to put his left hind leg slightly to the left instead of underneath you. In this instance, after making sure he doesn’t have any soundness issues contributing to the problem, focus on better aligning his left hind leg to improve the left bend. Exercises like circles to the left and leg yielding to the right can help the horse put his left hind leg underneath him.

It’s crucial that you’re aware of both your and your horse’s strong and weak points. If you have trouble assessing these yourself, your trainer is a good source to help you identify them. ©Alana Harrison

You must find where the problem is, and sometimes it takes time to figure this out. Also, you must be flexible enough to change your approach if you realize that your original plan isn’t working. Reevaluate as you move forward and see which problems are solved and if any new ones have arisen.

You can always refer to the Training Scale to guide you:

  • Is your horse rhythmic?
  • Is he supple and relaxed?
  • Is he connected?
  • Does he have sufficient impulsion?
  • Is he straight?
  • Is he collected to a degree appropriate for his level?

You need to address your own weaknesses as well. For example, are your leg aids as organized as they could be? Is your core as strong as it should be? Are you coordinated or should you focus on the independence of your seat? In dressage there is no such thing as a perfect ride, so there is always something that can be improved.

Video for Success

Video is a fantastic tool to objectively look at yourself and your horse as a combination. I watch video of myself riding once or twice a week to assess the overall outline of my horse and whether he is carrying himself in the appropriate balance for the level we are training. You can also look in the mirror, but often you go by so fast that it can be deceiving. I have a much easier time seeing the overall picture when I watch videos of my rides, and since we’re all carrying around video cameras on our phones these days, it’s easier than every.

To assess the overall outline of your horse and whether he’s carrying himself in the appropriate balance for the level you’re training, you can use the mirror but often you go by too fast to fully see everything. Taking a video instead can be very helpful in comparing your progress over time. ©Amy K. Dragoo

You don’t necessarily need to video your entire ride. Try shooting just a minute or two of any weaknesses or issues you’ve been working on, maybe in the warm-up or during a specific movement. Pay careful attention to both your position and aids and how your horse is moving and responding to see what you can improve. It’s equally important to find something you’re doing really well and be proud of that.

Make a Plan

Utilize the Training Scale to address the weaknesses in your horse along with what you see in the video and then you can make a plan. I am tough on myself and I expect my students to be tough on themselves and look objectively at where the issues lie.

Sometimes you apply more pressure as you approach a higher level, and horses can react to that. It’s important to ask yourself where your horse’s frustration might come from. Is the problem in his body or in his mind? Do I need to have the vet check something out or is the horse confused and sorting out what the aid means? You may need to back off a few days with your demands to get on track again. Give the horse time to sort through his body and mind when you progress. This takes patience and confidence from the rider.

Horses—like people—cannot give 100 percent every day. Plan your rides and training based on how your horse feels to keep him happy in the work you do. ©Arnd Bronkhorst – arnd.nl

To help avoid frustration, I find a day during and at the end of the week to do less-demanding work, such as a trail ride. Your horse cannot give 100 percent every day, so this gives you a way to keep him happy and get the most out of your rides so you can progress together in the long term.

About Jan Brons 

Jan Brons was born in The Netherlands. After completing his education at the Dutch Equestrian Center, he moved to the U.S. and started JB Dressage, Inc., in 2001, based in Wellington, Florida. He worked for more than a decade with Robert Dover as well as Linda Smith and Anky van Grunsven. He has many national titles from young horses through Grand Prix.

This article first appeared in the June 2018 issue of Dressage Today.