Bend and balance

Does a horse have to be naturally bendy to succeed in dressage, or can he become more flexible through training? This month, Gareth Hughes talks suppleness

Everyone has a different idea of what suppleness looks like. For me, it’s when a horse is equally flexible on both sides and has a feeling of softness when I ask him to bend. It’s important to remember that every horse, like every human, will be sti er on one side of his body than the other, and some horses are naturally more flexible. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean you can’t train your horse to become more supple through correct schooling.

In the second part of my series, I’m going to run through some simple but e ective exercises you can do with your horse at home to help encourage suppleness through his whole body. With repetition, your horse will start to feel more balanced and supple, and look more beautiful when he moves. Now, let’s get to it.