17/10/2026
Loops must be symmetrical in shape and length and ridden as a series of curves with no sharp angles that would disrupt your horse’s balance and rhythm.
Loops serve multiple purposes in your training:
✅ An Ideal Exercise for Young Horses - Loops require changes of bend without an extreme change of direction, minimizing the likelihood that your young horse will lose balance or alignment (straightness).
✅ An Ideal Warm-Up Exercise for Advanced Horses - For the same reason as above, loops are an ideal exercise to ride during the warm-up of more advanced horses, because they require gradual changes of bend.
✅ Improve Lateral Suppleness - Loops test and enhance your horse's ability to transition smoothly from one bend to another, promoting lateral (side-to-side) suppleness.
✅ Improve Rider Coordination - Riding loops challenges your coordination because you must smoothly and effectively adjust your aids and body position.
✅ Counter Canter Preparation: Loops can be used in the introduction and training of counter-canter.
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