Why a Good Warm-Up is Essential for Your Horse
- Horses Inside Out
- May 1
- 4 min read
One of the most important parts of setting up for a successful training session is the warm-up phase. Sometimes, the importance of this phase can be overlooked or rushed.
Think of the warm-up as preparing your horse’s body and mind for the work ahead. Just like athletes don’t dive straight into sprinting or lifting weights, horses shouldn’t be expected to go from the stable to performing complicated or advanced movements without a proper build-up. A thoughtful, well-planned and executed warm-up not only improves performance but also helps prevent injury, increases flexibility, and allows the horse to become mentally focused. It’s good for you as the rider too. In this article we look at why a good warm up is so important and suggest what to include in it to set you up for a successful training session.
The Purpose of the Warm-Up
The goal of the warm-up is to gradually increase circulation, loosen up the joints and muscles, and tune your horse into your aids. It also gives you, the rider or trainer a chance to assess the horse’s physical and mental state that day.
The aim of the warm up is to:
Increase blood flow to the muscles and vital organs
Improve pulse and respiration rate
Awaken the core muscles
Stretch the muscles, ligaments and tendons
Take the joints through a full range of movement
Increase flexibility and range of movement
Focus the mind
How long is your warm-up?
Every horse is different but your warm-up should be around 15 – 20 minutes long. If your horse is older or has had a previous injury you may need to extend this phase a little as they may need more time to warm up sufficiently. Your warm-up can begin before you get in the saddle as Gillian explains her routine.
“I get on in the arena, so I lead my horse into the arena and on the way to the arena I have a series of raised telegraph poles that we walk over on the way.
Once in the arena, I will ask my horse to back up in-hand for approximately 10-15 steps. I repeat this three or four times.
“I also ask my horse to walk small circles, just a few in each direction. Making sure he is stepping forward on each circle with is front legs and not just spinning his hindquarters around.”
Once on board, you can start your warm-up with free walk on a long rein for 5–10 minutes. This allows the back to swing and elongates the topline and back muscles. It also enables the spinal ligament system to raise the back and support you, the rider.
Walk equally in both directions and you can include large turns and gentle changes of direction to encourage looseness.
An alternative that works well it so to take your horse for a short walk hack and once you are back in the school you can start on some movements and exercises.
To learn more about the biomechanics of the walk watch our on-demand recorded webinar to understand this important pace in much more detail.
Exercises to Include in Your Warm-up
Still on a long rein, move up to trot making sure it’s in a regular rhythm and moving forwards.
Continue to ride the movements you have already done in walk and you can start to introduce some of the following exercises or movements.
Large Loops and Circles
Working on 20-metre circles, serpentines, or large figure-eight at the walk and trot are good for preparing the muscles for work. They also help your horse start to bend, engage different muscles, and improve suppleness. Focus on maintaining the rhythm as you ride each movement and encourage the horse to stretch forward into the contact.
Transitions Between and Within the Pace
Introduce transitions between walk and trot, and then within the trot itself (e.g., working trot to a more forward trot). This helps the horse tune into your aids and encourages engagement of the hindquarters. Transitions also encourage your horse to lift their back, improve suppleness and begins to open the airways and increase respiration rate and circulation.
Going Sideways
Lateral work is also good to incorporate into your warm-up. Try some leg-yield, shoulder-in and travers. These are all great for stretching joints, encouraging the hind legs to step under and across the body to loosen and supple your horse as well as engaging his core.
Discover more about lateral work and it’s benefits as well as how to ride them correctly in our on-demand recorded webinar The Biomechanics of Lateral Work.
Also, the Thoracic Sling Muscles on-demand recorded webinar is another great watch that goes into a lot more detail about the horse’s core and exercises to try.
Cantering in a long and low outline
This elongates and strengthens the topline muscles helping to prepare them for when you pick up the contact later in your training session. Warming up in canter in a two-point position is kinder to your horse’s back and helps alleviate any stiffness. It is also beneficial if your horse has any kind of back problem.
Gillian talks a lot more about warm up and the biomechanics of canter in the on-demand recorded webinar the Biomechanics of Canter.
Stretching in All Gaits
Allow your horse moments to stretch their topline in each gait. A long and low outline during trot and canter can help release tension in the back and neck. This also encourages your horse to relax and move more freely.
Warming Up is a Mental Exercise Too
The warm-up isn’t just about the body, it’s also about preparing the mind. Use this time to connect with your horse. Notice how they feel, how responsive they are, and if they seem tense or distracted. Depending on what you feel may alter the focus of the rest of your training session. Listening to how your horse is feeling each time you ride is important and long-term will mean you will progress in your training and create a confident and happy horse.
What do you do in your horse's warm-up? Share your exercises and tips in the comments.
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