At 4 years old, a dressage horse should be focused on building a strong foundation through basic work. Here’s a breakdown following dressage principles:
Groundwork:
- Lunging: This helps develop suppleness, acceptance of the bit, and straightness.
- Solid understanding of basic aids: This includes forward movement, stop, and turning.
Riding:
- Suppleness and balance: Exercises that encourage the horse to stretch their neck and back while remaining balanced.
- Rhythm and regularity: Maintaining consistent gaits (walk, trot) with clear transitions between them.
- Light contact: The horse should accept the bit without feeling restricted.
- Straightness: The horse should be able to move straight lines and bends without drifting.
- Forwardness: The horse should move with impulsion and willingness to go forward.
Important points to remember:
- Keep it positive: Training sessions should be short and positive, focusing on rewarding good behavior.
- Respect the horse’s development: A 4-year-old is still maturing physically and mentally. Don’t push them too hard.
- Focus on fun: Make training enjoyable for the horse to build trust and confidence.
You can find some videos of 4 years old horses that have followed this training principles:
If you are interested to buy a young horse you can contact Luis Castillo (luis@lanebulosa.com), to know which horses we currently have for sale.
