Flatwork is as much for the rider as it is for the horse. Flatwork should incorporate both slow and fast work to build both horses and riders confidence.

Flatwork refers to anything done on horseback that does not involve jumping. It should always be kept in mind that in our discipline that all flatwork is designed to help with jumping work. It is not classic dressage. The two riding styles are different because the goals of both types of riding differ. Flatwork for hunters, jumpers, and hunter seat equitation is designed to train both the horse and rider to jump with safety and success.

Flatwork involves many different exercises. It is not an exercise on its own.

Flatwork for the Horse…

The essence of all flatwork is to get the horse to move:

• Forward from the riders, leg at desired gait and speed.
• Back from the riders hands with softness.
• Left and right with ease.

Flatwork is either longitudinal or lateral.

• Longitudinal work involves transitions of gait or pace, and any extension or collection work on a straight line.
• Lateral training focuses on direction. Bending, turning, and moving to the side of the riders hands or legs are examples of lateral work.

The purpose of flatwork is to make the horse:

• Forward
• Straight
• Supple
• Rideable
• Light

Potential Drawbacks

Not all flatwork is good for either horse or rider. The drawbacks of incorrectly executed flatwork include.

• Too much repetition and drilling can easily make a horse stale, sour, or sore.
• Riding in the same area over and over will also make your horse stale, sour, and sore.
• Incorrect flatwork (too much, too hard, turns too tight, too fast…) can cause lameness.
• Too much collection is bad for the horse both physically and mentally.
• Riding around with no plan, and/or no purpose with little or no instruction just wastes time for both the horse and rider.
• Focusing on only slow work, instead of a combination of fast work and slow work, can result in horse and riders lack of confidence over fences.

One must always bear in mind that the horse must remain forward, happy, and relaxed to benefit from flatwork. Less is more…

 

 

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When warming up, there is a proper way to warm up horses, remember to take your time especially in the colder weather where horses tend to be stiffer in the joints and colder in their back. Horses and riders get hurt if things happen too quickly.

Warming up can serve several purposes:

• It is a time to measure your horse’s freshness, state of mind, or comfort in a new area. Listening to your horse will help you stay safe.

• It affords time to warm up your horse’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments-as well as your own. A good warm-up can prepare you and your horse to do your jobs and lowers the risk of injury.

• It allows you the time to read any situation, the better the chances for success. If it doesn’t seem like the right time to attempt a particular exercise during your warm-up, it probably isn’t. Save it for another day, and always keep your horse in mind.

Specific warm-up exercises and techniques may include:

• Walking…The often underrated walk may be the most important part of the warm-up. The walk is a great place to teach both horse and rider and to build good habits. It is also a great place to incorporate rest into your riding.

• Exercises for the Riders position. Riding in two point, riding without stirrups, and other exercises that cause the rider to concentrate on proper position are excellent warm ups. If you are riding properly your horse will go well.

• Riding Hall Movements and suppling exercises. Practicing broken lines, serpentines, circles, half-circles, leg yielding, two-tracking, turns on the forehand and haunches made ideal warm ups. They school both horse and rider, and also help with the suppleness and fitness of the horse.

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