How to Warm up your Dressage Horse!

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The warm up is arguably the most important part of your ride! The warm up should get your horse mentally and physically accessible and supple so that you can have a productive training session.
Every horse requires a little different warm up routine…. Some horses need to be warmed up low and round. Others need to be warmed up in a more horizontal frame. Some horses prefer the canter to warm up while other horses require quite a bit of trot first.
What is YOUR warm up routine?
For ALL horses, the warm up should work to establish the base of the Dressage Training Scale - rhythm, suppleness, and connection.
It is important to establish a routine that you use to warm up your horse. This routine will give your horse confidence at a competition or on a day when they are just tense for whatever reason. Since horses are creatures of habit, your warm up routine will help to get your horse relaxed and supple.
Here are a few tips for your warm up:
Walk for 10- 15 mins - long or loose rein. Use the walk to establish the rhythm and the relaxation and to give the horse a chance loosen up their back.
Use circles and serpentines in the warm up to get your horse supple and focused.
Trot-canter trot transitions are one of the best warm up exercises for rhythm, suppleness, and connection.
Focus on the rhythm of all 3 gaits. This will also help to get your horse to relax!
Test the warm up with a stretch circle at the end to make sure that your horse is supple and connected.
Suppleness is the KEY to your warm up. You need to get your horse mentally and physically supple before starting the “training” phase of your ride.
Some days the warm up phase takes longer than others - this it totally ok!
On a cold morning after a day off, the warm up might take more than 20 minutes. On a hot day at the end of a hard training week, the warm up may take just 5 minutes (excluding walking time of course!)
Some days it may take the whole ride, just to get your horse is warmed up and that is ok too! Until you have achieved suppleness, you really should not move on from the warm-up phase!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Are you struggling with suppleness??? Check out our workshop on suppleness... courses.ameliasdressageacademy.com/p/suppleness/?product_id=3197039&coupon_code=10JUNE&preview=logged_out

[@leec5170]

Your warm-up is a good ride for me! 😂

[@lucky17zeta]

This is very helpful, it takes my 16 year old mare a good 20 mins before she becomes soft and relaxed in her neck. Ive recently been really working on stretching long and low and i find then i get much better quality work once shes warmed up! I tell everyone how important relaxation is, and dont rush. Once they are fully focussed and relaxed its so beautiful to ride ! And yes i always start on her easier lead first so i dont start stressing her out doing her more difficult lead first ❤

[@chandorequestrian]

Hi Amelia, love your videos. Do you have any REALLY green horses that you could show us how you bring them along?

[@ameliebellefille4616]

Finally someone who shows a proper warm up. This is exactly how we warm up our horses in France. Thank you for this video!

[@leanngarofalo2355]

This was great! I clearly am NOT warming up long enough. I have a much better plan for our next session! Thank you

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay!! Awesome!! It takes a while for them to loosen up and this phase cannot be rushed!

[@reneenowicki6859]

Thank you! Your video has improved my rides!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Great to hear!

[@user-wj1hg1lp8l]

You are the best ..wish I lived by you

[@danielabackstrom]

What a great video! I start out like you do, 15-20 min walk on long reins (usually a small hack to get other ground and different scenery), when I get to the arena I usually walk both was on a long rein for a couple of laps before I gather my reins to a semi long rein and start doing big circles and changing the direction a lot (my horse gets bored quickly 😂), serpentines and diagonals or figure 8s without really sharp turns. She is usually hot in the trot so I try to get the smallest trot that I can, imagining that I post super shallow 😊 I do the same in trot with a lot of biiiig circles. We don't canter well yet so I leave that for later. After I've done this I check if she's responsive to my seat, do a transition to walk and then halt. After that she gets to walk with a long rein again 😊

[@allisonhulley5970]

Yes very helpful as always. I love how active Kensington is throughout his body when he works. Really talented

[@user-wj1hg1lp8l]

Love how you ride different horses ..

[@ricksherman34]

I ride western and do mounted shooting but these are great warm up tips for any discipline. Thx for sharing 🐴

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes. Works for any discipline!!

[@caleighrutledge4202]

My young horse (now 6) has flip flopped his "easy" side a couple of times, so I always start my warm up in each gait to the left. It just helps me keep the routine. I also start with long and low, and I will give stretching breaks once I bring them up, which I feel a lot of people forget. It lets everything refresh.

[@Lietjesmarket]

Love it I always have the sort of same warm up routine I also warm up that way at a show so she knows. Horses like a routine. And yes I always do the easy lead first one of my trainers told me so.

[@Kelly_Ben]

I confess your warm up is my ride! Lol I think I need to set some goals before each ride that's not just "W/T/C, turn, and stop in a reasonably prompt controlled manner! 😆

[@elnajensen6929]

Thank you so much Amelia. As always super informative and helpful.

[@luciemarinov129]

Thank u for this video because it answers some questions I had about the warmup such as how long should the walk be etc, and verifies the rest of my routine as well! Ur videos are priceless lessons and really help keep me motivated and learning!

[@vickyelmes3558]

I watched this today and also the 'how to use the aids' video. Today I did the trot canter transitions on a circle like Amelia says and it was remarkable. He was snorting after a while as he really started breathing deeply and the relaxation and softness was lovely. So thanks v much Amelia. You're a terrific teacher.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay! That is awesome!!

[@falizianme5846]

I do the easy side first ! It helps me loosen up too! 🙃 great video! The warm up is so critical to a good training session! Thanks 😊❤

[@oliviabrandi5347]

I usually like to ride the harder lead first. That way if we get it, I know we can get it the good way! If not, then we work on it while we’re still fresh and end on the good lead on a good note. But I’ve done the good lead first as well. I love your tips! 🥰🥰🥰

[@yankerdarcanc.145]

Amazing ❤️

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks for watching Yankı , and don’t forget to subscribe to get notified of my new weekly content! ///// I'm hosting a FREE webinar on contact and connection that will really help you level up your performance and connection with your horse! You can sign up here! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/free-webinar-contact-and-connection I'm not sure if you know this but, I've been lucky enough to qualify BOTH of my horses (Harvey and Kensington) to compete in the Dressage Festival of Champions in Chicago, if you are willing and able, even the tiniest donation to my GoFundMe would make a massive difference. You can read more and, (but only if you'd like to and have the capacity!) donate below! gofund.me/2989323b Finally, if you love my content, I’d LOVE it if you left me a review on google! g.page/r/CYIGmCINXFOQEAo/review Thanks so much for being on my page! I appreciate it so much! 😀

[@christineporter2479]

Great video and yes I also always canter first on the left, my boy's easier side.

[@alisonanthony7306]

Hi Amelia, I really love your videos! I've put many of your tips into my riding which has improved my horse and my riding. Thank you!!

[@carlosbeirao6070]

Handsome video all about warm up! Thanks alot.

[@kck3163]

Loved this video! I’m alway s conscious about prolonging his career. Amelia, would you address the topic of wrapping the horses legs for every ride and adding bell boots. I understand bell boots for overreaching but what is the purpose of the leg wraps if my horse has never hit himself? Do the leg wraps keep the heat in and is this good?

[@kerryobrien6299]

I have the same question.

[@SandValleyRanch]

Thanks for sharing! I will definitely be trying some of these in my warm up!

[@dianacolombus]

I always canter easy direction first, but spend less time in it.

[@jills.3526]

Amelia, your explanations are very clear and helpful. I noted you mentioned chewing on the bit. Do you have a bit preference?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

It really depends on the horse. Every horse is different.

[@christinaharmon8778]

I have been riding my mare on the more difficult lead first in the warm-up because her more difficult direction is the left lead canter. We are currently showing training level, and the left lead is the first canter transition in our test. I started riding that lead first to help her mentally prepare for the show. It seems to be helping her a lot with taking the lead. I will switch it around from time to time though...so that it's not drilled and will give her some confidence in taking both canter leads equally as well.

[@paigebeiler33]

This was incredibly helpful. Can you do a video on how to get your horse off the forehand, and what it feels like when they are? If you have already done one, can you reply me the link? Thank you!

[@teresarottle1493]

Thank you, this was super helpful. My horse, seems a bit hot in the beginning of our ride.

[@josephbevacqua9217]

Nice

[@gillianmcgough271]

Brilliant advice, thanks

[@wildacresranch]

A horse coming back into work after time off , would you say the whole riding session is one big warm up for the first week or two?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes! For sure!! Focus on the basics!!

[@1clyderider]

Thank you for this great video!

[@royamoalem]

Very instructive 👍 Thank you 😍👌

[@bozenaskibinska1364]

I would like to ask for video how should look training for dressage beginner after warm up . Example exercises, and how to finish training example exercises. Best regards from Poland for Amelia.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Great suggestion!

[@kimberlyjones6502]

Do you lunge your horse first before this warmup? I am new to dressage and to English riding altogether. Thank you for all your helpful videos!!

[@annettewilliams8471]

Really helpful thanks 😊 🙏

[@moniquemurfield8876]

Thank you, I have a green horse I'm working with this winter (just got him back from initial training at the end of October) and we need this. By the time we get through all this and he is relaxed, he seems tired mentally and physically because he is so worked up and takes a bit to focus and relax. Any suggestions for how much to push him past that point to build him up (Mentally and physically)? Thank you Amelia for all you offer for help!!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Monique, Groundwork is a great way to help horses with their focus and relaxation, and I have a free webinar coming up amelianewcombdressage.com/free-groundwork-webinar/ But also remember, when you have a young or green horse, often just the warmup IS the ride/enough riding.

[@moniquemurfield8876]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage Thanks, I'll check out the webinar, and also thanks for that reminder...I rode today and the arena was sloppy but we just mostly walked with a little trot. He was good and I was happy that he was relaxed at the end after some walk serpentines, squares with turning his shoulders, and a little bit of controlled trot, so we were done after all that after about 25 minutes today since it was particularly wet.

[@suzannahkolbeck6973]

Didn't you have a template for planning your training sessions? I can't find it.

[@taylorducherer8785]

can you do a video on getting good rhythm? I started my western horse on dressage and she has terrible rhythm.

[@lindab1888]

I ride the easier of the two leads first.

[@jessicadawn722]

If my mare does get faster when I try to lengthen the rein, what do you suggest?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Change direction, ride patterns, and turn!

[@cawanpinq]

What is the reason for trot in loose rein? is it good?

[@johanna3916]

It allows the horse to stretch. And it's a good test to see if the horse is relaxed.

[@manoharsinghrajputsingh2933]

i am from india i don't know that much english

[@andrewbirtle3603]

I ride the more difficult lead first.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Interesting!! Charlotte Dujardin does the harder side first 💪💪

[@manoharsinghrajputsingh2933]

You make video in hindi 🙏

[@manoharsinghrajputsingh2933]

Nice