In this feature. . .
Lay the foundations for a terrific trot
Triumph in
trot
Get set to impress by taking charge of your horse’s trot
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As told to Kiera Boyle. Photos: Jon Stroud.
n impressive, uphill trot is a real head turner in our world. There’s nothing quite like seeing a horse and rider performing a perfectly executed extended trot. But what if your horse isn’t naturally blessed with the floaty, extravagant pace you so often see the professionals showcasing? Luckily, it’s the easiest one to improve and by using my exercises you can develop all the key components required – balance, rhythm, suppleness and engagement. While I can’t guarantee an overnight fix, I can get you on the right track by starting with the basics.
Reap the rewards It goes without saying that a quality, active trot is essential for maximising your marks in the dressage arena. However, did you know that the steps you’ll take to enhance it will benefit your training far beyond perfecting this pace? Not only will your horse build muscle and core strength, but it’ll also help you refine your control over his limbs. Building up his medium trot and practising lateral movements, such as shoulder-in and travers, will also help with overall strengthening, whether or not your horse is already boasting a trot worthy of a 10.
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In the saddle
Create a stronger horse
Wow the judges with your medium gaits
Our expert
Dan Greenwood is a dressage rider and trainer. He has won many national Championships and has ridden for GB at Small Tour, as well as coaching up to Grand Prix.
Our models
Icilla is a seven-year-old mare by Born Romance, ridden by Harvey White. She’s currently competing at Medium level and is about to move up to Advanced Medium.
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In this feature. . . Our expert
Australian team stalwart Sam Griffiths won Badminton in 2014 with Paulank Brockagh in arguably the toughest conditions ever seen at the event. They went on to finish fourth at the Rio Olympics, where they also won team bronze. Sam trains riders and produces a string of horses to CCI5* from his base in Dorset.
As told to Tilly Berendt. Photos: Jon Stroud
Our model
Jules Carter and Stephen and Dinah Posford’s Annaghmore Valoner is a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Coroner. She finished in the top 20 in the Seven-Year-Old World Championship in her second season of eventing and stepped up to CCI4*-S in 2021, taking seventh place in Blenheim’s prestigious eight- and nine-year-old class.
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Position pointers
The benefit of poles
In the saddle
Improve your jumping without leaving the ground
Prepare for
take-off
If you’re a one-horse rider, it can be hard to get in enough practice over fences to see quick improvements. Sam Griffiths’ adaptable polework exercise is here to change that
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nyone who’s serious about improving a skill is familiar with the old saying that practice makes perfect. And while it’s true that mileage yields results, when it comes to training horses, there’s also a legitimate concern that overdoing the work could have a detrimental effect. That’s particularly true when it comes to jumping, which is a high-impact activity that puts extra pressure on the fragile structures of your horse’s legs. This might sound like a bit of a catch-22 – the only way to get better at jumping is by jumping – but there’s no escaping the fact that excessive jumping will do damage to your horse. Luckily, it’s not that hard to work around, if you think a bit creatively. This month, I’m going to show you how I itemise the specific skills horses need for successful course-jumping, and how I put them into practice in a low-impact, high-reward way.
Build it up
I tend to build this exercise with four poles, but as it’s a progressive one, you can easily add in more if you have the space and resources – or, if these are in short supply, you can knock it back to three. Set the poles up on a line about 5m in from the track, each 3m apart. Pop a pair of wings next to the last pole in the line. C
H
M
E
B
3m
K
F
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