11/04/2024
This!
Do a movement for a purpose, not a score.
The lateral movements were defined to help categorize, and give words to, the different positions that are helpful to supple and balance the horse. Too often people think the movements ARE the goal- they are not. The movements are the MEANS to achieving an elastic balanced horse.
If your horse needs more or less angle or bend one direction than the other for the movement to work it’s magic, than that’s what you do.
Ride it more slowly, or ride it on a circle, or whatever concoction gets the desired result.
If you don’t know what your desired result is, you don’t understand the movement- and that’s okay!! You learn by doing. Be playful and see what shapes accomplish what. Build your intuition. Use the definition of each movement as a guide for ideas, but not as a rigid set of black and white rules which you must adhere to.