Why I Warm Up Archie With Serpentines Before A Test

Before a dressage test, I want Archie attentive, supple and quietly listening rather than physically tired. My warm-up has changed through seasons of eventing, and the pattern that consistently helps us arrive at the arena in a better frame is the serpentine. It gives us changes of bend, straight lines and transitions without making the preparation feel repetitive.

A circle has always been useful in our schooling, especially when I need to work on a particular bend or ask Archie to step more actively underneath himself. Before a test, though, repeated circles can make him anticipate the curve. He begins to lean through the shoulder, shorten his neck or switch off to my outside rein. Serpentines keep his attention moving from one instruction to the next.

This matters at a competition because the warm-up is rarely a quiet, perfectly shaped arena. At a busy event near Sydney or Melbourne, several riders may be working around us, horses may be calling, and the surface can feel different from the one at home. I need a flexible routine that prepares Archie for the test without depending on having a large, empty space.

The aim is not to make the warm-up complicated. I ride a few simple loops, include transitions and reward a soft response. By the time we enter at A, Archie should understand that my leg, seat and outside rein still apply when the surroundings are busy. Serpentines give me a practical way to check that connection.

The Movement Benefits Of A Serpentine

A correctly ridden serpentine asks for several small adjustments in succession. Archie bends one way, travels across the arena, straightens briefly through the centre and then changes bend. Each change encourages him to rebalance rather than falling into one comfortable shape. I can feel whether he is staying between both reins or drifting towards the outside.

The straight section through the centre is particularly valuable. On a circle, the horse can continue turning almost continuously, which sometimes hides a loss of straightness. A serpentine gives me a moment to ride forward in a straight line, check the rhythm and prepare the next curve. If Archie rushes, I can steady him without pulling him around the bend.

The exercise also encourages evenness through his body. He does not have to make a dramatic change of direction; the bend should be gradual, with the shoulders following the line and the hindquarters staying underneath him. This is useful for dressage, but it carries across to eventing because a balanced horse is easier to organise before show jumping and more adjustable when approaching a cross-country question.

I keep the loops broad enough for Archie’s current suppleness. A shallow serpentine ridden accurately is more useful than three tight waves that cause him to lose rhythm. The quality of the trot matters more than fitting a certain number of curves into the arena.

How I Use The Pattern In Warm-Up

I begin with several minutes of active walking on a long rein. This gives Archie time to look around and lets me assess how he feels after travelling. At many Australian venues, the trip can involve long distances, a float ride in warm weather and a wait before our dressage time, so I do not expect him to be immediately ready for collected work.

When I pick up the reins, I start with large loops in rising trot. I ride from the outside leg and rein, rather than trying to pull Archie around each turn with the inside rein. The inside leg asks him to bend, while the outside aids control the shoulder and maintain the line. If he stays soft and forward, I reward him by returning to a straight line.

I then add transitions at sensible points. A few steps of walk on the centre line or a transition back to trot before the next curve helps me see whether Archie is listening. I do not perform a transition on every loop, because that would make the exercise busy. The pattern should create focus, not tension.

For our canter work, I use fewer serpentine changes than in trot. I may canter a large shallow loop, return to trot, change the rein and pick up the other lead. If the test includes a canter change of direction, I want the preparation to stay calm and uncomplicated. The warm-up is not the place to chase a perfect movement at the expense of Archie’s confidence.

I also leave time to ride the actual entry. Before going into the arena, I practise the final halt, salute and transition into the first movement in a simple way. That short rehearsal reminds me to breathe and gives Archie a familiar sequence before the judge’s bell.

Keeping The Warm-Up Practical In Australia

Weather affects how I use serpentines. On a cool morning in Victoria, Archie may need a longer active walk and more gradual work through the back. During a hot Queensland event, I shorten the trot portion, offer water where appropriate and avoid spending too long drilling the same movement. A few well-ridden loops are safer and more useful than an extended session in rising heat.

Surface also changes the shape I choose. Some competition arenas have a generous, well-prepared surface, while temporary yards at agricultural shows can be smaller or uneven around the edges. If the footing is deep, slippery or crowded, I make the serpentines shallower and use more straight lines. I would rather preserve Archie’s balance than force an exact school figure.

Travelling to a venue requires practical planning as well. I use eventing planning apps to keep competition times, travel details and training notes together, because arriving flustered can affect the quality of the warm-up. Packing water, rugs, spare gear and first-aid supplies is part of the preparation too, especially when the venue is several hours from home.

Biosecurity is another consideration for Australian riders. Horse movement requirements differ between states and territories, and venues may ask for identification, property details or health documentation. I check the current requirements before travelling rather than assuming the rules are the same for a trip from New South Wales to Queensland or Victoria. Archie settles more easily when the human part of the day is organised.

The local market influences our routine in smaller ways. Australian riders often work around shared arenas, agistment schedules, lessons and limited access to full-size dressage courts. A serpentine can be adapted to a smaller space, so I can practise the same ideas at home, at a pony club ground or in a busy warm-up without needing a perfect competition arena.

Why Circles Still Matter

I am not against circles. They remain one of the clearest ways to check bend, rhythm and suppleness. If Archie has become stiff to the left, I can ride a large circle, use careful leg-yielding into it and feel whether his ribs respond to my inside leg. If he is rushing in canter, a balanced circle can help me regulate the tempo.

Circles are also helpful when teaching a new movement. Before asking for a shoulder-in, for example, I may establish a steady circle and then straighten for a few strides while keeping the same alignment. Before practising a transition to canter, I may use a circle to organise the outside shoulder and make the departure more balanced.

The difference is the timing and purpose. In a schooling session, I may spend several minutes developing one circle. Before a test, I want to preserve Archie’s energy and keep him mentally available. Long repetitions can make him anticipate, especially if I always use the same circle before asking for canter or a transition.

I watch for signs that a circle is no longer helping. If Archie falls in, swings his hindquarters out, shortens his stride or braces against the rein, I make the figure larger or go straight. Sometimes the best correction is a few metres of forward trot, followed by a quiet change of direction. Serpentines naturally give me those chances to reset.

Reading Archie Rather Than Following A Formula

The pattern works because it suits Archie, not because serpentines are automatically superior for every horse. He is more willing when the work changes often enough to hold his attention, but he can become tense if the changes are abrupt. I therefore make each loop smooth and predictable, using my voice and seat to keep the rhythm steady.

His way of going tells me how much warm-up he needs. If he feels loose after travelling, I may spend only ten minutes in active work before waiting near the entrance. If he is tight through his back, I allow more time in walk and rising trot. I never want to use serpentines to cover up soreness, fatigue or an equipment problem.

The contact should remain elastic. I am looking for Archie to stretch into the bridle while staying in front of my leg, not for an artificially compressed outline. If the bend disappears, I return to a simpler line. If he gives me a soft transition, I let him go forward and praise him instead of immediately asking for another exercise.

This approach has also improved my own riding. I have to plan each change of bend early, keep my shoulders aligned with the line and avoid overusing the inside rein. That attention helps me ride more accurately in the test, where a small loss of balance can affect the next movement. The exercise is therefore preparation for both horse and rider.

The Routine I Take Into The Arena

My final warm-up is short enough that Archie still feels fresh. I finish with a movement I know he can do well, often a balanced transition or a quiet lengthened step in trot rather than a demanding exercise. I want our last impression before entering to be calm, forward and uncomplicated.

The comparison below reflects how I generally use each pattern. It is not a fixed rule, because Archie’s condition, the weather and the warm-up area all affect the decision.

Schooling pattern	What I use it for	What I watch for before a test
Serpentine	Changes of bend, attention, straightness and smooth transitions	Archie must keep an even rhythm and change bend without swinging through the shoulder
Large circle	Establishing suppleness and checking a particular bend	He should stay balanced without falling in or leaning on the inside rein
Small circle	Short, focused correction in a controlled schooling session	I avoid holding it too long, especially if the footing is deep or Archie feels tired
Straight line	Rebalancing, forward movement and checking alignment	I look for an active stride between both reins before starting another curve
Shallow canter loop	Confirming the lead and maintaining calm adjustability	I stop before the exercise creates tension or makes the canter hurried

Once the bell rings, I do not try to reproduce the whole warm-up inside the test. I ride the prescribed lines and trust the preparation. The serpentine has already reminded Archie to respond to both sides of my body, accept a change of direction and stay attentive through the centre line.

That is why I choose it so often before a dressage test. It gives me useful information without taking too much from him, and it mirrors the balance and adjustability required throughout an eventing day. Archie enters feeling like we have had a conversation rather than completed a checklist, which is exactly the mindset I want when we ride down the centre line.