Tricky Transitions

How to address the common problems 

Unless you’re a competitive dressage rider, riding perfect transitions are probably not top of mind. It may not seem like such a big deal if your horse is slightly delayed off the leg or a bit heavy in your hand, but these are subtle signs of something much bigger. Inability to transition upward and downward with ease can be a sign of lacking strength and imbalance; however, this can be trained and developed with some consistency on the rider’s side.

Upward transitions

Upward transitions are certainly easier for a horse than downward transitions because the movement is forward. However, your horse should never ‘lag’ when asked to move forward. Forwardness and responsiveness to the leg is a telling sign of how engaged your horse is and his general attitude towards his work.

The next time you ride, assess your horse’s response time from the time you put your leg on to the time he transitions to the upward gait. Is he immediately responsive, does he only transition three seconds after you ask him to go forward, or do you feel like you have to nag until you have practically ridden half a circle before he starts to trot? If your horse is slow off the leg – by any degree – then some sessions focused on teaching him to ride off your leg are in order.

Forward off the leg

Transitions should always be forward, whether they are up or down. You can’t expect your horse to propel into a forward trot from a sluggish walk. Carry a dressage whip rather than put on a pair of spurs. Horses can become desensitised to spurs if worn too often, and unless you have excellent lower leg control, you could end up jabbing him in the sides repeatedly, which will send mixed messages about what you’re actually asking. A dressage whip can be used to lightly reinforce the leg aid when your horse isn’t quick off your leg.