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Flatwork - The Walk
Walk
The walk is the most basic movement of a horse in flatwork. The different types of walk are collected walk, medium walk, extended walk and free walk on a long rein.
How To Ask For The Walk Pace:
- To ask a horse to walk on, first preparation of both horse and rider is required. This involves the rider checking their position is correct and that they are ready to move on.
- The rider, keeping their heels down and lower leg in position on the girth, gently squeezes inwards. At the same time the rider while looking straight ahead, softens the rein contact to allow the horse to move forwards.
- Once in walk the rider needs to remain tall, and be sitting equally on both seatbones with the seat and upper body square in the saddle.
- The rider should have a soft and elastic rein contact, allowing their hands to move freely with the movement of the horse and with no tension throughout the rest of the riders body.
- The whole of the riders inner leg should remain in close contact with the saddle and side of the horse, with the lower leg gently squeezing to maintain forward momentum.
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Common Faults
- Care must be taken not to let the leg grip up, especially with the knee, as this causes the inner leg to pivot on the knee and brings the lower leg away from the side of the horse, which in turn draws the heel up giving the rider an insecure lower leg.
- The seat needs to stay central in the saddle with the rider sitting equally on both seat bones.
- The upper body should remain straight and not tip forward when the lower leg is nudging as this will unbalance the rider.
- The rider needs to turn through their waist and shoulders without leaning to the side or forwards when they are ready to ask for a turn or change of direction.
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