FLATWORK FEBRUARY #13: OFF THE EDGE
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It is very easy to cover up your horse’s straightness or lack thereof by only riding along the arena edge. This is why riding just ‘Off The Edge’ of the arena is such a revealing exercise.
With this exercise, you literally ride on an inside track and use your legs to keep your horse straight on the line you have chosen; if your horse wants to drift, use your legs to straighten them.
You don’t need to be metres away from the edge for this exercise to be effective; even a metre off the edge will tell you which side your horse prefers to bend towards. Over time, as you become more practised, you can move further and further away.
This exercise can be ridden in all three gaits, but, like with most of our #FlatworkFebruary exercises, we suggest you start at the walk and progress to the trot and canter once you and your horse are comfortable.
And, remember, progress is the goal; if your horse isn’t naturally straight when you leave the edge, don’t panic. Exercises like this make both you and your horse better athletes.
As Carl Hester says, ‘Dedicate yourself to get better, nobody is perfect’.
NOTE: You can also ride other exercises off the arena’s edge once you and your horse are comfortable.
We hope #FlatworkFebruary gives you and your horse valuable tools to reach that next level.