Best Riding Exercise

 Hello Centaurs!  

The way I see it, if you are here, then you like horses.  If you like horses, you qualify as a horse person.  Horse person=Centaur.  You with me?  Of course you are.  ;)

Let’s dive into today’s topic.  

What is the best riding exercise?

Whooo boy.  Talk about a loaded question!  Of course, the best riding exercise is going to be determined by the level of the horse, the level of the rider, the goals of the riding overall, the environment the riding is happening in, and the current confidence level of both horse and rider.  

It’s a lot to take into account.  

I will say, as a riding instructor, one of my favorite riding exercises is one where the rider simply acts like a passenger.  

The goal is to relax your body, relax your emotions, and just ride whatever the horse gives you.  If the horse walks, great.  If the horse stops, great.  If the horse turns in endless circles or stops every two steps, that is not a problem.  We simply ride what they give, and then ask for the gait we want again, without worrying about direction.  We get lots of practice at those pesky transitions!

This exercise can be done at any gait, at any level, and it does some really great things.

1.  It helps the rider to gain confidence, relaxation, patience, and perceptiveness.

2. It helps the horse to relax while learning to take responsibility for their speed.  

I have found that most people and horses come out of the experience with a greater confidence and trust with each other.  That’s huge!!!  That is what so many people want when they get into horseback riding!  

Smile and Ride, Centaurs!

-CR