Dressage Training For The Trail Rider

By Cheryl Childs 

Many people will tell you that if you trail ride there would be absolute no reason for you to consider dressage training. They will tell you that you don't need to know anything about the concepts of dressage training like for  Rhythm, Relaxation, Connection, Impulsion, Straightness and Collection. They are wrong the  Pyramid Of Training that dressage riders use when training their horse most assuredly can be utilized by anyone wanting their horse to be relaxed, confidence and athletic on the trail.

Lets talk about a few of those training techniques on the Pyramid of Training and how they are effective training methods for trail horses.

Rhythm: Regularity of footfall that is maintained at all paces or gaits. Maintenance of a regular rhythm in all gaits gives the horse a solid foundation for training in any discipline.  Why would a trail horse need to have rhythm? If your horse has rhythm and balance in his gaits he will move down the trail more efficiently. A good steady rhythm in your horse's gait will allow regular and equal spacing between the steps your horse takes, which aids your horse when traveling over different terrain on the trail.

Relaxation: When we talk about relaxation we are referring to the horse being supple and having elasticity in his gait. A horse should be relaxed, supple, athletic and obedient when riding on trail. When your horse is supple he can move freely and gracefully down the trail which means a more pleasurable ride for you.

Impulsion: Impulsion is the movement of a horse when he is going forward with controlled power.  The power or  engine of a horse is in his hindquarters. If  you are on the trail and your horse is engaging his hindquarters he is moving far more efficiently down the trail for you.  Your horse is also more balanced and he can adjust to changing terrain on the trail much easier. If  he isn't putting on his all his weight on his front legs or as we put " he is not up on his forehand" he is less likely to become tired or injury himself.

Collection: Collection is increasing the impulsion of  horse. Collection is often referred to as "being on the bit", but it's asking the horse to round his frame and push of his hindquarters. If horse is rounding his back and is in frame he is moving better. The horse reaches in underneath himself engaging his hindquarters. Why should a trail horse collect you ask, well again your horse is moving more efficiently on the trail which is good for both horse and rider. Being able to collect your horse means he isn't just pounding up the trail beating his fore legs he is using his hindquarters. It also means you can slow his gaits down over some terrain or ask him to length his strides over other terrain. Some riders find it gives them more control if their horse becomes nervous on the trail and loses his  focus the rider can ask them to collect which will often result in regaining the horses focus.  The level of collections asked of your horse when trail riding is far easier to obtains and sustain than the collections ask for in a upper level dressage test.

This is of course is just a short and simplified discussion of the training methods. There would be far more to be discuss and far more to be learned about this method of training. If you are interested in learning more about how Dressage training may help make your horse  more confidence, pleasurable, safer and athletic please consider attending one of my clinics.

They Just Don't Get

Horses have been part of my life for 40 out of my 52 years, so one would think that after all those years people wouldn't say things like " well if you didn't have those horses" to me. How in the world do they not realize that horses are who I am for heaven sakes? That's right I'm a 52 year old  woman who couldn't imagine my life without horses in it. 

 No, I don't take many vacations to the Caribbean (if I could afford it) because I have horses, but I don't care. Yes, I have to live in the country instead in town, but that's fine with me if it means I can walk out my back door and hear those horses whinny at me every morning -that's what keeps me going. Sure there are times when I  have to leave a social event earlier than others do because I have to go home to feed the herd, not a problem for me - I enjoy taking care of those horses and some days it's all that gets me through my day. I know if you're not a horse person you don't understand this, but please just smile and accept it because it makes me happy. 

 I realize to some people horses are just a beast, but to me they are for more than just a beast. Horses have given me so much in life like confidence, courage, grace, patience, compassion and spirit. When I was in the 7th grade I was terrified to get up in front of the class and give an oral book report, but today I stand in the middle of an arena, with far more people watching than those in that 7th grade class, and conduct clinics at Horse Expos. My job today is standing up in front of people instructing, giving clinics, judging horse shows and speaking to groups of people with no fear whatsoever. I think horses helped me face difficult things in my life both now and when I was younger, but I didn't realize it then the way I do today. If it hadn't been for horses I probably wouldn't have become a writer. I think horses make me a better person and actually help me see things more clarity.

To me horses are very spiritual beings. I read a book  called Horses and the Mystical Path The Celtic Way of Expanding The Human Soul and in that book they talk about how horses have affected human lives throughout time. There were so many things in the book that made me say " yes that's how I feel," and made me feel connected to the Celtic people. For me horses connect me to my ancestors. 

When I'm training a horse I feel a connection to my Grandfather. Being around my horses often time makes me feel closer to family members that are no longer here with us. 

In conclusion I'm proud to be a unabashed horses enthuses who is looking forward to 40 more years of taking care of horses, riding horses, training horses and just having them in my life. Monica Dickens said it best. " If you have it, it's for life. It is disease which there is no cure. You go on riding even after they have to haul onto a comfortable wise old cob, with feet like inverted buckets and back like a fireside chair," If don't understand it I can never explain to you, but please never say to me  " if you didn't have horses".

by Cheryl Childs 
www.cherylchildstraining.com 


The word dressage comes from the French word dresser which means training. The training methods used in dressage develops, obedience, flexibility and balance horses which would apply to any disciplines and that is where Cross Training comes in.

Cross Training is using dressage training methods to train or improve your horse as well as your riding skills. No matter what type of riding you do, there is always a place for dressage training. Using dressage training techniques can help your horse become more relaxed, obedient, athletic and fun to ride. It can also help him have a longer more useful life. It will help you develop a happy well trained horse no matter what discipline you chose to ride or whether you trail ride or show your horse.

Crossing Training increases your communication with your horse and establishes a foundations which a horse can excel in any discipline. People from all different discipline have incorporate dressage into the training of their horse. Cross Training helps horses become more willing. Your horse will respond more enthusiastically to the your cues. It will help the rider to develop non-verbal language with their horse as well as invisible signals. You will find your horse will be a pleasure to ride,

Who is Crossing Training good for, well everyone. If you are a trail rider you will find your horse is more agile and more confidence and a pleasure to ride. You will find he has more stamina as well on the trail. Crossing Training is great for those showing their horse Western, Hunt Seat, Equitation just about any discipline, because it is a foundation for all those disciplines.  It will improve your horse's performance. Even riders who Barrel Race or do Endurance riding have found this method of training improves their horse's performance and attitude.Crossing Training should be a part of every horse's training program.

So many people think dressage is about riding a  dressage test on a very expensive horse while wearing a top hat and jodhpurs, but it is really just about a training method. Your horse doesn't have to be expensive, you don't have to wear jodhpurs and you don't have ride a test for your horse and you to benefit from the training methods of dressage.