Beyond Lookalikes: The True Essence of Lateral Movements

Most riders have heard that lateral movements are beneficial. And they are. They belong to the cornerstones of gymnastic training. Yet in practice, much of the complexity behind their benefit is missed. Too often, what we see are lookalikes—shapes that resemble shoulder-in or haunches-in, but lack the essence that gives them meaning and value.

A lookalike may tick the boxes of “shoulders in” or “haunches in,” but if it is only the shoulders or only the quarters being moved—without considering the compoundness of the spine, the shoulders, and the hind legs—it often creates imbalance, leaning, and heaviness. Instead of building strength and self-carriage, it leaves the horse dependent on the rider’s aids, robbed of freedom in the shoulders and stability in the hind legs.

True lateral work should make the basic gaits better: more rhythmical, more supple, more balanced, more swingy—and eventually build more strength for carrying ability.

Cornerstones of Lateral Work

At the heart of all lateral work lie two cornerstones: shoulder-in and haunches-in.

• All other laterals—travers, renvers, half-pass, pirouette, and all their variations—are built out of these two foundations combined with a proper understanding of the basic yields.

• These cornerstones themselves are easier to establish when the basic yields are confirmed: yielding the shoulders towards and away, yielding the haunches towards and away, and combining them with good alignment.

  
  

Both shoulder-in and haunches-in are super complex and highly coordinative movement patterns. Some talented horses seem to pick them up easily. Others need more time—mentally to understand, physically to coordinate, and only then to become surefooted. From there, strength and agility can be built gradually, step by step, through repetition with quality.

Without this foundation, lateral work easily turns into “shapes” rather than gymnastic tools.

The Spine Comes First

One of the biggest complexities that is often overlooked is the role of the spine. The three-dimensional swinging of the spine is the true precondition for correct leg movement.

• The legs are only the result of spinal movement. They can only step in a healthy, coordinated way if the spine is swinging freely.

• In lateral work, this includes the rotation of the spine: is the horse allowing you to sit to the inside of the bend, to follow the curve of the movement, while the belly naturally rotates out?

• If the spine is blocked, the legs can only mimic shapes. But if the spine flows, the steps become authentic, supple, and gymnastic.

  
  

This awareness transforms laterals from external positioning into a dialogue with the horse’s body.

The Essence of Shoulder-In

The shoulder-in is not about dragging the shoulders off the track. Its true purpose is to help the horse find more balance and eventually self-carriage.

• We invite the shoulders slightly more in front of the inside hind leg, while encouraging the hind legs to keep stepping forward on the original line of travel.

• This improves coordination, flexibility, and the supporting ability of the inside hind leg.

• Yet, we should never underestimate the importance of the forward stepping of the outside hind leg.

  
  

The essential essence of shoulder-in is more shoulder freedom of the outside front leg, made possible through well-stepping and supportive hind legs.

The outside hind defines the quality: if it steps sideways instead of forward, it ceases to support, disturbing spinal swing and rotation, destabilizing the shoulders, and preventing the inside hind from stepping more under.

When the outside hind steps actively forward under the body—driven by a free, swinging spine—the horse begins to carry with strength and lightness. Over time, the shoulder-in becomes a true gymnastic that not only refines suppleness but also builds lasting strength for carrying ability.

The Essence of Haunches-In

Haunches-in is not about pushing the quarters sideways or isolating the haunches. Its gift lies in creating compoundness through the whole body: freedom in both hind legs, elastic bend through the spine, and shoulders that stay aligned.

• We invite the haunches slightly inward by first encouraging a lifted inside shoulder.

• From there, the rider gently sinks into the inside seat bone and inside knee, giving the hind legs direction for where to step.

• The quality of the inside hind leg’s forward step is key.

  
  

The essential essence of haunches-in is more shoulder freedom of both front legs also made possible through well-stepping and supportive hind legs, clearing the way toward collected movement by gradually shifting weight more back.

Just as the outside hind defines the quality in shoulder-in, the inside hind defines the quality in haunches-in. If it steps sideways rather than forward, it ceases to support, disrupts the spine’s swing and rotation, and fails to give stability for the outside hind to carry correctly.

Here, the guiding inner image is the weapon line—an idea coming from man-to-man combat, where both hind legs must powerfully support the use of the weapon (sword). In haunches-in, the hind legs should align with this line, offering not just sideways motion but true carrying strength, balance, and coordination.

The angle does not need to be dramatic. It is much better to start with a small angle and focus on quality—on freedom, balance, and a steady rhythm—before gradually asking for more.

With time, haunches-in builds both coordination and the strength needed for collection—eventually strengthening the horse’s carrying ability.

Common Ground: Prepare Well, Then Do Less

Both shoulder-in and haunches-in share an important truth:

• The horse must be in front of your aids, carrying proper forward energy.

• The rider’s task is to prepare well—by shaping alignment, flow, and balance—and then to do less, allowing the horse to carry responsibility.

• The focus should always be on quality before quantity—on balance before angle.

  
  

When ridden this way, laterals are not a side-show trick but a tool to enhance every other part of training. They improve straightness, surefootedness, and spinal alignment. They mobilize the body, build suppleness, and—eventually—develop true strength for carrying ability and self-carriage.

A Work in Progress

It’s important to remember that lateral work is not perfect from the start—and it isn’t meant to be. In the teaching process, balance will be lost, surefootedness in the hind legs may waver, overbending or loss of spinal alignment might occur. That is part of learning.

The key lies in awareness and guidance:

• Observe closely and support the horse in a signpost way to help it figure things out.

• Reward the slightest thought or try in the right direction.

• Don’t be afraid to invite a little chaos—sometimes letting the horse search is what leads to true understanding.

  
  

But always be there to let the horse know when it’s going off track, and offer a better way. Preparation strongly influences the outcome, yet we must never forget that the horse is a living creature. From one step to the next, balance can shift—due to footing, distraction, lack of rider balance, or simply the complexity of the task.

Lateral work should also develop toward effortlessness. It should not feel like hard work for the human, and with stamina and strength it should become more effortless for the horse as well. If we need to keep our aids constantly “up” without being able to release—while still keeping our inner picture, energy, and primary aid alive—then something in the process needs refining. Sometimes this means isolating and teaching a detail, sometimes preparing better, and sometimes simplifying to allow the horse to succeed.

What matters is not that every step is perfect, but that the what, why, and how are clear. With this clarity, even the messy moments become part of a meaningful progression.

Lateral Work as Gymnastics, Not Geometry

When we ride lateral movements only as geometric patterns—shoulders here, haunches there—we risk creating lookalikes that offer no benefit. But when we ride with awareness of spinal swing and rotation, shoulder freedom, and the stepping quality of the hind legs, then lateral work becomes what it is meant to be:

✨ A gymnastic dialogue that refines balance, suppleness, strength with self-carriage, and eventually collection.

A Gentle Heads-Up

When practicing lateral movements, it’s worth asking yourself:

• Am I truly finding the essence of the exercise—or just riding the word?

• Are all four feet tracking forward, or is one slipping sideways and losing forward intention?

• Do I feel balanced, free-moving shoulders?

• Is the spinal swing and rotation alive, carrying me with it?

• Is the horse allowing me to sit to the inside of the bend, while the belly naturally rotates out?

• Is the spinal alignment clear and flowing, without leaning or bracing?

• Is there a certain forward energy that keeps the exercise alive?

• Does it feel effortless and self-sustained—or do I need to keep my aids intensely “up” to hold it together?

  
  

👉 Am I doing it in a valuable way for the horse?

Because if the exercise creates imbalance, stiffness, drifting or heaviness, it is often better not to do it at all until the preparation is there.

If the answers point toward effortlessness, spinal swing, balance, and forward flow, you are on the path toward lateral work that not only looks correct, but truly shapes your horse—making the gaits better, the body stronger, and the partnership lighter.

✨ May your lateral work be a dialogue of balance, suppleness, and strength — always in a valuable way for your horse.

👉 Lateral work is a lifelong exploration. What do you notice in your own practice — lookalikes, or the true essence beginning to shine through?