About Dressage - Lateral work

Basic movements

For all the basic movements the key is to coordinate inside leg and outside rein so that the horse understands that he is to move sideways.

Leg Yield
In leg yield a horse moves sideways and forwards with his body and neck straight and his head flexed at the poll, slightly away from the directions he’s moving.

Shoulder In
Shoulder in is when the horse moves forward down a track but with his shoulder bent away from the direction he’s moving in.

Intermediate movements

Counter Canter
Counter canter means deliberately cantering with the outside leg at canter instead of the inside leg which is more natural for the horse.

Demi-Pirouettes
In the demi-pirouette the horse’s hind legs mark time on the spot while its body moves around in a circle.

Advanced Movements

Advanced dressage riders use a double bridle and wear spurs. A double bridle has two sets of reins and two bits, which give the rider a lot of control. The spurs are used to give very precise aids.
In the first two movements, ‘travers’ and ‘half pass’ the horses’ neck is bent slightly towards the direction of the movement.

Travers
In travers, the horse’s forelegs and shoulders move on the outside track.

Half pass
Half pass is similar to travers except the horse moves sideways.

Piaffe
Piaffe is like trotting on the spot. The horse springs from one pair of legs to the other, with a clear moment of suspension between the steps.

Passage
Passage is a slow, high-stepping trot. There is a long moment of suspension, when it seems like the horse is moving in slow motion.

Flying Change
In a flying change, the horse changes his leading leg in canter, during the moment of suspension, rather than going back to trot or walk.

Dressage Experiences

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