SCHOOLING SOLUTIONS
FLATWORK SUCCESS
Dressage trainer Sarah Payne explains how to lay the foundations for a winning pirouette, as well as improve core strength to enable more precision riding
PART TWO
AS ANYONE WHO has binge watched Paramount’s drama series, Yellowstone, will attest, riding a pirouette is a classic cowboy move. And whether a rider is looking to channel their inner Western, up their marks in a dressage test (walk pirouettes are introduced at medium level), or simply boost the horse’s co-ordination, suppleness and engagement, they are a fantastic exercise to learn and hone.
“Pirouettes are an advanced lateral movement, but every rider, whatever their level, can tackle elements of them,” says dressage trainer Sarah Payne.
“In training it isn’t compulsory to ride a movement in full, and doing sections can be more beneficial. This is true for schoolmaster types, like Woodlander Wavavoom, who often tries to second guess what his rider is going to ask and then takes control.”
We join Lily Payne and her lovely stallion as they perfect their canter pirouettes and explore the exercises that can be done off the horse, too, in order to improve effectiveness in the saddle.
MEET THE TRAINER
SARAH PAYNE is a BHSI, List 2A dressage judge, Equipilates teacher and Testt Certified Coach. She runs Sheepgate Equestrian, a competition venue near Boston in Lincolnshire and jointly owns the star horse there, Woodlander Wavavoom, with Lynne Crowden.
MEET THE RIDER & HORSE
Sarah’s daughter, LILY PAYNE, is a dressage rider and coach. For this session she is piloting the 16.2hh, 17-year-old Hanoverian stallion Woodlander Wavavoom (Voom), who is currently working at intermediate 1 level.
EXERCISE 1
“Voom is a stallion with plenty of muscle over his topline, so we focus on suppleness at the start of every training session, as well as giving him lots of time in walk,” explains Sarah. “He is looking great for a teen, but older horses will always benefit from a proper warm up that allows them to stretch, loosen up and switch on mentally.”
■ 1 Spend at least 10 minutes in walk and develop a warm up routine that plays to your horse’s strengths and gets every schooling session off to a positive start.
■ 2 If your horse is a fizzy type, ride large circles and make lots of changes of rein to help keep him focused and relaxed.
