Retraining the Standardbred - part 1 Warm Up

This is my basic warm up I do with all my horses. Josè Mendez has taught me that it is best to go large as relaxed as possible in walk, on the buckle if you can to allow horse to stretch. Then trot the same around the arena. Before you go do circles, use a loop to test their balance and willingness to bend, as you have to turn for a corner, go straight, curve for a loop, go straight and then bend again for the corner. It’s especially beneficial for Standardbreds who find it hard to bend. It gives their body a break from endless circles.

[@pattybarrette-stein2896]

when teaching a pacer to learn a trot (he trots normally in the pasture) under saddle, when they rever to pace, do you stop (transition to a walk) then ask again? He does very well picking up trot when using ground poles, but without them he tends to stick to his pace (sometimes he picks up trot- but its not consistent without the ground poles)

[@brodileversha141]

Hello! Yes! I would always come back to walk if Remi paced when asking for a trot transition. To make it less likely I would walk a small 5m circle and as I was finishing the circle with nice softness and bend I would ask for trot in the bend of the circle so less chance of the legs pacing