In her video series on EQUESTRIAN+, Grand Prix dressage competitor and trainer Lauren Sprieser describes how to manage the gaits of a young horse. Sometimes young horses can have a big, powerful trot or canter. Sprieser explains how to work with young horses and organize their expressive movement.
Powering the Young Horse’s Trot Up and Down
“I want to show this horse that he’s capable of using his top line and being very light in my hand instead of dragging me around like farm equipment.”
“I’m going to ask him to make the trot a little smaller. This is not what I would call more collected. It’s not like he’s bearing more weight on his haunches, but I’m just sort of turning the power down and then back up again.”
A Moment of Relaxation After the Trot Exercise
“Whenever I ask a horse to compress a couple of times and I’ve got the answer I want, the next thing I’m going do is let him be long.”
“I also try and be in the habit of picking my horse up from stretchy trot before I make a transition to walk.”
Compressing the Young Horse’s Canter With Circles
“I get started with my first exercise, which is a 20m circle with a 10m circle at the top of it.”
“The reason that I like this exercise is that it puts the musculature demands of collection on the horse and off of me. Once I’ve got him on the 10-meter circle, he has to collect himself.”
Using Shallow Loops to Organize the Young Horse’s Canter
“[This exercise] is half of the shallow cantor loop from First Level Test 3. The shallow canter loop from First Level Test 3 goes, for example, from M to X to F. I’m going to do half of that. So for my closing line, I’m going to go from M to X and then straight ahead. For the opening line, I’m going to turn up the center line and go out to the wall.”
“I don’t aim for X before I leave this corner. I am aiming for a little bit before X so that I can take a couple of steps to straighten.“
Watch & Learn on E+
You can watch Lauren Sprieser’s entire series on managing a young horse’s gaits here on EQUESTRIAN+.
For additional videos featuring Sprieser’s top tips and training strategies, click here.
From short training tips to how-to videos and insider-access to private clinics and lessons, learn more from top dressage experts on EQUESTRIAN+.
About Lauren Sprieser
Originally from Oak Brook, Illinois, Lauren Sprieser made her first foray into international-level dressage at the age of 18, under the tutelage of Lendon Gray. She competed in three North American Junior & Young Rider Championships—winning two team medals—and three U.S. Equestrian Federation Young Adult “Brentina Cup” National Championships, and earned her U.S. Dressage Federation gold, silver and bronze medals—all before her 21st birthday. Now running her own business, Sprieser Sporthorse, in Marshall, Virginia, she produces FEI horses and trains riders of all levels and disciplines.
