In equestrian training, relaxation refers to a state of both physical and mental ease in the horse that allows it to move freely, respond willingly to the rider’s aids, and perform at its best. Relaxation is not passivity — a relaxed horse can be forward, energetic, and expressive. Rather, it describes the absence of tension: muscles that swing freely, a jaw that chews softly on the bit, and a mind that is present and cooperative rather than anxious or braced.
Relaxation in the Training Scale
In classical dressage, relaxation (Losgelassenheit in German) occupies the second rung of the Training Scale, sitting above rhythm and below contact. The Training Scale — rhythm, relaxation, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection — describes the logical order in which a horse’s training should progress. A horse cannot maintain a correct contact if it is tense; it cannot develop true impulsion if its back is locked; it cannot achieve straightness if it is bracing against the rider’s aids.
The FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) and British Dressage both emphasise that relaxation must be established early and maintained throughout the horse’s training career. It is not a box that gets ticked at novice level and forgotten — an Olympic-level horse still requires a genuine state of relaxation to perform the Grand Prix movements correctly and beautifully.
Physical Signs of Relaxation
Recognising relaxation in a horse is an important skill for any rider or trainer. Physical indicators include:
A swinging back — the horse’s back moves rhythmically with each stride, absorbing the rider’s weight rather than stiffening against it. A blocked, rigid back is one of the most common signs of tension.
A soft, chewing jaw — a relaxed horse mouths the bit gently, producing small amounts of foam. A clamped jaw, head tilted to one side, or tongue pushed over the bit all indicate tension.
A lowered head and neck — while collection requires the horse to carry itself differently, the poll should be the highest point with the horse seeking a contact rather than curling away from it or tilting upward in resistance.
A regular tail swing — a tail that swings freely in rhythm with the hind legs is a good sign. A clamped or erratically swishing tail suggests tension or pain.
A soft eye and forward ears — the horse’s expression reflects its mental state. A horse with a hard, wide eye and pinned ears is tense; soft, mobile eyes and relaxed, forward-pointing ears suggest ease.
Achieving Relaxation in Training
Relaxation cannot be forced — attempting to push a tense horse onto the bit or riding it harder rarely resolves underlying tension. Instead, it must be created through patient, progressive work. Common approaches include:
Long and low stretching: Allowing the horse to stretch forward and downward on a light contact encourages the neck and back muscles to release. This is used both as a warm-up exercise and as a reward within a session. The horse should reach forward for the bit, not just drop its head.
Transitions: Frequent, smooth transitions between gaits — particularly from canter to trot, trot to walk, and walk to trot — encourage the horse to listen and respond to the aids rather than anticipating or rushing. A horse that is focused on what comes next is less likely to be consumed by anxiety about its surroundings.
Polework: Ground poles redirect a tense horse’s attention to the task at hand and encourage it to use its body through the need for careful foot placement.
Consistent handling and routine: Relaxation begins long before the rider mounts. A horse that is handled calmly, stabled or turned out consistently, and worked with patient, predictable aids will develop greater general relaxation over time than one kept in stressful or inconsistent conditions.
The Relationship Between Relaxation and Pain
It is essential to distinguish between a training tension problem and a pain response. A horse that is consistently tense, resistant, or unwilling may be experiencing physical discomfort — from an ill-fitting saddle, dental issues, gastric ulcers, back pain, or lameness. Before assuming a relaxation problem is purely psychological, a thorough assessment of the horse’s health, tack fit, and physical soundness is warranted. Veterinary and saddlery input is often the most important first step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my horse tense up when I ask for canter?
Tension at canter transitions is very common and usually has one of several causes: anticipation (the horse predicts an aid and braces before it arrives), physical imbalance (the horse struggles to carry itself in canter and compensates with tension), or anxiety about the speed and power of the gait. Working on progressive canter transitions from a relaxed, established trot — and rewarding softness immediately — gradually reduces the anticipation response. A physiotherapy check is also worthwhile if the tension is one-sided or persistent.
How long does it take to achieve relaxation in a young horse?
This varies enormously with the individual horse and the consistency of its training. Some young horses are naturally settled and relaxed within the first few months of work; others take considerably longer. The key is not to rush — establishing genuine relaxation at walk before progressing to trot, and at trot before canter, builds a foundation that supports everything else in the training scale.
Is relaxation the same as laziness?
No — relaxation and laziness are distinct. A lazy horse lacks forward impulsion and requires constant leg aids to maintain pace. A relaxed horse is forward, willing, and responsive — it simply does so without tension or bracing. In fact, relaxation without impulsion is not truly correct, and vice versa: the training scale requires both to be developed together as the horse’s education progresses.