AnnA Buffini demonstrates her method for training trot lengthenings from a young horse through the upper levels. By ensuring the horse pushes from behind and moves in an uphill way from the beginning, each new type of lengthening introduced — lengthening to medium to extended — seamlessly builds ...

Trot work is saved for the end of the ride. Steffen Peters and the clinic rider try schooling some passage, half-pass and half-steps that are in front of the leg. If the pony starts to lag in the tempo or cadence, Steffen suggests freshening the trot with a few steps of rising trot or even canter...

Lena Wedenmark talks about the mechanism of the trot. It is a two-beat, diagonal gait with a moment of suspension between each diagonal. Knowing when the legs are moving can help the rider know when to apply an aid, but timing is critical. She also talks about how the rider adjusts the horse's st...

Moving on to trot, Laura explains and demonstrates the solid, but allowing connection she uses in the trot warm-up. She does a series of circles and changes of direction slowing increasing the amount of effort and connection with the horse. It is important to make sure the horse is always forward...

In this ride, Laura points out that the horse is a little long in his body. Horses with this type of conformation, she says, often would rather go left and right instead of closing up their bodies. If that the case, transitions between and within the gaits can be very beneficial. The ability to m...

Laura talks about building power for lengthening the gaits. She wants the rider to build the power to the hand from the hindquarters. The horse should wait forœpermission to go forward, and then the rider allows the forward movement. If the horse doesnt go forward, the horse needs an immediate co...

To finish their ride, they work on the trot. Once the trot is regulated, the rider asks for a quick reaction from her inside leg to build the trot power. However, the trot doesn't have to be bigger. It has to be more reactive with greater articulation of the horse's joints.

Monique feels like some riders don't understand the concept of "making the back soft." They can think about the hind leg coming up underneath the body and most riders can feel when the hindlegs are coming forward. Monique also gives tips on how to address a horse that tends to stick the tongue out.

Next Karen has the riders work on transitions. When the balance and energy feel good in one gait, they move into another gait and then establish a good balance and tempo there. The goal is to achieve that positive energy and tempo as soon as possible after moving to the next gait. Again, praising...

Transitions at the letters is another place where accuracy is important, and points are often lost in a dressage test. Laura explains and her rider demonstrates where and how to properly do transitions between and within the gaits at different letters throughout the arena. Straightness and balanc...

Grand Prix trainer and competitor Lauren Sprieser rides her new, 6-year-old gelding Eddie to demonstrate how to compress a young horse big trot without using a lot of rider strength. Her horse likes to pull himself with his under neck and chest, and she encourages him to carry himself regardless ...

FEI 5* Judge Janet Foy helps a rider warm up her upper-level horse. In trot, she wants the horse to have more bend in his body and engagement of the hind leg to improve reach. In canter, she encourages the horse to be up in the neck and shoulders and be more forward first and then collect the can...

They finish the ride with trot work. Steffen wants to make sure the basic rideability of the horse is the priority. This is the case regardless of what they are doing – half pass, half steps, trot lengthening, halt, etc. Steffen wants the rider to slow down and take her time to make sure the ride...

Lisa continues working at the trot while explaining how she is gaining his trust and using her aids to influence his behavior.

This is a super video to watch to understand what one can expect in terms of the basic exercises you can ask your 4 yr. old to do, the type of compliance and willingness one can get and the frame that is comfortably created, watch the raised back and nic

Young horse training with Guenter Zach

Debbie looks for relaxation in his back while they move to the trot work. She has them ride a little renvers when he becomes tight and fidgety. They try an interesting arrangement of the reins on a twenty meter circle to encourage him to be steady on the right snaffle rein. They continue to use...

Debbie looks for relaxation in his back while they move to the trot work. She has them ride a little renvers when he becomes tight and fidgety. They try an interesting arrangement of the reins on a twenty meter circle to encourage him to be steady on the right snaffle rein. They continue to use...

Walk, trot transitions. Work towards gaining relaxation.

Question 1: What is the most difficult movement to ride or to teach? Question 2: When do you start sitting the trot on young horses?

Kasey works with an OTTB who events and would like to work on her right lead canter and transitions. They warm up and work on getting him rounder in the neck and a bit more forward in all three gaits.

Axel helps this rider move from First to Second Level on a schoolmaster gelding, and challenges her to ride without stirrups.

Cesar Torrente observes this four year old and his rider  in the walk as they show great relaxation and swing in the back.  As they go to the working trot, Cesar asks for a rounder frame while remaining straight with a quiet contact.  He has the rider keep contact with the outside rein coming out...

They show a wonderful walk in their break, and Cesar encourages the rider to let him swing and stretch. The canter is done on a 20 meter circle and shows great obedience and steadiness.  They incorporate many up and down transitions with lengthenings on the open side of the circle.  Cesar instruc...