Traci Johnting shares warm-up exercises she uses for to get a horse soft and supple before a show. These exercise disciplines apply to any horse we intend to ride. After all, the minute a rider mounts, the animal is asked to perform athletically.
Source: The American Quarter Horse Journal, April 18, 2018, Link.
I like these exercises because you don’t need any special equipment. I trail ride a lot, and these exercises can actually be worked on in the woods. As I’m riding through the trees, I will ask my horse to move away from my leg and follow his nose. By doing this, he learns to lift his shoulders, move his rib cage and keep his hips standing up straight. When I go back to the arena, my horses have a general idea of what I want them to do, and it comes easy to them. And we have fun at the same time!
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