THE SLALOM

Just as the Triangle is a progression from the Square exercise, the Slalom is a progression from loops and serpentines. I often include this exercise when doing the "Physiotherapy Riding" session. It is as the title implies, the horse is ridden through a winding course of very shallow loops resembling the slalom in skiing (but it is not downhill or on snow!).

The horse should be warmed up beforehand in working trot and have done changes of rein and some serpentines containing big loops and then slightly smaller loops.

Then the Slalom is done along the length of the arena, either on the centre line or the quarter line. This exercise can be done in rising trot at first and then later in sitting trot. It is not necessary to change the trot diagonal when doing it in rising trot, as the direction is changed very quickly. When the horse understands, the loops can be reduced to as little as two metres wide. The most important part of this exercise is that the horse responds immediately to the change in the rider's weight aid. It is imperative that the rider uses the weight aids and that the horse understands them. When the horse truly understands the weight aids, the need for leg or rein aids becomes less. The horse learns to shift his balance and change direction many times, this is really a very good exercise for improving the horse's balance. The horse does not have to be in a round outline for this exercise.

If you look at the following link to a video of a western rider, riding with no bridle, you can see how a horse can learn to respond to the rider's weight aids and use of the body.

Riding With No Bridle