What is the purpose for lateral exercises? What benefits do lateral exercises bring the gaited horse and rider?

Lateral Exercises for the Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

When you hear the term lateral exercises, what comes to mind? Do you think of gaited horses? Many people first think of non-gaited horses and dressage. However, lateral exercises offer great benefits for the gaited horse, especially ones that tend to pace or step pace.

Lateral exercises such as the shoulder in, haunches in, shoulder out and haunches out are diagonal foot sequence movements that can help break up the pace and step pace. This helps gaited horses have smoother gaits like flat walk and fox trot. Other benefits include improving balance to be less heavy on the forehand, coordination, flexibility, strength and communication between the horse and rider.

Speaking of rider, the lateral exercises such as shoulder in, hauches in, shoulder out, and haunches out are great for the rider to learn coordination of the rein, leg, seat and weight aids in timing with the horse’s movement.

For me, lateral exercises have improved the quality of the natural smooth gaits in both my Tennessee walking horse, Makana and grade fox trotting horse, Lady. Lateral exercises break up tension, strengthen muscles, improve communication between horse and rider, and have helped both horses become softer, rounder, and more balanced.

For me, it has been helpful to become aware of when each of the horse’s legs are in a cue able position and to apply an aid accordingly. It helps the horse understand the lateral exercise more clearly and find balance and relaxation and building greater trust.

Shoulder In and Haunches In

The shoulder in and haunches in are great exercises for the gaited horse, especially for horses that tend to pace and step pace like Tennessee walking horses. Why? Because these exercises have a diagonal foot fall that break up the lateral foot fall of the pace. Shoulder in and haunches in also develop balance, strength and flexibility to the horse.

The shoulder in and haunches in can be done on at a slow walk on a straight line or on a small circle as shown in the video clips below. It is important to do these exercises twice as much in the weaker direction to help the horse become straighter (ambidextrous).

Shoulder in

Haunches in

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