Quiet Riding

"Imagine that you have no legs at all, just your torso, which must be kept in perfect balance. If you tip your upper body, you will push your pelvis in the opposite direction and fall off your horse."

"...imagine that they [your legs] are attached to your pelvis only with string. Magically, this gives your legs complete mobility for precise aids, but in no way affects the balance of your torso."

"In learning lateral work, you must keep even weight on your two seat bones."

"Lateral movements are a means to an end."

"If the horse absolutely refuses to two-track in one direction, this is proof taht he has not been sufficiently suppled in the other direction."

"After basic balance is established, the lateral movements are used to improve longitudinal flexion on one hand, and on the other hand to take the first steps in the direction of collection, which also leads to a qualitative improvement in impulsion."

"A horse that is recklessly pushed sideways and/or a sideways-running horse will not relax, or may even become tenser."

"Shifting the rider's center of gravity in the direction of the movement can certainly be helpful when teaching a young horse to move sideways. When the horse understands this movement, however, the gymnasticizing, collecting work of the shoulder-in is effective."

"If a horse is still not ready for a collecting lateral movement, then the stepping over of the leg-yield is the exercise of choice as it provides both training and loosening effects."

"Lateral movements are the 'elixir of life' for horse trainers!"

"Without correct shoulder-in, counter shoulder-in, travers (haunches-in) and renvers (haunches-out) the rider can't achieve an expressive impulsion in trot and canter or advanced straightness, nor can she gain collection."

"Correctly ridden lateral movements from a supple seat improve the mobility of the horse through a loosening effect."

"Correctly ridden lateral movements improve the quality of the flexion of the haunches and throughness since the musculature becomes suppler, especially through the back and in the hind legs."