The serpentine is a classical dressage exercise that involves riding a series of smooth, continuous, S-shaped curves across the arena. This exercise is used to develop and test the suppleness, balance, and obedience of the horse, as well as the rider’s ability to maintain rhythm and control through changes of bend and direction.

A serpentine can be performed in walk, trot, or canter, and is typically composed of three or more loops that span the width of the dressage arena. Each loop touches the long sides of the arena, and the horse should cross the centerline at a perpendicular angle with each change of direction.