Welcome back, riders! I’m Danielle Pooles from Dressage Plus, and this is the second video (episode 86) in our 4-part Dressage Warm Up Tips series. In Video 1, we explored the 3 Types of Warm-Up Riders you’re likely to see in a competition warm-up arena. Today, we’re going a step further — into how to actually ride your warm-up with calm leadership and clear direction.
Because here’s the truth:
How you ride in the warm-up sets the tone for your entire test.
And yet, many riders unknowingly shift into “passive mode” in the warm-up — especially when nerves, self-doubt, or overwhelm creep in.
Why Warm-Up Rider Mindset Matters
When we enter a busy warm-up arena, it’s common to become distracted by:
- Other riders
- Judges watching
- What our horse is doing (or might do)
- Internal self-talk and performance pressure
When that pressure builds, many riders stop riding and start simply surviving the warm-up. This is when horses lose confidence, get tense, or begin to take over.
Which is why one of the most powerful Dressage Warm Up Tips you can learn is this:
You must ride in the warm-up — not wait for things to feel perfect.
What “Riding” in the Warm-Up Actually Means
“Riding” in this context doesn’t mean riding harder, faster, or stronger.
It means:
- Staying mentally present
- Making decisions, not waiting
- Giving your horse a clear job to do
- Offering calm leadership instead of reacting emotionally
When you ride with leadership, your horse feels supported — not left alone to manage their own nerves.
A Personal Story (Where This Lesson Came From)
When I was a teenager riding my competition horse Pretzel, warm-ups were our struggle point. I would get nervous, overthink everything, and become very quiet in my body. And when I stopped riding… Pretzel stepped into the leadership role. And his way of leading involved shying, leaping, tensing, and worrying.
I can look back now and see clearly:
He wasn’t “being naughty.” I had simply gone passive.
I’ve seen this play out hundreds of times in riders I now coach. The moment the rider shifts from passive to present, the entire ride changes.
How to Shift Into Leadership in the Warm-Up
Here is a very simple but powerful awareness habit:
Notice the moment you start to freeze — and take one decisive action.
Your decisive action might be:
- Riding a forward transition
- Asking for flexion
- Riding a 10m circle to re-establish balance
- Softening your seat and breathing out
It doesn’t matter what the action is. What matters is that you choose something — instead of waiting or reacting.
That single choice helps your horse feel:
- Guided
- Connected to you
- Safer
- Less overwhelmed
And the more you practice this, the more confident both you and your horse become.
This Warm-Up Series Helps You Build Confidence Step-by-Step
This blog is part of our Dressage Warm Up Tips series designed to help you:
- Ride with clarity
- Stay grounded in busy warm-up spaces
- Support your horse under pressure
- Enter the arena feeling focused and together
Make sure to watch the full video above for the full story and practical examples.
Next: Dressage Warm Up Tips #3 Coming Soon
And if you haven’t yet watched Video 1, here it is:
Dressage Warm Up Tips #1 – The 3 Types of Warm-Up Riders
More Resources
For more mindset tools, download my free guide:
The Dressage Rider’s Competition Preparation Toolkit
And here’s an interesting external article on competition warm up:
