Welcome to the first Horse & Hound eTraining elesson with grand prix dressage rider Keith Robertson. This week, Keith focuses on riding accurate circles, with a view to pushing up your percentages when riding prelim 1

This guide is broken into two sessions, giving you plenty to work on in the school this week. The first focuses entirely on how to ride circles, and the second gives further advice specific to riding British Dressage prelim 1. Once you’ve tried out Keith’s suggestions, let us know how you got on.

Session 1: Using markers to achieve well-shaped circles 

In prelim 1, you ride a 20m circle on each rein right in front of the judge at C, so it’s important that you perfect these.

Tip one: Whenever you’re asked to ride a circle, remember to produce a circle, not a corner or series of corners — it seems obvious, but circles should always be round. Ensure you know where the markers are and where to position your circle between them. A 20m circle at C should touch X, but only touch the arena at three points including C – the judge wants to see that you’ve positioned your circle well.

Tip two: You also ride half 20m circles in prelim 1. When practicing these, aim to achieve a maximum of one or two strides of straightness over X — you’ll need to illustrate that you’re straight for this moment before changing the bend and beginning the next half circle. 

Tip three: If you’re struggling with accuracy, break the movement down and ride it as four quarters, rather than attempting the circle as a whole. Put markers down and aim for the quarter marker each time.

Riding 20m circles in canter 

Tip four: When practicing circles in canter, ensure you keep the rhythm, maintain a bold canter and think about keeping the horse straight when you come out of the circle and go large – it’s tempting to ride too much off the inside rein and end up with too much inside bend, especially with a greener horse.

Tip five: In canter, judges commonly see the horse’s quarters coming in on a circle and his weight going onto the outside shoulder. If you have a horse that’s quarters have a tendency to come in, he may need a little bit of outside rein to help stay straight. This will also help make a smoother transition to trot. Try using counter-canter in your training to help improve the evenness of the true canter.

Tip six: If your horse is stiff on one rein, you’ll often find it’s the one on which he looks straight in canter, while on the softer rein he may be too bent to the inside, even though you think the canter feels nicer. Make sure you work your horse evenly on both reins.

Let others know if you found this session useful by sharing your progress and pictures with the rest of our e-Community.

Session 2: Practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test, remembering what you learned in session one, but first, watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels.

If you can not see the video player above please click here to view

We will focus on other movements throughout the series that will also help improve your prelim 1 marks, but taking things one step at the time for now ensure that you are comfortable with the following given Keith and Isobel’s advice:

• Riding half circles — both 20m and 10m diameter
• Riding accurate 20m diameter circles
• Changing the rein in free walk and staying straight

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week. 

Welcome to your midweek eTraining lesson with grand prix rider Keith Robertson. This week Keith explains how to improve your stretch on a circle with a view to improving your prelim test riding — and we focus on prelim 19. Enjoy your schooling and remember to let us know how you got on!

Session 1: 15m circles 

In prelim 19 the first challenge you’ll face is riding an accurate 15m circle. Firstly, ensure that you know where your three-quarter line should be. Remember, a 15m circle from a marker on the long side has to come three-quarters of the way across the school. You can get away with the circle being deeper, but the width needs to be spot on.

To try at home…

Find an imaginary line down the three-quarter line and ride accurately to it. Try using a cone and riding around it to get a feel for the dimensions of the circle required.

When you start the circle you want to be able to keep turning consistently until you reach the three-quarter mark. The horse must be bending evenly around the rider’s leg, remaining soft and supple and working in a good rhythm. No collection is required at prelim; the judges want to see the horse trotting with relaxed energy.

Horses tend to fall in or out through one shoulder in one direction, therefore riders end up producing 15m circles that are bigger one way than the other. The judge will notice this, so work on controlling the outside shoulder in training and ensure that you practise this on both reins. 

Session 2: trot stretches 

Prelim 19 requires you to perform your first trot stretch, so it’s important that you practice this when schooling this week. Two issues can arise when doing this: giving away control and steering, and asking your horse to demonstrate it on a circle. Therefore it’s advisable to educate your horse on how to do this in terms of performing the stretch and executing a circle without full guidance from the rider. 

To try at home…

Start by working on your stretch on a straight line. The horse should be seen to slowly and calmly take the contact down and forward – allowing a stretch of his topline, but avoiding curling behind the contact. 

If your horse tilts his head to one side, check that you don’t have a stronger contact on that side. When he tilts, deliberately lighten the contact on that side by exaggeratedly moving your hand forward. Push him more strongly with your leg on that same side — you need to get that particular hindleg to take a more energetic step forward.

As his head straightens, allow him to reconnect to the contact, but only lightly: too strong a contact may block his hindleg from stepping forward correctly. In time, he will step into the contact equally without tilting. 

Learn whether your horse is likely to drop off the stretch and come off the contact, or plunge and take you with him. You need to know were your horse stretches most consistently and correctly.

Practise this for short periods of time over smaller segments of a circle. Use these segments as a stepping-stone, and gradually build up to your horse being confident and balanced enough to take a full stretch over course of time.

Remember, the stretch doesn’t need to be for the entire circle in the test, so give yourself time to allow yourself to bring the horse back onto centre line in a balanced working trot in balanced way. 

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player above, please click here

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/?bctid=5307671107001

Welcome to the fifth e-Lesson in the series. This week Keith Robertson explains how to master your give and retake during prelim 14 and gives us some top tips for training your horse to have a soft and accepting mouth. Enjoy your schooling and remember to let us know how you got on!

Session 1: mastering your give and retake 

The give and retake is designed to show that your horse is in balance and is not relying on your hands.

You need to demonstrate a clear and obvious release of contact for three or four steps over the centre line. You should allow enough opportunity for the judge to see, but not so long that the horse loses balance.

Give and retake your reins smoothly so that the horse isn’t shocked or disturbed and therefore loses the consistency of the circle. Your horse should look comfortable when you retake the contact.

To try at home…

First practise giving and retaking your reins in a corner, as you don’t want a big, hot horse powering round corners or cutting them. If you do have an onwards horse, give him a forewarning, such as the odd half-halt.

Then work on keeping your horse between leg and hand during the give and retake. You want him to remain in self-carriage and not speed up — the temptation for him will be to surge forward but you must hold him with your seat. 

Don’t give and retake unless you feel that you have your horse collected. If he’s not it will give him the opportunity to run away with you. If, when you give the reins, he puts his head up or runs off, try just giving with the inside rein quietly, keeping the outside rein to half-halt, and build it up from there.

Let others know if you found this session effective in our Facebook group.

Session 2: training your horse to have a soft and accepting mouth 

At prelim level a lot of riders ask how they can train their horse to have a soft and accepting mouth, so these tips should help.

To start with, try riding in a loose-ring snaffle — the judge wants to see the horse accepting the bridle in a natural and soft way, so this is a good place to begin.

When riding, never pull back — your hands should stay there for the horse to work into so never try and balance him with the rein. Pulling is the beginning of the end as it blocks the horse and stops his hind leg from coming through and stepping underneath. The secret is never to allow the horse out of balance, so you’re never inclined to draw back.

Use your voice for downward transitions and don’t rely on your hands. Even if your horse breaks to canter from trot allow him to go forward for a moment and circle to bring him back to you.

Top tip: lungeing in loose side-reins helps the horse get used to working into that soft, consistent contact.

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player above please click here

Ensure that you are comfortable with the following given Keith and Isobel’s advice:

• Demonstrating a release of contact while maintaining the shape of the circle during the give and retake
• Medium walk (double score)
• Transitions to walk for one horse length

Welcome to your final e-Training lesson with Keith Robertson. This week Keith explains how to ride super serpentines with a view to improving your prelim test riding — and we focus on prelim 18. Enjoy your schooling and remember to let us know how you got on!

Session 1: serpentines 

In prelim 18 you’re required to ride serpentines for the first time, so it’s essential that you practise these at home this week.

Your horse should show a consistent bend – not big variations or massive turns – and look like no change is occurring through his body. Serpentines are a great way to display a horse with a good rhythm and an easy change of bend from left to right, and vice versa, so mastering these will really put you at an advantage.

To try at home…

View the tops of your serpentines as half circles – don’t ride them as squared off edges – remain smooth and consistent.

Remember that when crossing the centre line your horse should be completely straight for a few strides. 

First, you need to know your arena and think about where you should be in the arena within your turn. Put markers down to help you if need be. Start on the left rein and ride a three-loop serpentine, ensuring that all of your loops are the same size.

If you are struggling, break the serpentine down and focus on the flow and regularity of the trot. 

All horses will have a stronger side, so be sure to practise these serpentines starting on both reins at home – some horses will have an easier change from one direction to the other, but you want to orchestrate them to be as equal as possible. Return to focus on the straightness of your horse now you’ve bent on both reins.

Let others know if you found this effective in our Facebook group. 

Session 2: balancing a big horse 

It’s important that your horse is balanced when riding a serpentine, and this can be trickier if you have a big horse.

A big horse and will take longer to mature than a smaller one. Try to help him develop strength and balance in canter by riding smaller circles, at first just down to 18m, and then as he finds that easier reduce them to 15m.

As long as he remains upright (i.e. not leaning over) with a genuine bend, he will bring his inside hindleg further underneath himself, which will improve both his balance and the weight carrying capacity of his hindquarters.

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player above, please click here

Welcome to your third e-Training lesson. Here Keith Robertson shares his top tips for mastering your free walk, and we focus on prelim 12.

Session 1: Changing the rein in free walk

With a free walk, the braver you are, the better the mark can be. You want to allow the horse to stretch and take the contact, without throwing the reins at him.

Look to achieve rhythm in your walk and softness in the neck. Although it’s a free walk, a clear four beat rhythm is preferable, rather than one that hurries.

To try at home…

Tip one: If your horse struggles to stretch, ride a circle to help keep the shape through his body and neck.

Tip two: If he is inconsistent in the hand, gently hold the contact until he’s still and then try and let go a little more.

Tip three: Repetition is key — you want to teach your horse to be confident, eventually allowing him to stretch down further.

Tip four: When you take up the reins the judge wants to see a smooth transition, so practise gradually picking up the contact at home, so the horse doesn’t struggle or tighten.

Tip five: If he gets tense, take the contact up slowly over a period of three or four sections, rather than all in one go.

Let others know if you found this session effective in our Facebook group.

Session 2: Half 20m circles in free walk

In prelim 12 you are required to ride a half 20m circle in free walk (double score). Lots of people allow the horse to become inattentive during this movement, so don’t drop him onto the buckle of the reins.

To try at home…

Tip one: Practise riding a free walk on a curved line. It is beneficial for green horses, or those who struggle with the contact, as it encourages them to have more bend. Ensure you keep an even contact between your hands – don’t hang off the rein to get the bend. Instead, think about creating the bend with your legs as well as your hands.

Tip two: When riding the half circle, be careful not to “strangle” the walk — allow the horse to continue marching forward. If the horse gets tense when returning to medium walk from free walk, wait longer to pick up your reins.

Tip three: Have several walk breaks in training so that when you pick the horse up again he doesn’t necessarily anticipate he’s about to be asked to trot — you want him to expect to be asked but not predict when. 

Session 3: Practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player above, please click here

Focus on ensuring you are comfortable with the following prelim 12 movements:

• Half circle 10m diameter
• Half circle 20m diameter in free walk (double score)
• Transitions when changing the rein

How are you getting on so far with your e-Training? Remember to let us know how you find this week’s session in our Facebook group.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Welcome to this week's Horse & Hound eTraining lesson with grand prix dressage rider Keith Robertson. Now that the series is well under way it’s time to think about what judges are looking for at prelim level.

This week we focus on accuracy, rhythm and impulsion so that you can really push up your percentages when riding prelim 15.

Session 1: accuracy and rhythm 

At prelim level it’s important to keep your horse attentive. You need to work on keeping the same rhythm for long distances without variation while showing positive paces.

Simple polework exercises can help if you struggle with maintaining your horse’s rhythm and balance, and focus both your own and your horse’s mind.

To try at home…

Use circles to gain the horse’s attention and focus on accuracy. You don’t have a fence line when riding your circle in prelim 15, so practise riding quarter turns, rather than an oval. If your circle is misshapen look to see if you’ve had too much or too little bend – you don’t need much at this level. 

Set out four poles on a 20m circle at the four points of a clock face. Canter around the poles first and then raise them, altogether or one by one, depending on your horse’s level.

This will help keep your horse supple through the turn and also help with his rhythm and balance. The exercise should help your horse to sit in the canter, carry himself and lighten the forehand more easily.

Let others know if you found this session useful by sharing your progress and pictures with the rest of our e-Community.

Session 2: impulsion 

If your horse lacks impulsion you must train him to become responsive to your aids, rather than ignoring them.

To try at home…

Practise walk to trot transitions to keep your horse alert. Use quick, sharp aids – don’t nag.

If he’s slow to respond to the upward transition, use one quick aid from your leg and try clicking with your tongue. Carry a schooling whip if needed.

If he goes forwards quickly don’t restrict him in the mouth and give mixed messages – if necessary school with a neck strap. Praise him when he goes forward immediately.

This will help train him to go off light, effective aids so that when you come to ride your test it looks effortless and you don’t need as much work to keep the forward impulsion.

Repeat this until your horse understands he is to go off a light leg aid.

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player, please click here

Key movements to ensure you’re comfortable with before riding the test include the following:

• Riding in a 20x60m arena
• Half circle 20m diameter in free walk (double score)
• Quick, sharp transitions

We have expert training tips from Keith Robertson plus test riding tips with international judge Isobel Wessels

 Hertfordshire-based dressage trainer Keith Robertson offers the following advice to work on improving these movements at home…

Session 1: canter to trot transitions across the diagonal

In prelim 17A you’re required to change the rein in canter, coming back to trot as you approach the track.

It’s important to set yourself up well for changing the rein, ensuring that your horse is attentive and listening to your aids.

Remember, the judge wants to see how straight you can perform the transition. A common mistake is to break into trot early at this level, so introduce variety in where on the line you perform the transition at home.

To try at home…

Try using your voice initially when practising your transitions, so that you’re not interfering with the balance of the canter, and then slowly fade the use of the voice out. This will mean that your horse will become used to little rein aid and therefore won’t expect you to carry him. 

It’s important you get to know what to expect from your horse while you’re at home. If your horse is likely to drop the canter, leave the transition as late as possible. Conversely, if he is very bold, adjust yourself before the marker. 

Work on steadying your canter while keeping your leg on, so your horse doesn’t break before trot. The tiniest amount of flexion towards the leading canter leg will help the horse find his balance and maintain roundness before the transition to trot.

When returning to the track, make it clear to the horse that you’re now remaining in trot. It’s advisable to resume rising trot so he doesn’t think he’s about to canter again. Keep him straight, don’t use too much outside leg and push him into an even contact.

You must also work on sustaining canter for longer periods of time, so the horse doesn’t learn to make a transition every time he gets to a certain point. 

Keep practising riding transitions at home to help build confidence. Your horse should be ready for a transition at any time, and not be surprised.

Session 2: improving your horse’s self-carriage

Transitions are also a great way to improve your horse’s self-carriage — and good self-carriage will help push up your percentage scores.

To try at home…

You should not use your hands to create an outline, but ride the horse forward into a light contact, encouraging self-carriage.

Repeat lots of trot-to-canter and canter-to-trot transitions at home. Make sure you have the horse forward in the trot before you make the next transition and that he’s on the bit and that you’re riding him from “back to front”. Think of keeping his forehand slightly to the inside to keep him straight and avoid the hind quarters creaping to the inside — only the forehand though, don’t bend the neck.

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this test riding video with Isobel Wessels, key movements to look out for:

• Transitions across the diagonal
• Half circles returning to the track
• Transitions to medium walk
• Halting from trot

If you can not view the video player above, please click here

You may also be interested in…

Spooky horse making competing in dressage difficult? Here’s how to conquer it…

Here are some great pointers from five-star eventer Kate Honey to help you tackle spookiness with your horse in the

8 training gems from Carl Hester that could transform your dressage scores

#SundaySchool: How do I maintain impulsion in downward transitions?

Dressage rider Alice Oppenheimer explains how to keep a horse energetic and forward, even when slowing down

#SundaySchool: Dannie Morgan — how to generate impulsion without going faster

The eventer and rising dressage star explains how to generate impulsion without going faster

Why straightness is the key to effective dressage training

Most horses are born with a preference to one side. Andrea Oakes investigates how you can combat this, and the

Welcome to your fourth e-Training lesson with Keith Robertson. This week Keith explains how to improve your centre-lines and we take a look at prelim 13, which includes three of them.

Session 1: Nailing your centre line

You’re required to ride three centre lines in prelim 13, so it’s vital that you perfect them for this test.

When you don’t have the luxury of warming up outside the arena, you can often trace a bad centre line back to the horse not being turned correctly at A. The rider either overshoots the centre line with too much neck bend and lets the horse’s quarters fall in or out, or doesn’t complete the turn, meaning the quarters are not following the shoulders. Both these faults mean the entry cannot be straight, which leads to a low mark.

To try at home…

Tip one: If you’re in a 20x60m arena, work on an accurate turn and trot down the centre line with confidence with the horse working between your hand and leg — imagine you want to ride through the judge at C.

Tip two: If you have the space, enter from outside the arena so you’re already straight and on the centre line by the time you enter.

Tip three: If the line gets wobbly, straighten it by asking for more power using your legs — don’t try to straighten the horse with your hands.

Tip four: Think “short reins and longer arms”, so you don’t end up riding with your hands in your stomach. You want there to be a straight line from the bit through your hands to your elbows.

Tip five: You also need to practise turning back onto the centre line, as it can be a tight turn. It’s better to practise steadying slightly and achieving it comfortably.

Tip six: If your horse tends to overshoot, pay attention to the outside contact and turn him through the shoulder rather than the nose. Remember, the judge will prefer to see a turn that is slightly smaller and drifts, as this is the easier correction, rather than a horse overshooting the centre line.

Tip seven: The key to making a good turn is to think about riding the horse straight into both reins with only a small amount of flexion at the poll to control the bend. Don’t push the horse sideways, as you will cause his legs to cross. Instead, think about turning just a little bit with every stride, lifting your ribcage and looking ahead.

Tip eight: It is easy for the horse to drop behind the leg and start anticipating the halt, so at home practise plenty of turns onto the centre line, but do not halt every time. Instead, use half-halts so he learns to accept the preparation, but keeps moving forward.

Tip nine: If you have to chase your horse down the centre line to prevent him jamming on the brakes, you are advertising the fact that he is behind your leg.

Let others know if you found this session useful by sharing your progress and pictures with the rest of our e-Community.

Session 2: Practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test, remembering what you learned in session one, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the player above, please click here

Ensure that you are comfortable with the following given Keith and Isobel’s advice:

• Mid test centre line
• Transitions to walk for one horse’s length
• Give and retake of reins
• Trot to canter transitions on a circle
• Changing the rein in free walk (double score)

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Dressage rider and trainer Keith Robertson explains how to perfect your halt, which can be an easy way to gather important marks.

Session 1: Achieving a straight, square halt

In prelim 7, for example, you are asked to halt at G from trot. Many riders stop too early — either because they’re unsure of the position of G or their horse predicts halting at X — or they perform a poor halt. The halt happens just before the judge fills in your collective marks, which are usually worth double, so this is an influential moment. Success in this test depends on nailing this movement.

Remember you want your body — not the horse’s nose — in line with the marker. A good judge will reward quality of the halt over accuracy of the positioning, but they’d prefer to see both. Once halted, the horse has to stay still and balanced.

A lot of halts are ruined because the rider keeps on at the horse to square up. Judges don’t want to see you pulling and kicking. If the halt isn’t square, leave it — it’s preferable to be immobile than fidgeting. If no immobility is shown, you’re likely to get a low mark.

To try at home…

Practise halting on the track so you can use the fence line to teach the horse to stay straight. Begin riding a progressive transition, through a few steps of walk, so the horse is less likely to swing his quarters out.

Then practise riding this evenly on the centre line — avoid twisting and ensure equal pressure through your legs, seat bones and hands. It’s important to keep straight, even if the halt doesn’t end up square.

With a fidgety horse that is reluctant to stand, avoid riding abruptly to halt — instead practise asking for trot to walk to trot on the centre line. This will give the horse confidence and help develop softness in his back and neck.

As your horse gets straighter, think about making him square. One of the most important ingredients for a square halt is control over the horse’s steps.

From trot, ride a downward transition to halt, but then ask the horse to creep forward with tiny walk steps, controlling each one with your seat and leg. The horse mustn’t feel trapped, so keep your hands soft and forward.

Once you can influence his steps with your seat and leg aids, keep asking for subtle adjustments until his hindlegs come under him and he is square. Repetition is key — if you always insist on this it will become the norm.

If this isn’t working, try going back to basics. Take the problem out of the arena and spend time halting anywhere and everywhere, making sure that every single time your horse stands still, it is on your terms. Pretty soon, he’ll get the idea. You will get there eventually, but it is a case of quiet perseverance and practice.

Session 2: Practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this test riding video with top judge Isobel Wessels.

If you can not see the video player above, please click here

At this stage, focus on ensuring you are comfortable with the following:

• Transitions on a 20m circle
• Medium walk (double score)
• Halting from trot

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.