With another winter behind us and show season just around the corner, now is the time many dressage riders start to focus on their tests. We memorize the movements and practice them over and over again in pursuit of perfection. But is this really the most effective way to prepare for competition? Olympic dressage medallist Cindy Ishoy wants you to put those tests away and spend the pre-season focusing on the basics: rhythm, suppleness, and contact.

Training for a competition shouldn’t be any different than the training you do any other day. The key to success isn’t training for one test or practicing a particular set of movements over and over again. Success in the ring comes from correct, consistent riding every time you get on your horse. Ride gymnastically, ride correctly, every day. Every corner has to be precise. Every 10-metre circle has to be accurate, whether you’re riding in the middle of a field or in an arena. Focus on doing it correctly every time you ride at home and it will be easy when you get to a show.

The first three building blocks in the dressage training pyramid are rhythm, suppleness, and contact. Without correctly establishing these basic elements, you and your horse can’t successfully progress up the levels. Unfortunately there’s a growing trend of “fake it ‘til you make it,” where as long as the horse drops its head and looks to be in a pretty frame, it’s accepted. You may get away with this at the lower levels, but as you begin to move up you’ll quickly realize the horse doesn’t have the strength for more advanced work. Then the only solution is to go back to basics and address where the weaknesses lie.

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