advice on warming up when schooling?

[daydreamer]

Hi,

I wondered if people could give me some tips on warming up when schooling.

I have just started to share a horse

but after years of just having riding school lessons I am not very good at planning for myself. Usually during lessons I would just do a few random school manoeuvres and then the instructor would give me something to work on.

How long roughly do people spend warming up? Do you have a set routine that you follow every time? When should I start asking serious questions of the horse (I have a tendency to be too soft!)?

I try to think about forwardness and straightness and sometimes I have a plan but I usually forget it or get distracted!

Any advice appreciated!

p.s. the horse is apparently quite well school and has competed in Novice dressage in the past. I am an okish rider but probably don’t push myself or the horse hard enough.

 

[RachelB]

I was once told a little routine that someone uses for warming up. All on a long rein - start in walk, go round the outside of the school once, then do a figure of eight round the school, then change the rein and repeat on the other rein. Once that's done on both reins in walk, change rein again and repeat both reins in trot, and then canter. On the long sides of the school in canter I get my bum out of the saddle. I used to be awful thinking of what to do in a schooling session and how to warm up, but lots and lots of practise has taught me to be inventive! That routine is a good start though, and should ensure you spend enough time warming up.

 

[StarFell]

I got a great book for Christmas called "from warming up to cooling down". Its really good, Id reccomend it.

 

[Bert&Maud]

For me it would also depend on the weather. If it's mild I would do quite a lot of walk first, including walk/halt transitions, turns etc, but if cold I prefer to move quite quickly into trot, or maybe even canter while keeping my weight off the back.