schooling exercises.......

[npg1]

Can anyone give me some schooling exercises or their 'routines' they do when they school. At the moment I just make it up as I go along but would be nice to have a pln of what i am doing. I do lots of circles, serpentines etc etc but it gets abit boring!

I once learnt half a dozen dressage tests, and used those for schooling after doing basic warm up, because it gave me a structure to follow, and the tests cover all the movements and figures at whatever level you are working at. It doesn't matter if you have no intention of competing, and is useful if you do. My horse learns to anticipate very quickly, so I needed as many as I could remember. Introducing lots of leg yielding and turns on the forehand etc are useful, as well. A tip I was given once is that to see how straight and accurate you are, work a metre or so in from the track - that gives you something else to concentrate on as well.

Do use poles at all? There are quite a few books on doing flatwork with poles and can make it more interesting for your horse, especially if he's one of those that tends to switch off with flatwork. It really works with my 2

I got some good advice about this on another thread, probably in pets? I also like to school when there is someone else around so I can follow them and do what they do

Thanks for your replies and tips. I thought about learning dressage tests, my idea was putting them on my Ipod and listening to them while riding. I saw somewhere they are doing CD's now. Not sure where to buy from or look up on net for revising tests.

I use poles sometimes, mainly when my RI puts them out for me! I got Horse and rider this month and there are some ood exercises using poles, one being a fan of 4 poles in a corner of the school. Might try this.

My horse is also very switched on and gets bored so have to think of lots of things to keep him interested!

you can get the tests fron the BHS or British Dressage. I like the ipod idea.

one of the eercise i was taught many years ago at YRC(home of the bartles) was turn about the forehand on a diamond - v. good exercise ride st line, come to point, turn about to st line, turn about so you are making a diamond shape - great for getting hindlegs under you.

Might be worth getting a book - I did normal warm ups, then used poles, cones, cavalettis and added in some simple dresssage moves. Also mix it up with some lunging some days. Lots of big circles going smaller and smaller, serpentines and simple dressage tests.

LOW's one of big circles to smaller is another great exercise, start on 20 m circle, over about 3-4 circles end up on 10 m circle, then leg yield back out to 20m over 1-2 circles - wonderful schooling exercise