It’s easy to abandon the walk and accept what the horse has naturally in favour of training the more exciting movements. Why do we do this when the free walk and extended walk are double marks, it contributes towards the mark for paces, and we have multiple movements that rely on a good walk quality?
Even if your horse isn’t naturally blessed with a fantastic walk like the lovely Bright Time FST here, there is still lots we can do in training to maximise the marks in competition. Simply making sure you practise smooth transitions between a collected, medium, free and extended walk will make it second nature in the arena and help avoid those dreaded jog steps. A slight shoulder-fore might help lateral steps, or try experimenting with renvers and travers to break up a brittle walk.
How many of us here are guilty of letting ourselves and our horses slouch around during breaks while we chat? Of course, the horse needs time to recover between more demanding efforts, but they should stay in ‘work mode’, seeking the contact and stepping actively forward. The walk shouldn’t become the place where they switch off – remember it usually is sandwiched into the middle of a test!
The walk is also a vital tool for training the way of going and the lateral work. A useful exercise is simply picking up the medium walk and feeling what the horse gives you. Is he straight? Is he taking the contact evenly? Are you able to move him away from the leg? All these things can get lost in the trot and the canter. Similarly, riding the lateral work in walk may give you the chance to work out why it’s not coming together in the other paces. Take the time to assess your own position and aids. Are you falling out on one side? Crossing a hand over the wither? Pitching forward? Gripping with the knee? It’s much easier to feel in the walk than the trot.
Walk is a pace that is far too often forgotten. It may not be glamorous but it’s an important part of training and competing. Even an excellent walk can be enhanced with thoughtful exercises, and those that aren’t as blessed can, if not gain marks, at least not lose so many.