A training system for the level of Grand Prix dressage riding requires the rider to work at least five to six days a week, and the horse needs to maintain a high degree of fitness. Learn about pushing a Grand Prix horse more and more throughout a week with helpful advice in this video on horse training and dressage.
So at the level of Grand Prix, our training system has us working at least five to six days a week. These horses require a high degree of fitness and it's very important that we probably work them about an hour at least, if not a little bit more. A lot of that time includes hacking a little bit, a lot of walk -- a lot of work in the walk -- good warm-up period, probably 20 minutes at least of warm up. And then of course, there are so many movements to be focusing on at that level that you cannot possibly get them in all in one training session. So you have to sort of...you know, I start on a Monday. I would work him lightly because he's had a day off, so I'm not expecting him to be at the top of his game that day. Feeling him out, seeing what he feels like that day, just basically doing some transitions -- walk, trot, canter, a little bit of stretching work -- and then I build on that throughout the week. So on Tuesday, we would do a little bit more higher degree of collections, some lateral movements where we move sideways a little bit. Probably Wednesday, I would do a little bit more towards more of the test movements, and whereas on a Thursday, I would be able to go actually through a test and ride one, and Friday, Saturday, finesse those movements and finesse the test and bring him up to his ultimate capacity. So Sundays sometimes are the day off or a lighter day. You would maybe just take him for a hack and, you know, let him get out of the 20 by 60 ring and not just let him be in the ring -- in the dressage ring -- giving him something new to look at and new to do that he stays fresh and happy working for me.
