Equus spotlights Al Dunning on improving horse transitions
Bottom line
Equus Magazine has posted a protected video feature, “Al Dunning shows you how to get every transition right,” under its Farnam-sponsored horse health content, with tags pointing to collected lope work and horse-training instruction. Because the article itself is behind a paywall, public details are limited, but the item appears to center on helping riders improve upward and downward gait transitions with guidance from Al Dunning, a longtime Western performance trainer and world champion horseman. Publicly available background from Equus and affiliated equine outlets shows Dunning has been a recurring instructional contributor on training, performance, and soundness topics for years. (equusmagazine.com)
Why it matters: For equine veterinarians and other horse-health professionals, transition quality can be more than a training issue. Equus has recently noted that a “sticky transition” or missed lead can reflect discomfort rather than simple resistance, especially in performance horses with early joint stress. Dunning has also emphasized conditioning and joint protection in Western athletes, underscoring a familiar clinical theme: when riders report trouble with collection, lope departures, or smooth downward transitions, it may warrant a closer look at musculoskeletal pain, fitness, tack fit, or rider asymmetry alongside training technique. (equusmagazine.com)
What to watch: Watch for whether Equus or Farnam releases a public summary, clip, or companion article that gives veterinarians and trainers more concrete takeaways from Dunning’s transition work. (equusmagazine.com)
Equus Magazine has added a protected instructional post titled “Al Dunning shows you how to get every transition right,” categorized around video education and tagged with Al Dunning, collected lope work, and Farnam horse health. The paywalled format means the full lesson isn’t publicly viewable, but the headline and metadata strongly suggest a riding-and-training explainer focused on improving transitions between gaits, likely for Western performance audiences. (equusmagazine.com)
That fits Dunning’s long-established role in equine media. He’s a world-champion Western trainer who has contributed training advice through Horse & Rider, Equus-affiliated channels, and his own coaching business. Publicly available clips and articles show him teaching lead-change preparation, bit progression, and broader horsemanship fundamentals, while Equus has cited him as an authority on conditioning and joint management in performance horses. (horseandrider.com)
Even without access to the protected post, there’s useful context around the likely substance of the lesson. Coverage of Dunning-led clinics describes his emphasis on balance, straightness, and keeping the horse organized through walk-lope work, with cues designed to help the horse stay upright rather than fall onto the forehand. Other transition-focused training coverage in the Western show world echoes the same principles: collection, prompt response to aids, and maintaining topline and body carriage through both upward and downward changes of gait. (horsejournals.com)
For veterinary professionals, that matters because transition problems often sit at the intersection of training and physical comfort. Equus recently highlighted that a stride feeling shorter than expected, a missed lead, or a transition that takes more effort can be an early sign of joint inflammation or poor performance syndrome, not just a schooling problem. In a separate Equus feature, Dunning himself described the cumulative joint stress placed on reining and cutting horses, particularly in the hocks, stifles, tendons, and ligaments. (equusmagazine.com)
There’s also a rider component. Equus has published guidance showing that rider asymmetry can make it harder for a horse to maintain straightness and balance, which can directly affect transitions. And its behavior coverage notes that downward transitions, including the half halt, depend on precise use and release of pressure, reinforcing how easily a “training issue” can blur into biomechanics, communication, and pain assessment. (equusmagazine.com)
No clear outside expert reaction to this specific protected post was available in public search results, and no press release or regulatory filing appears tied to the item. Still, the broader industry message is consistent: smooth transitions are valued not only for performance quality, but also because they can reveal subtle deficits in soundness, strength, or coordination before overt lameness appears. That makes this kind of educational content relevant beyond trainers alone, especially for veterinarians advising competitive barns or evaluating vague poor-performance complaints. (equusmagazine.com)
Why it matters: For equine practitioners, transition complaints from riders and trainers can be a useful entry point for earlier intervention. A horse that struggles to pick up the lope, stay collected, or come smoothly back down may need more than a schooling adjustment. The differential can include early joint pain, soft-tissue strain, inadequate conditioning, tack issues, or rider imbalance. Content like this also reflects a wider trend in equine education: media brands and sponsors are packaging training instruction alongside horse-health messaging, which may shape what pet parents and trainers ask veterinarians about in the exam room. (equusmagazine.com)
What to watch: The next step is whether Equus, Farnam, or Dunning publishes a public clip, transcript, or follow-up article that makes the lesson’s practical recommendations easier to evaluate, share, and apply across veterinary, rehab, and training settings. (equusmagazine.com)