This is one of my (Kelli) favorite exercises. First, the exercise from the Working Equitation Handbook is posted. Below this you can read some extra tips for this exercise from Kelli.
from the Working Equitation Handbook:
- Practice riding straight lines and bends as you choose the best approach to each corridor.
- Practice riding straight through corridors at all gaits: walk, trot, canter.
- Stop and back in the corridors.
- Halt and ride forward in the corridors.
- Maintain rhythm and straightness while riding.
- Use half halts while approaching and riding through the corridor to rebalance and prepare for the halt. Horses anticipate exercises. Vary your transitions and patterns to keep the horse listening to your cues.
A FEW EXTRA TIPS FROM KELLI (only found in this blog post)
I love to use this Working Equitation exercise when teaching clinics with a group of riders. It works especially well when our focus is on collection and engaging the hindquarters. While riding the exercise be especially aware of your seat and body. Our seat and biomechanics are the number one factor influencing our horse’s collection.
I like to use landscape timbers for corridors because they are inexpensive and light weight. Any ground pole will work. Setup at least five corridors. If working in a group, set up a few more than there are horses.
NAVIGATION
As you begin the exercise, approach each corridor as if it is an obstacle. Make sure your horse is straight, as least one horse’s length before the obstacle. Maintain straightness all the way through and continue straight at least one horse’s length as you depart. Between corridors, make balanced curves while maintaining rhythm. Practice at the walk, trot and lope.
TRANSITIONS
Next, make upward and downward transitions in the corridors. Complete the transition exactly in the center of the corridor with the horse maintaining straightness. The horse will begin to anticipate. Use this anticipation to your advantage. You should be able to feel the horse begin to get his feet ready. Ride each type of transition until the quality of the transition improves.
- Walk to trot, trot to walk
- Trot to lope, lope to trot
ADD THE HALT
Then add the halt. Walk into corridor, halt, walk forward with energy, asking the horse to push from the hindquarters. Keep repeating until the horse is halting accurately, maintaining straightness and stepping forward with energy into the walk. Start halting from the trot through a few walk steps. Return to the trot through a few walk steps. Eventually, the walk steps can be eliminated. This transition is similar to “Enter at working trot. Halt. Salute. Proceed at working trot.” in the Dressage Trial or halting for Switch a Cup or the Jug in the Ease of Handling Trail.
BACK UP
Adding a backup to your halt is next. Stop with your shoulders even with the end of the corridor. Take a deep breathe, back 3-5 steps. Immediately push forward into an energetic walk with the hindquarters engaged. Again, use anticipation to your advantage to help your horse get his feet ready. This is similar to “Halt. Rein back 3 to 5 steps. Proceed in medium walk.” in the Dressage Trial and the Bell Corridor in the Ease of Handling Trial.
MIX IT UP
Once you are happy with the results of these exercises, begin mixing up your requests. Your horse’s feet should be ready to do what you ask. At each corridor do something different.
- Walk
- Stop
- Trot
- Stop and Back
- Trot
- Walk
- Canter
- Walk
- Stop and Back
This Working Equitation exercise also helps with rhythm, relaxation and balence as you navigate the Ease of Handling Course. Work on a element of this exercise each day until you have worked through all the parts.
Have fun with your horse!
Kelli Paulson Crist
Visit Kelli’s web site: https://www.HorseRidingSuccess.com
Order a Working Equitation Handbook!