The Serpentine
This exercise works
on: suppleness,
straightness,
contact,balance,
and the half halt.
The serpentine traditionally consists
of two or three half circles connected, however the size, the number and
the shape of the loops can change for added difficultness, emphasis
on certain weaknesses in the horse and rider and increased agility in the
horse. The loops must stay round, and even through each. This
is what works the horse evenly on both sides, allows the horse to learn
to shift and balance, and not worry about falling on his nose.
The two loop serpentine
if performed in a 20x40 meter arena consists of two 20 meter circles which
join at X. If started at A the first loop begins, just like any normal
20 meter circle, the horse following the track of the circle this works
on the lateral suppleness and straightness. At X the rider straightens
the horse for one stride, applies the half halt to rebalance the horse,
change the bend (and changes the posting diagonal) and continue on the
second loop. This one stride (sometimes two while teaching it to
the horse) teaches the half halt, as even if the horse does not know the
half halt the natural instinct to rebalance and shift the weight will teach
the horse to associate that with the half halt. The one straight
stride also works on the longitudinal suppleness by asking the horse to
shift the weight, and change the bend.
If the Serpentine is
started at A it will end at C.
On the left the correct two loop serpentine in a 20x40 meter ring.
The right shows it done incorrectly.
The three loop serpentine
has the same basics as the two loop serpentine. If done in properly
the loops are the same size.
The traditional three loop serpentine called for in dressage tests
etc.
There are many variations on the three loop
serpentine for schooling the horse. One variation is to not
go wall to wall in the loops but from the quarter line to quarter line.
This makes it so the loops can be circles in a shorter ring asking for
greater precision from the rider and horse as they do not have the wall
of the arena for a guide.
For more suppling the
serpentine can be changed so that more loops are added, this requiring
smaller loops for it to work asks the horse to bend more becoming and showing
more lateral suppleness. The added changes of direction asks for
longitudinal suppleness of the horse as the horse is required to shift
and shorten and change the bend more often. The variation shown below
gives many loops, and allows the loops to be carried on the curve for longer
then the traditional serpentine. This variation is NOT correct for
riding tests, dressage, it is purely a schooling exercise. For even
added difficulty the loops can be carried further, making the angle more
severe between loops allowing for even more loops to be added into the
ring.
The serpentine changed to work on more suppleness in schooling
the horse. Added loops take it from the traditional form.
No matter which
way the rider changes the serpentine, it must be done deliberately with
the shape of the loops in the riders mind. The rider must make sure
to bend the horse accordingly on the loops (but with out over bending),
must straighten the horse properly on the straight away applying the half
halt and changing the bend. The serpentine if done properly will
put the rider and horse onto the outside rein, giving an even contact,
but this will only occur if the rider stays with the exercise.