(“Shouldn’t any horse be able to walk or trot down a trail?”)

I was asked to contribute an article for the American Morgan Horse Association’s newsletter with some thought on cross training. I think, by and large, if you are a regular visitor to this blog, you can probably guess what I think about the topic. You could probably even write this one yourself. However . . . it just never hurts to cover all your bases. I’ve been shocked in the past to discover gaps in some riders’ knowledge that I’d never considered—even to the point of not being able to recite the sequence of the footfalls in the canter. Therefore:

If you’re a typical goal-directed, Type A personality kind of rider, it’s easy to over-focus on short-term goals and over-school the movements your next test calls for. Yes, it is OK for your main concern to be where your horse is in the moment, but you can get so wound up in the “now” that you neglect the bigger picture of your horse’s overall physical and mental well-being.

Cross training is one good way to avoid that mistake. Whether applied to human or equine athletes, this approach incorporates other disciplines to focus on muscle groups which are not emphasized in your primary work. Even if you’re not a devotee, the patterns and exercises of dressage can be a way to introduce some variety to your daily ride. Dressage riders themselves can improve their horses’ aerobic fitness by adopting a more flexible training schedule.

Here I’m talking to you competitors who can’t tear yourselves away from the schooling arena. DO something else! I don’t mean that your Second Level horse should go run barrels on alternate Tuesdays. Some activities will be more compatible with your program than others. But I knew one prominent dressage trainer who thought he was going on a “trail ride” if he climbed on his horse outside the barn and walked over to the indoor ring.

Honestly, shouldn’t any horse be able to walk or trot down a trail? Just getting out of the arena can refresh your horse’s attitude. Work on hills and meaningful terrain will help develop his hindquarters. As a side benefit, it will make you much more aware of your horse’s balance and encourage you to learn to adjust it. Getting your horse off the forehand can make him more maneuverable and even prolong his working life.

A well rounded, well trained horse should always give you options. Though your ring work may be slanted towards collecting him, your horse (and you) should be able to open up and cover ground in a bold and confident gallop. It will not only build your horse’s wind and stamina, but it will also remind you of what a loose, naturally free-flowing horse feels like and help you bring that perspective to your regular work.

Even if you stay in the arena, you can athleticize and amuse your horse with ground poles, cavaletti, and gymnastic jumping. Just be sure you know the correct spacing for them so you don’t accidentally build a trap for your horse!

If you drive your horse, he can be made more supple if you also do bending, yielding exercises under saddle. Conversely, a horse that spends some time between the shafts can improve his rhythm and steadiness of tempo.

If your training is in a rut or if you just want to expand your horse’s horizon, add a little spice to his routine. He may be shocked and amazed at first, but he’ll soon come to love it.