Build a smarter pre-competition horse stretching routine

A good pre-competition horse stretching routine is less about forcing a neat pose and more about preparing the body to move. Dynamic walking, flexion, balance and canter work can warm muscles, improve coordination and let the rider check that the horse is moving freely before dressage, cross-country or showjumping.

Eventers work in changing conditions, and no two horses need exactly the same warm-up. A nervous horse may need quieter groundwork, while an experienced campaigner may need a brief reminder of the test or fence. The routine should therefore be repeatable, low-stress and adapted to the horse, rider and venue.

The Schramm Equestrian profile offers a useful backdrop for this approach: Dom and Jimmie Schramm’s eventing careers connect preparation details to the reality of competing and travelling with horses. Any horse showing pain, persistent stiffness or an abrupt change in movement needs veterinary assessment before a stretching programme is increased or altered.

Why movement should come before stretching

Muscles are generally more responsive after a short dynamic warm-up. Active range-of-motion work increases circulation and gradually raises muscle temperature, helping the horse coordinate the limbs before higher-demand work. It also gives the rider time to notice a shortened stride, uneven tracking or discomfort that a static stretch may conceal.

Long, passive stretches should not be the main preparation immediately before effort. Holding a limb in an extreme position can make a horse tense, and some research associates intense stretching with temporary reductions in force production. If a stretch is familiar and comfortable, keep it brief and place it within a broader mobility routine. No bouncing or forcing is needed.

The goal is readiness, not maximum flexibility, and no stretching routine can guarantee injury prevention. A horse that can walk calmly, turn through the shoulders, trot with an even rhythm and canter in both leads has a useful base. Stop if an exercise produces resistance, repeated tail swishing, marked head tilting or a sudden change in breathing.

Design the routine around the horse

Start with what the horse already does well. Rehearse the warm-up at home in the same gear, on similar footing and at a comparable time of day. If the horse is unsettled by a roller, poles or being lunged, simplify the exercise instead of adding intensity. Familiarity often matters more than novelty on a competition morning.

Match the movement to the phase and level of the event. A dressage horse may benefit from gentle lateral flexion and changes of bend. A cross-country horse needs comfortable forwardness, elevation and canter changes, while a showjumper may need rhythm, bascule and one or two calm practice fences. The exercises should mirror the demands without rehearsing fatigue.

A warm-up of 15 to 25 minutes is often enough for many horses, but duration is less important than progression. On a hot day, shorten the walk-in and use early-morning shade. After a long drive, allow time to settle, drink and urinate before asking for active work, and adjust the intensity rather than following a fixed routine regardless of condition.

Build the warm-up in ordered stages

Begin with an objective check: inspect the horse’s posture, feet and tack, then walk for several minutes in both directions if safe. Look for equal energy in the steps and a willingness to continue. This is also the moment to adjust boots or studs, confirm the bit and notice any heat, swelling or sensitivity that should be reported.

Add gentle mobilisation through large, comfortable circles, changes of bend and shoulder or forehand flexion. Ask for one or two easy forward steps after each new movement. Lunging or loose schooling can be useful for assessing the horse without a rider’s weight, but only where the horse has been trained calmly for that work.

Progress towards the horse’s normal canter, including transitions within the gait and, if appropriate, both leads. A few low poles, a gentle hill or one controlled fence can prepare coordination and judgement. Finish by repeating the first walk and checking that the horse has not become dull, overworked or lopsided.

Plan around Australian conditions and schedules

Australian event days can require quite different compromises. Melbourne’s winter often brings cold wind and intermittent rain, while summer in Brisbane can be humid and punishing. Early starts, shaded waiting areas and reduced warm-up intensity can be more effective than forcing a standard routine at midday.

Competition programmes use metres and degrees Celsius, so a warm-up built around local conditions is easier to plan. Aussies often call the afternoon the arvo, and riders should still treat the published start time as fixed. Work backwards from it to allow for parking, stable access, tack checks, warm-up arena space and the walk to the start.

Travel adds another layer. The Equestrian Federation of Australia and its state branches, together with registered veterinarians, farriers and equine physiotherapists, form much of the support network around Australian competitions. General legal guidance can prompt questions about insurance, liability and horse movement, but each organiser’s current rules and destination-state biosecurity requirements should be checked directly.

Two checklists for a calm competition warm-up

Use these lists as prompts rather than a performance standard, adapting them to the horse and discipline. The first provides a simple movement sequence:

• Walk calmly in both directions and check the feet, tack and overall comfort.
• Use large circles and gentle flexion before increasing speed or challenge.
• Progress to trot and canter, adding only movements the horse knows well.
• Finish with a small practice element, then recheck stride, breathing and willingness.

A second list can serve as the final check before leaving the warm-up area:

• Confirm the saddle, bridle, number and any protective equipment are secure.
• Check that the horse moves freely and remains comfortable on each rein.
• Review the test or course, time and weather, then offer water and a quiet moment.
• Agree on any last adjustment with the trainer, groom or competition partner.

For an unfamiliar venue, arrive early enough to walk the warm-up surface and locate a level, non-slip area. If the footing is deep, the weather is severe or the horse is unusually tired, remove an exercise rather than making the horse work harder to compensate. Keep every transition smooth so the warm-up resembles the first minutes of the test, not a separate contest of stretching or strength.

Review the routine and make it repeatable

Write down what worked after each competition: exercises, time, surface, weather and any change in the horse’s movement. Review the notes on the following day rather than during the busy event. Small adjustments, such as removing a movement on a hot morning or adding a familiar pole in cold conditions, are easier to make when the plan is visible.

Test changes at home and seek veterinary input for pain, persistent asymmetry or a sudden loss of performance. A qualified instructor can help adapt the exercises to the horse’s training and temperament. The goal is a simple routine that makes the horse comfortable and attentive, not a fashionable collection of stretches.

Before your next event, put the final routine on a card in the tack trunk, rehearse it with the whole team and use the Schramm Equestrian contact page to coordinate preparation questions.