Prepare for First Level With This Counter-Bending Figure-Eight Exercise

Try this counter-bending figure-eight exercise to help prepare you and your horse for the move up to First Level.

Are you hoping to move up to First Level? This exercise is meant to help build the skills needed for First Level and promotes the evolution of the rider’s aids from what is required at Training Level toward the higher skill set of First Level. It challenges throughness and impulsion and begins to establish straightness (the fifth tier on the Training Scale). This exercise helps improve the mechanics of the outside aids and how they work to keep the horse from falling through them.

Your position should remain balanced in the direction of the bend. To ride the counter-bend, your position should remain over your inside hip with your shoulders turned slightly in the direction of the bend. Maintain a steady contact with the outside rein while your outside leg rests against your horse. (Note: In this case, the outside rein refers to the rein on the opposite side of the bend. If you are bending to the left, your right rein is the outside rein and vice versa.)