Flatwork / Dressage Beginner 10 min

Working Trot to Free Walk and Back at the Walk

Focus: Transitions, Relaxation, Throughness

Equipment: Letter markers

At the working walk, ride the long side. As you approach the diagonal, transition to walk.
Immediately allow the reins to lengthen for a free walk across the diagonal.
The horse should stretch its neck forward and down, taking big, relaxed strides.
Before reaching the opposite track, gradually shorten the reins to medium walk.
Pick up the working walk before the corner.
The entire sequence: walk → walk → free walk → medium walk → walk should flow seamlessly.

The horse jogging in the walk transition instead of truly walking.
Not allowing enough rein for a genuine free walk.
Rushing the transition back to trot instead of re-establishing the walk contact first.
The horse not stretching down in the free walk, indicating tension in the topline.

Perform the free walk on a curved line (20-meter circle) instead of the diagonal.
Add a halt on the diagonal before the free walk to test obedience.
Time the free walk: 10+ seconds of genuine relaxation before gathering up.

Tip: The free walk is a window into your training. A horse that stretches freely forward-down is working correctly through its topline.