Flatwork / Dressage
Beginner
10 min
Stretching Forward and Down at Walk
Focus: Suppleness, Relaxation, Topline
Equipment: None required
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Begin at a medium walk with a steady contact.
- Gradually let the reins slide through your fingers, offering 2-3 inches of rein at a time.
- Encourage the horse to follow the contact downward by softening your elbows and arms forward.
- The horse should stretch its neck forward and down, seeking the contact as it goes lower.
- Maintain the walk rhythm. The stretch shouldn't cause the horse to shuffle or slow down.
- After 1-2 minutes of stretching, gradually take up the reins to return to a working frame.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Dropping the reins entirely instead of gradually lengthening them.
- The horse lifting its head when the contact is softened, indicating it wasn't truly through.
- Losing the walk rhythm during the stretch.
- Rounding the rider's back and collapsing the core when reaching forward with the hands.
Variations & Progressions
- Perform the stretch at the trot on a 20-meter circle.
- Add changes of direction while maintaining the stretched frame.
- Use the stretchy walk as your standard cool-down for every ride.
Tip: The stretch reveals your training quality. A horse that stretches forward-down is using its topline correctly and is relaxed.
