Welcome back, riders! I’m Danielle Pooles from Dressage Plus, and this is the fourth and final video (episode 88) in our four-part Dressage warm up tips series.
In Video 1, we explored the 3 Types of Competition Warm Up Riders you often see in a busy warm-up arena. In Video 2, we looked at how to ride your warm-up with calm leadership and clear direction. In Video 3, we focused on how to stay present and ride in the moment.
Today, in Video 4, we are bringing it all together with one of the most empowering Dressage warm up tips of all: learning how to turn a bad ride into a good ride.
A Bad Warm-Up Does Not Mean a Bad Test
One of the biggest mindset traps riders fall into is believing that if the warm-up is not going well, the test is already ruined. But this simply is not true.
You can be having a ride where your horse feels hot, tense, distracted, or not in front of the leg. Or maybe they feel flat, heavy, and not responding the way they normally do. Whatever a “bad ride” looks like for you, it does not mean the outcome is locked in.
With the right mindset and tools, you can shift the ride — sometimes in a few minutes, sometimes even in a single moment.
This is one of the most important Dressage warm up tips to remember: you are not stuck with the ride you start with.
The Power of Belief: You Can Shift the Ride
The first step to transforming a ride is believing that it is possible.
When riders believe they are stuck, they often become passive. They stop making clear decisions, stop riding proactively, and start hoping things will improve on their own.
When you shift into the belief that you can change the ride, everything changes. You start asking yourself:
- What does my horse need from me right now?
- Do I need more forward, more balance, or more clarity?
- Am I riding, or am I just sitting there reacting?
Even something as simple as halting, taking a breath, and resetting your position can begin to change the entire feel of the ride.
Focus is what allows this shift to happen. When you come back into the moment, into your body, and into your aids, you regain influence over the ride.
From Passive to Proactive Riding
Often when things are not going well, riders become quieter and more passive. But this is usually the moment your horse needs more clarity, not less.
Transforming a bad ride often comes down to:
- Sitting up and rebalancing your own position
- Breathing out and softening through your body
- Giving your horse a clear direction or job
- Riding a movement that helps reset the connection (circles, transitions, changes of line)
It is not about doing more — it is about doing what matters, with intention.
This is where your warm-up leadership (Video 2) and your focus skills (Video 3) come together. You step into being the rider your horse needs in that moment.
A Real Rider Example: From Worst Test to Best Test
I want to share a story from a rider I coach (name changed for privacy — we’ll call her Kate).
Kate went to a competition and rode an elementary test that did not go to plan. Her horse became hot and reactive, and she felt like she rode passively rather than stepping in and taking control of the ride. It ended up being one of her lowest scores.
She only had around 45 minutes before her next test — not long, but enough time to reflect.
Instead of staying stuck in frustration, she asked herself: “What do I need to do differently?”
She realised she needed to ride with more leadership, more direction, and more intention — just like she does at home in her lessons.
In her next warm-up, she changed her approach completely. She rode proactively, gave her horse clarity, stayed mentally engaged, and kept asking, “What does my horse need right now?”
She then went in and rode one of her best tests.
In less than an hour, she transformed a difficult ride into a confident, successful performance.
This is the power of mindset and focus in action.
Build Your Own Proof and Confidence
To apply this yourself, start building evidence that you can shift a ride.
Think back to times where:
- You turned a tricky ride around
- Your horse started unsettled but improved
- You made a small change that created a big difference
These moments are powerful. They show you that you already have the ability to influence the ride.
You can also learn by watching other riders. Notice how experienced riders handle difficult warm-ups. They do not panic — they adjust, refocus, and ride with intention.
The more proof you collect, the stronger your belief becomes.
This Is the Final Piece of Your Warm-Up Mindset
This final video brings together everything in the Dressage warm up tips series:
- Awareness of your patterns (Video 1)
- Leadership and direction (Video 2)
- Focus and riding in the moment (Video 3)
- And now, the ability to shift and reset (Video 4)
Together, these skills help you stay calm, present, and effective — even when things are not going to plan.
Because the truth is, every rider will have rides that feel off. The difference is not whether it happens — it is how you respond when it does.
More Support for Your Competition Mindset
If you would like more support with your competition mindset and warm-up strategies, you can download my free guide:
The Dressage Rider’s Competition Preparation Toolkit
This includes practical tools to help you manage nerves, stay focused, and ride with more confidence on competition day.
And if you are ready to take this work further, my coaching and courses are designed to help you build these skills step-by-step so you can ride at your best more consistently.
These Dressage warm up tips are not about perfection — they are about learning how to adjust, refocus, and support your horse no matter what happens.
