Building a Partnership with Your Horse by Lynn Palm
"Respecting the Rider’s Proper Form, Exercises on the Longe Line - Part 2"

This article will conclude the series on exercises to improve the rider’s form. If you have been practicing the exercises from the series, your balance and relaxation, as well as confidence while riding, should have improved. The exercises in this article will be done on the longe at the canter. If you do not feel that you are ready for them now, keep practicing the exercises from previous articles until your balance and relaxation improves.

Once again, you will need a consistent, well-schooled horse tacked up with saddle, a halter with longe line properly attached, and leg protection. Your helper should know how to longe a horse. Do exercises on the longe in a large enclosed area such as a paddock, corral, or arena to give you and your horse more security.

Remember the key words from the previous lessons: Do each exercise SLOWLY. BREATHE because it encourages relaxation. Think “CENTER-SQUARE-BALANCED.” STOP if you experience any pain or have medical conditions that could be complicated by doing any of these exercises.

Warm up yourself and your horse by doing exercises at the walk, jog or trot, and extended jog or trot. As before, I will explain these exercises as if you are riding in a Western saddle. Your reins are knotted and the knot is looped over the saddle horn. Remember the rider is responsible for keeping the horse out on the circle and for speed control through the use of her seat, leg, and voice aids. Working at the canter will be more challenging. At the same time she is performing these exercises, the rider must effectively use her aids to keep her horse from breaking from the canter to the trot.

When you and your helper agree that you are prepared for longe work at the canter, prepare your aids and ask your horse for an upward transition from the trot. You should stay relaxed with hands down at your sides as your horse strikes off into a canter. You should not hold your horse with your knees, but rather keep your legs “soft.” Your body needs to stay centered. Do a few circles at the canter to give yourself a feel of riding this gait without reins before you begin the following exercises.

Arm Extensions:

While at the canter, extend one arm and then the other so that both are straight out in front of you at shoulder height with the palms facing downwards. Hold them in this position for several strides, and then open your arms so they are extended out to your sides. Hold this position for a few strides. Now bring both arms back to the starting position in front of you. Tip: Be sure to keep your chest up, open, and shoulders back. Do not slump! Keep looking ahead while doing this exercise.

Four-Point Arm Circles:

You have done this one before at the walk and trot. Start in the same position as in the Arm Extensions with arms extended straight ahead at shoulder height. As you keep the left arm in the starting position, rotate the right arm with the palm down so it extends overhead. Rotate the shoulder so that the arm makes a big circle until the arm is behind you. Continue the arm circle by bringing the hand down to your side. Finish with the right arm back at the starting position. Do the exercise with the other arm. Do these arm rotations slowly.

Behind Your Back:

Place both hands behind you on the small of your back. Do several strides of the canter in this position. Now bring your arms above your head, keeping the elements of your form in proper position. Finish by bringing the arms back down to your sides. Remember to breathe and relax!

Straight Arm Swings:

Hold the left arm down at your side. Slowly swing the right arm forward in front of you with the palm down and elbow straight until it is at shoulder height. Next, slowly swing the arm back behind you. After you do several repetitions, change arms.

Bent Elbow Swings:

Hold the arm that is toward the inside of the longe circle down at your side. Bend the elbow of the outside arm in a 90-degree angle. Slowly swing the bent arm forwards and backwards. Look to the inside of the longe circle as you do this exercise. Do several repetitions. Switch arms, and look toward the outside of the longe circle while working the inside arm.

To finish the exercises at the canter, untie your reins without looking. If riding Western, bring both reins into the hand that you normally use to hold them. By putting more weight in your seat and using leg and voice aids, bring your horse back to the trot. Keep your shoulders back and weight in your seat to make the transition to the trot. Trot a couple of circles and ask for the downward transition to the walk. Then halt.

Exercises on the longe at the walk, trot, and canter are fun and extremely beneficial to build relaxation and to improve your riding form and balance. Use these exercises as often as possible in your daily schooling or in a warm-up before a competition. Be creative and mix and match the exercises to develop your personal warm-up and flexibility routine. Remember to do them in various gaits and varying speeds within each gait.

Note: In order to benefit from these exercises, you must have a horse that is quiet and reliable. You cannot learn the exercises if you are always worrying about your horse. You need to be able to concentrate on yourself. If you are unsure about your horse or if he gives you any problem while doing these exercises, move to a more enclosed area like a round pen.

For information about my book, Head to Toe Horsemanship and my video series, Dressage Principles for the Western and English Horse and Rider, as well as other training products, visit www.lynnpalm.com or call 800-503-2824.