
Training the Sport Horse: Freedom and Creativity

The 2025 season is just around the corner, and we can hardly contain our excitement. We’re eager to feel that pre-competition adrenaline, to push ourselves to the limit in pursuit of our goals in the saddle—yes, the competitions, those absurdly exhausting days filled with early wake-ups, long travels, stables, dust, and mud, but so incredibly fulfilling, regardless of the outcome.
To approach the new competitive season in the best possible way, the key is to prepare with utmost attention, leaving no detail overlooked, the true protagonist of all this: our horse. And who better than a veterinarian specialized in equine care and a passionate horsewoman to guide us in this matter?
For this reason, we had an insightful and enlightening conversation with Dr. Carlotta Caminiti, founder of the Centro Veterinario Le Cicogne in Agrate Conturbia (No), where she combines reproductive services with the rehabilitation of injured sport horses. Dr. Caminiti has a clear vision of horses and equestrianism, which, combined with years of study in Italy and the United States, led her to a crucial conclusion: let horses be horses!
Mental Freedom
This phrase doesn’t, of course, mean letting our horses roam wild, hopping on them and heading straight to the competition. Quite the opposite! It refers to creating a precise and effective training program that allows them time to settle, to rest, and to graze in the paddock. In short, it means letting them be horses.
While it’s true that horses learn through repetition, the same applies to riders. It’s hard to learn exercises without repetition—that’s a fact. However, there must always be a balance. We shouldn’t let our four-legged friends get bored; let’s make their training sessions varied, creative, and different each day.
And let’s trust them! If our horse is an adult, healthy, and has several competition seasons behind it, we can be sure it will be perfectly capable of handling the levels we will face in the competition. There’s no need to repeat the same exercises until exhaustion.
We try, of course, but once it’s done well, “save the file,” give them a pat, walk, and that’s it. Boredom and repetition are the very things that drain a horse’s spirit, irritate them, and hinder cooperation. Let’s have fun!
Variety is Key
To perform at their best, our equine companions must be healthy—not just physically, but also psychologically. To prepare them optimally for a season full of commitments, we should ride them, perhaps on alternate days, or even every day, but always varying the work.
One day we can work over cavaletti, another day focus on flatwork, and another go for a nice relaxing ride. If we have the chance, and the terrain allows, trotting and cantering in the countryside is soothing for the horses and helps them build stamina and fitness.
A great exercise to propose to our competition partners is free jumping. They enjoy it and it’s highly beneficial for their training. Of course, all of this should be complemented by relaxing hours spent in the paddock. A relaxed horse is a confident horse, ready to give its best under our saddle.
Emotional Brain
To truly understand this type of training, to internalize it, and to reach our highest potential in competition, we need to think about the brain of our horses. Unlike humans, their cerebral cortex is quite limited, whereas the emotional part of their brain occupies a much larger space. Horses live by instinct—they struggle to control and process emotions. This emotional component must be highly considered by us riders.
The more positive experiences they have, the more the horse responds with enthusiasm and willingness to perform. Taking a break, for example, after a period of intense work, is crucial.
Giving horses entire weeks in the paddock between competition phases does wonders for them. Many of the clinic’s patients, for instance, alternate between water treadmill sessions and long hours in the paddock. This way, they maintain muscle tone, decongest, and, most importantly, mentally recharge.
No Need to Fear
Let’s not get stuck in a rut of endless, monotonous exercises. Let’s experiment, allow our horses to explore, and have positive experiences with us. Let’s concentrate the work to minimize time, but make it efficient and effective.
Of course, all of this must follow a proper warm-up, lasting at least twenty minutes, and a cooling-down period at the end of the session. Put them in a position to understand, and they will understand.
Elena Pecora
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