20/07/2025
🌿RHYTHM🌿
Dressage doesn’t start with collection or perfection—it starts with the first building block of the training scale: RHYTHM. That steady, consistent, and unhurried beat is the foundation of everything we build with our horses. Rhythm teaches us patience. It reminds us to move in harmony with our horse, not ahead of them.
Whether you're riding a green horse or schooling higher movements, always come back to this question: Can we move with balance, relaxation, and clarity in the rhythm that suits this horse? This is where real training begins—and where true partnership forms.
🐎 Why rhythm matters:
Rhythm is the consistent tempo and regularity of the footfalls. It builds relaxation, balance, and flow in every ride. According to the FEI, "The rhythm should also be maintained through the transitions within a pace and in all turns, also in the corners, as well as on straight lines. No exercise can be good if the horse is losing rhythm. A loss of rhythm is often a sign of incorrect training".
💡 Know your beats:
• Walk = 4-beat
• Trot = 2-beat
• Canter = 3-beat
Your horse's rhythm must stay regular and unforced.
⚖️ What rhythm feels like:
A natural, swinging movement where the horse feels connected, not hurried or held.
🧘♀️ Your job as a rider:
• Rein in tension
• Feel your horse’s tempo
• Follow, support, and maintain the rhythm
This is the beginning of a true connection.
✨ Rein & Rise is about more than riding. It’s about partnership. Contact us to discuss your training needs.