The walk will be scored throughout your journey to Grand Prix—but who really wants to hear that?
We all want to learn flying changes, pirouettes, and piaffe. Spending time schooling the walk? That sounds boring!
Yet the walk appears in every test, from the beginning of your dressage career through Grand Prix. It deserves our attention, especially because tension can so easily affect its quality.
Take time to encourage your horse to stretch into your hand and reach his nose forward. What happens when you shorten the reins? Does he stay relaxed and keep marching, or does he tighten his back and shorten his steps?
Pay attention to your downward transitions, too. Does your horse walk purposefully forward, or does he slow down and drag his feet the moment you leave the trot? The walk should still have energy—it isn’t a signal to stop participating!
And how are your walk pirouettes? They may look simple, but maintaining the rhythm, activity, bend, and balance through the turn takes careful schooling. Practice a few thoughtful steps, then walk forward again rather than drilling the movement.
I have to remind myself of this, too. It’s easy to spend time on the movements we find exciting and overlook the basics.
The walk may not be the flashiest part of your ride, but it deserves a place in your training—not just your warm-up and cool-down!