Aceâs Tips for Developing The Perfect Warm Up Routine

I’ve written it a million times (OK, at least three), but I’ll write it again: one of my favorite parts of being a horse owner is simply getting to know my horse. Besides the fact that simple discovery is enjoyable in itself, it also gives me lots of really good blog fodder. Today, it’s all about listening to your horse in developing your warm-up routine.

A good warm up is key to a good ride. Every horse is different, so try different warm-up methods to learn what works best for your individual horse, and develop a routine based on that.

The Warm Up that Works for My Horse

Last night was a great example of the type of warm-up that works best for Ace.

After a good brushing, tacking Ace in his lovely (and slightly outrageous) purple and lime green saddle pad, tightening up the girth, and mounting up, we proceeded at a nice loose-reined walk around the arena. I didn’t ask for anything, and just allowed Ace to walk at his own pace with his neck outstretched. At this point, he’s still a bit stiff and not yet reaching under far enough with his hind end.

Our first trot is lazy and stiff. His nose is out, his neck is long, and he definitely isn’t even attempting to use himself. We’re just warming up, so I don’t even ask. But his ears are up, and he’s happy as we trot both directions around the ring sticking to the rail.

After a few times around at a trot, we go up to canter. Again, it’s nice and loose and I’m not asking for much. Both directions, he starts a little stiff, bulging through the turns to avoid supporting himself with that inside hind.

After about three laps at a canter, it’s like something unlocks in his body. His movement suddenly becomes more fluid. His back rounds up. His inside hind engages. He doesn’t over bend through the turns.

We do a canter transition down to a trot. He’s engaged, connected front to back, powering forward off his hind legs. His back is round, his neck is round, and his nose is tucked in. And I’m not even asking for anything.

Ace is warmed up mentally and physically, and now he’s ready to do some work.

The Warm Up That Doesn’t Work for Ace

At other times, I’ve tested the advice of horse professionals and clinicians that I know and respect. Quite frequently, they encourage a thinking warm-up. In this routine, you start asking your horse to think right away. It could be circles, serpentines, lateral work in the walk, transitions, switching posting diagonals every 10 steps, you name it. And you vary the exercises each time you ride. The idea is that you are suppling your horse’s body and getting him to pay attention to you right from the start.

I’ve tried it with Ace. And it does nothing but make him mad.

Sometimes I’ll try a little turn on the forehand during the warm up, or ask for a little leg yielding from the quarter line to wall. Occasionally I’ve tried working transitions within a gait. Sometimes I give him a really good walk/trot warm-up, and then ask for a little collection before we’ve cantered. Without fail, I end up with a stiff, resistant horse who never relaxes to the point where his mind and body unlocks and he’s ready to work.

Others advocate walking for 15-20 minutes before moving up to trot and canter work. I’ve done it, but for Ace walking for much more than 10 minutes doesn’t make much difference. He simply doesn’t unlock until he’s cantered.I really think part of that has to do with his conformation: he has that ridiculously long back. And an easy, loose canter (not asking for any collection!) is one of the best ways to relax a horse’s back muscles.

Tips for Developing a Good Warm-Up Routine

1. Listen to your horse. Pay attention to how your horse is reacting, and you will know what works. He’s a better judge than any trainer or clinician.
2. Try different approaches. You will never know what works best for your horse if you don’t try the gamut of warm-up exercises and methods. You may think your routine works fine, but you could find something even better. Ace doesn’t get bored easily, and a consistent routine helps him to relax. Others need you to keep them occupied from the get-go, so mixing it up is key.
3. Always spend time walking to start and finish. While I don’t necessarily walk for 20 minutes every ride, I do always walk at least for 10. Walking is critical to the health of your horse’s soft tissues (tendons and ligaments) in particular; warming them up and cooling them down slowly will help prevent injury.
4. Don’t longe every time for your warm up. Longing is a great tool for training and for loosening a horse up. However, those small circles can wreak havoc on your horse’s tendons and joints if over done. It’s not a great idea to do it every time. And even though it’s boring, take the time to walk first.

I’ve learned that a warm-up for Ace should consist of 20-25 minutes of walk, trot, and canter work with a loose rein on the rail. The only variation that actually works well is if I do my warm-up without stirrups. He actually seems to really like that for some reason. I avoid anything that feels like work until his muscles have unlocked. But once a good canter both directions has done its job he’s happy, loose, and ready to try anything I ask.

What have you tried for warming up your horse? And what seems to work best for your individual horse?

Read this article here