My preparation often starts before I go to the stables. I will warm myself up with some Pilates (simple stretches eg roll downs, side rolls, leg stretches). In an ideal world I will lunge my horse before I ride him. Usually I connect the lunge rein to a head-collar without side reins but with my usual saddle and bridle. I secure the reins by twisting and threading through the throat-lash. I believe this gives a similar feel to an equilibrium contact on the bit (see chapter 5 for a discussion of rein contact). Sometimes I secure the stirrups and sometimes I let them hang at a height where they will not catch the horse’s elbow. The stirrups then encourage the horse forward as they follow the rhythm of his movement.
I find that lunging in this way:
-allows the horse to warm up without any burden or shaping;
-let’s me assess his attitude to work before I feel it;
-get’s me warm too. I like to think about my breathing, alignment and connection with the ground.
-enables me to do up my girth slowly before I mount. I have a dressage saddle with long girth tabs and it is more difficult to change the girth mounted.
I focus on getting him loose and going forward in a stretchy shape, this means that when I get on he is already active and helps prevent me pushing too hard with my seat. It allows me to concentrate on just relaxing myself as he is already forwards and warm.