Whether you enjoy hacking, dressage, showjumping, eventing or simply want your horse to move better, you’ve probably heard people mention the Scales of Training. Sometimes referred to as the Training Pyramid, these six principles provide a logical framework for developing every horse into a balanced, confident and athletic partner.
Despite often being associated with dressage, the Scales of Training aren’t just for competitive riders. They form the foundation of good horsemanship across every discipline. From young horses learning the basics to experienced competition horses refining advanced movements, the same principles always apply.
Rather than rushing towards collection or flashy movements, the training pyramid reminds us that each stage builds upon the previous one. Miss a foundation, and problems usually begin to appear elsewhere.
In this guide, we’ll explain each scale, why it matters and how you can apply it to your everyday schooling.
What Are the Scales of Training?
The Scales of Training were originally developed through the German training system and have since been adopted by organisations including British Dressage and the FEI.
The six scales are:
Think of them as building blocks rather than separate exercises. You don’t complete one before moving onto the next—instead, they continually develop together throughout your horse’s education.
Every schooling session should include all six to some degree, although one or two may naturally become the focus depending on your horse’s level.
1. Rhythm
Rhythm is the foundation of everything.
Every gait has its own natural footfall pattern:
- Walk is a four-beat gait.
- Trot is a two-beat diagonal gait.
- Canter is a three-beat gait with a moment of suspension.
Good rhythm means these footfalls remain regular, consistent and unhurried.
Many training problems actually begin with an inconsistent rhythm. Horses that rush, slow unexpectedly or constantly change tempo often struggle to find balance.
Signs of good rhythm
- Even footfalls.
- Consistent tempo.
- Calm, regular movement.
- No rushing or hesitation.
Common mistakes
Many riders try to create impulsion by riding faster. In reality, speed often destroys rhythm instead of improving it.
Instead, aim for a consistent tempo and allow the horse to travel forwards without rushing.
2. Suppleness (Relaxation)
Once rhythm is established, the horse needs to work through a relaxed body.
Suppleness isn’t simply about flexibility. It means the horse is mentally calm, physically relaxed and able to move freely through their entire body.
A supple horse swings through their back, bends comfortably around circles and feels soft rather than tense.
Signs of suppleness
- Swinging back.
- Relaxed jaw.
- Soft neck.
- Even bend on both reins.
- Calm breathing.
Common problems
Tension often appears as:
- Hollow backs.
- Tight necks.
- Tail swishing.
- Resistance in transitions.
- Shortened strides.
Many horses become tense because they’re confused rather than naughty. Returning to simple exercises and allowing frequent walk breaks often helps them relax again.
3. Contact
Contact is one of the most misunderstood parts of horse training.
It doesn’t mean pulling the horse’s head in or forcing them into a particular outline.
Instead, good contact is a light, elastic connection between the rider’s hands and the horse’s mouth, created because the horse pushes forwards from the hindquarters into a receiving hand.
The contact should feel:
- Consistent.
- Soft.
- Elastic.
- Even in both reins.
Signs of correct contact
- Horse willingly seeks the bit.
- Neck stretches naturally.
- Poll remains the highest point (appropriate for the horse’s stage).
- Rider maintains steady hands.
Common mistakes
Trying to create an outline using the reins alone.
True contact always comes from the horse working forwards from behind—not backwards from the hand.
4. Impulsion
Impulsion is far more than energy.
It describes the controlled power generated by the horse’s hindquarters that travels through the entire body.
A horse with impulsion feels eager to move forwards while remaining balanced and responsive.
They’re energetic without becoming fast.
Signs of impulsion
- Active hind legs.
- Responsive transitions.
- Ground-covering strides.
- Uphill feeling.
- Elastic movement.
Exercises that improve impulsion
- Frequent transitions.
- Pole work.
- Hill work.
- Lengthening and shortening the stride.
- Canter-trot transitions.
Remember, impulsion should never come at the expense of rhythm or relaxation.
5. Straightness
Even naturally straight-looking horses are rarely truly straight.
Like humans, horses are naturally one-sided.
They usually:
- Find one rein easier.
- Push harder from one hind leg.
- Carry more weight on one shoulder.
- Fall in or drift out on circles.
Straightness means the horse’s hind feet follow the line of the forefeet, allowing power to travel efficiently through the body.
Why straightness matters
Without straightness:
- Balance suffers.
- Collection becomes difficult.
- Contact becomes uneven.
- Horses struggle with lateral work.
- Risk of uneven wear increases.
Improving straightness usually improves almost every other aspect of training.
6. Collection
Collection sits at the top of the training pyramid because it’s the result of everything beneath it—not something that can be forced.
In collection, the horse shifts more weight onto their hindquarters, becoming lighter in the forehand while maintaining impulsion.
Collection is not simply shortening the neck or slowing down.
Instead, you’ll notice:
- Greater engagement.
- Shorter but more expressive strides.
- Increased balance.
- More uphill movement.
- Greater self-carriage.
Only horses with correct rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion and straightness can develop true collection safely.
The Scales Work Together
Although they’re often shown as a pyramid, the scales constantly influence one another.
For example:
- Poor rhythm often causes poor contact.
- Tension affects suppleness and impulsion.
- Crookedness makes collection difficult.
- Weak impulsion creates inconsistent contact.
When something isn’t working, it’s often worth looking further down the pyramid instead of focusing on the symptom.
For example, if your horse won’t soften into the contact, the real issue may be tension or an inconsistent rhythm rather than the contact itself.
Can Every Horse Benefit?
Absolutely.
The Scales of Training aren’t only for dressage horses.
They benefit:
- Happy hackers.
- Show jumpers.
- Eventers.
- Endurance horses.
- Riding club horses.
- Native ponies.
- Ex-racehorses.
- Young horses beginning their education.
Every horse moves more comfortably when they’re balanced, relaxed and working correctly.
For ex-racehorses in particular, revisiting the lower scales—especially rhythm, relaxation and contact—can make a huge difference as they learn to carry themselves in a completely different way from their racing career.
Practical Schooling Tips
Rather than aiming to “complete” the training pyramid, ask yourself a few simple questions during every ride:
- Is my horse maintaining a consistent rhythm?
- Are they relaxed and breathing comfortably?
- Does the contact feel light and even?
- Are the hind legs active?
- Are they straight between my aids?
- Are they beginning to carry themselves rather than leaning?
If one answer is “no”, return to the scale below it before asking for something more difficult.
You’ll often solve the problem much faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Training Pyramid only for dressage?
No. The principles improve balance, athleticism and communication in every riding discipline.
Can young horses work through all six scales?
Yes, although collection develops much later. Young horses spend most of their education strengthening rhythm, relaxation, contact and straightness.
Why does my horse lose contact?
Loss of contact is often a symptom rather than the problem itself. Check rhythm, relaxation and impulsion first.
Do experienced horses still need the lower scales?
Definitely. Advanced horses revisit rhythm and relaxation every single ride. Even Grand Prix horses don’t skip the foundations.
Final Thoughts
The Scales of Training aren’t a checklist to rush through—they’re a lifelong guide to producing a happier, healthier and more athletic horse.
Whenever training starts to unravel, resist the temptation to look for a quick fix. Instead, return to the foundations. More often than not, improving rhythm, relaxation or straightness will naturally improve everything above them.
Whether you’re bringing on a young horse, retraining an ex-racehorse or simply looking to improve your everyday schooling, the training pyramid provides a proven roadmap for building confidence, strength and partnership one ride at a time.
Last Updated on 07/08/2026