19/12/2025
Most common mistakes in lateral work even professionals make
~ the weight is not in the direction of movement
Often caused by the wrong application of leg , too much bend and a lack of knowledge about ribcage rotation
The riders weight should always be slightly in the direction of movement, matching the horses axial rotation
~too much leg
A evil cycle commences as the more leg the rider applies , the more he will sit in the wrong direction, which confuses and unbalances the horse, so more leg is applied
Every rider needs to practice applying leg without tension . Just like an independent hand, the leg needs to act independent of the body. Practice applying leg without changing the weight in your seat bones
~too much rein
When you need that amount of leg, naturally you’ll end up having to catch and direct that in your hand, and with that, you decrease hind leg reach and your compressing the horse . Nuno said, the rider receives in the hand the mistakes of the leg
~too much bend
The bend is determined by the position of the spine , not by the dressage rule book!
Counter rotation is common but unhealthy
Start riding a lateral and feel your horses ribcage, adjust the bend until your horse sits you almost in the centre and ideally slightly towards direction of travel
Laterals train flexibility of the horses legs, but it’s easy to have the horse move sideways by contorting the spine instead of mobilising the legs.
~ not working with the horses footfalls
Clamping the leg on and hoping for the best is a recipe for failure . Learning your footfalls and learning when your leg comes on and OFF and which leg you actually want to break or open more with your hands. Riding is thinking! Remember , Hands without legs, legs without hands! Not as easy as it sounds, but practice and think , check your seat and aids and suddenly laterals become easy
In the picture you see a horse in training, I just came off the centreline and I’m riding a pirouette type turn , my weight slightly in the direction of travel. This horse has a heavy left rotation (ribcage rotation low left and high right) I am working on and taking the turn in a lateral movement helps him stay in right rotation . He wants to bend more so my left hand is raised, to help him stay straighter in the neck without adding pressure to the rein. My outside leg is independent of my pelvis position.
The line of the sternum confirms what my bum-o-meter felt, almost centred spine , slightly tipped in the direction of travel.
