Interesting schooling exercises

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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I wondered if we could all share our schooling exercises (plus what we use them for)?
I'm looking for inspiration for Destroyer and I as i have a tendancy to end up doing lots of cr*p circles, shallow loops, serpentines etc and not a lot else. I'd like some flat work ideas for something different to do.
We do pole work, jump work etc as well but my flat work regime is boring for him and me.
 
Try to focus on one particular goal each day - what do you want to work on? Bend and suppleness, straightness, impulsion?
Focus on the particular exercises for that goal on that day, after your warm up (which can also vary).
So for suppleness, you can concentrate on circles of various size, altho don't forget half circles with a diagonal line to take you back to the track and squares or diamonds where you ride straight lines and corners.
You might want to add leg yiedl and shoulder in if these help your horse - again do them on a circle to make a change from straight lines.
If it's an impulsion day, lots of transitions including some real quick fire ones, ie three strides walk, six trot, three walk etc
For straightness, test him by riding an inside track, three quarter line etc. You can also use two poles for this, spaced apart no more than about 4ft, and aim to be straight thru your transitions by making them between the poles.
I find that having a goal and focusing on it stops me wandering about aimlessly!
 
I'm actually feeling quite inspired with my flatwork at the moment, but will watch with interest anyway!

My favourite for improving the canter - balance, transitions and softness - is using medium canter down the long side of the school, immediately followed by more collected canter on 10m circle. With my horse, I come out of the corner, say K, and ask for medium canter, then at H immediately ride into a 10m circle. Then working canter along the short side - 10m circle, then medium canter down the long side, 10m circle... etc.

Helps to get the horse off your leg and make the canter more adjustable. The 10m circles mean that you can ride forward into an engaged collected canter and the horse has to find its own balance. Also helps to improve riding corners in canter. If the horse isn't ready to do 10m circles, you can do 15m at A and C instead.

My instructor/friend told me about this exercise, and it's much harder to do when she is watching because she insists on the medium canters becoming extended, which means the 10m circles are even more difficult! Makes a huge difference to the canter though
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I like doing a few steps (shallow) shoulder in on the centre line in walk to a direct canter transition, a 10m circle back to the centre line, followed by a transition to walk and then repeat on the opposite leg. Can do it from trot too.

Really helped with canter transitions on a straight line and getting into a controlled canter without running or swinging quaters. Helped straitness too as we were doing lots of turns onto the centre line.

I vary it so he doesn't get bored\expectant, and sometimes straighten after the shoulder in and then strike off on the other leg, or do the shoulder in part in trot or canter, or do a downward transition for the circle, or not even circle at all.....
 
101 dressage exercises, you can get it on amazon another one in the series is for jumping, these are great fun with diagrams so you can work out what you are looking for
 
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