How to work your horse long and low correctly
Here’s some great advice on how to ride your horse in a long and low outline from grand prix dressage rider and trainer Kate Cowell
What is long and low?
Fundamentally it is stretching your horse over his top line in walk, trot or canter.
When done correctly your horse should feel like a rainbow from his tail to his ears. His hocks push and engage underneath his body, bringing his back up and stretching forward and down in his neck into a soft, elastic contact. It should be a voluntary offer from the horse whereas ‘round and deep’ is where the rider actually dictates where they place the horse’s neck.
Why practise it?
This is a great way to make your horse relax and breathe! It can really develop their way of going if practised correctly. It is also fantastic for warming up your horse’s top line muscles before you close him up and work towards more collection. Mid-session it can aid the horse’s relaxation mentally and physically, and at the end of the session to cool down, preventing lactic acid build up and post training stiffness. Ultimately as a rider you should be able to ride your horse in different outlines to keep him adjustable, athletic and comfortable.
Does it suit every type of horse?
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Yes, every horse should be allowed to stretch in their work towards the contact. It’s particularly useful for horses that hold themselves tight. Every horse is different so in a horse that is built downhill, the stretch may need to be more controlled. If the horse is super fresh it may be suitable to wait until you are into your training session before using it.
How do I know if I’ve cracked it?
It can take some practise to achieve initially as most horses will lose their balance, stiffen in their neck and back and speed up. You’ve achieved it when the horse will seek your soft elastic contact down and forward without losing his rhythm, balance or straightness on turns, circles and straight lines. Your horse’s steps should become more elastic, looser and more elevated with a freer shoulder. You can then develop this into your collected work.
Now you’ve got that advice in mind, take a look at these dressage competitions available to enter where you can show off what you’ve learnt…
British Dressage
Date: 12 December
Venue: Alnwick Ford Equestrian, Morpeth
Details: “This competition features classes from prelim to prix st georges and inter I, with a range of qualifiers.”
Evening unaffiliated dressage
Date: 13 December
Venue: Grove Farm Equestrian, near Steventon
Details: “This unaffiliated competition features classes ranging between into and elementary.”
Unaffiliated evening dressage
Date: 14 December
Venue: Hill House Equestrian, Market Rasen
Details: “This competition allows you to pick from a range of tests between intro and elementary.”
Quest dressage
Date: 15 December
Venue: Moulton College Equestrian Centre, Northampton
Details: “This Team and My Quest competition has classes from into to novice.”
Unaffiliated dressage
Date: 15 December
Venue: Tumpy Green Equestrian Centre, Cam
Details: “Classes from intro to elementary.”
Unaffiliated dressage
Date: 16 December
Venue: Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester
Details: “This competition includes classes from intro up to advanced medium.”
Visit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings
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Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.