Suppleness

In our review of the first tier of the training scale (Rhythm & Relaxation), we were reminded that bending promotes lateral relaxation and stretching promotes longitudinal relaxation. Over time, as the horse is able to maintain a higher degree of bend and a deeper stretch from tail to poll, the horse improves his suppleness.

The USDF defines suppleness as “the range of motion of joints and the ability to move the joints freely. Also described as flexibility. The opposite of stiffness. A horse’s suppleness is largely determined by genetics but may overtime be improved or negatively impacted through training.”

As was said in the beginning, the best way to develop suppleness is through lateral work and longitudinal stretching. But what exactly does that mean? Let’s break it down:

✴️ Lateral work: any exercise or movement that encourages the horse to yield or bend sideways, stepping under the center of their body, and sometimes crossing midline. Lateral work teaches the horse to proficiently bend left and right.

✴️ Longitudinal stretching: any exercise or movement that encourages the horse to stretch from the tail to the poll. Transitions = longitudinal stretching.

At this point in your horse’s training, he should be able to stretch all the way down seeking the bit, and to easily and quickly gather himself back up, learning to “sit” by flexing the joints in the haunches, and subsequently lifting through the sternum + withers. It is important for your horse to lengthen and gather while staying rounded in the back, as opposed to hollowing.

Exercises and/or movements to develop suppleness:

Beginner - Out of the corner, leg yield to the quarter line, and then leg yield back to the wall. Walk/halt/walk transitions. Trot/walk/trot transitions.

Intermediate - Out of the corner, leg yield across the long diagonal. At the quarter-line, transition to half pass, and then change back to leg yield for the rest of your line. Trot/canter/trot transitions.

Advanced - Ride the diagonal in medium trot. Just before the end of the diagonal, transition to collected trot and ask your horse for shoulder fore to the inside. Walk/canter/walk transitions. Trot/walk/trot transitions maintaining shoulder in.

Additional resources to learn more about suppleness:

Peggy Cummings Connected Groundwork