Unlocking the Shoulders —

Why Lateral Flexion is Important for Any Horse.

What many of you may not know — I'm a Working Equitation certified instructor here in Florida. I got my certification back in 2013 and wove the classical dressage foundation I gained there into my Dream Riding Partnership Program, where I teach rider biomechanics, bitless and balanced.

It wasn’t just my classical dressage education that inspired my riding program either. It was years of learning from one of the greatest reiners and horsemen, Jack Brainard (1921–2021).

"The first principle is relaxation. You cannot teach a horse... you can't get through to the horse until he's relaxed."

- Jack Brainard

This video explains how to begin suppling, lateral flexion, as well as many other riding foundation exercises -

from walk to canter - bitless and balanced.

Jack was a legendary horseman, author, and NRHA Hall of Fame member (2009), renowned for his immense contribution to reining and western riding. With over 60 years in the industry, he was a respected trainer, judge, and mentor who pioneered early reining, authored training books, and advocated for gentle training principles.

"Anyone can force a horse to perform exercises, but to become an accomplished trainer and horseman, one needs to be a student of the horse". 

- Jack Brainard

He understood lateral flexion, and just like you would learn a particular dance, he taught it to you and your horse in steps at first, so you wouldn’t rush the training, the relaxation, timing, or the feel.

Lateral flexion is what creates a supple horse. A supple horse is physically and mentally relaxed, moving without tension, resistance, or stiffness. It is capable of bending uniformly from poll to tail (lateral suppleness) and stretching over its topline (longitudinal suppleness), resulting in balanced, elastic, and fluid movement that responds willingly to rider aids.

This is also how you develop self-carriage in a horse, where the horse learns to transfer its body weight to the hind end, allowing it to carry its weight with balance.

The benefits of this exercise are immense. Not only are you working to create a horse that is both mentally and physically relaxed, but you are also fostering trust, focus, connection, and communication. These skills will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for any type of riding, whether it’s recreational or competitive.

You gently bend the horse's neck laterally to create a clear flex, and you walk them along the rail, asking their feet to track straight until they soften into it. A few repetitions in each direction. Three strides, that’s all, along the rail. Do not drill this. Do not go around the arena with the horse's neck bent through tension, waiting for them to give.

Rather, you are planting a seed, a suggestion with a soft feel, allowing the horse to discover it.

You are teaching the horse to ease into a soft lateral neck bend without resistance while keeping their body straight and their feet on track. And once they understand that, once that's in their body, you take the next step.

From that lateral neck bend, you simply invite the shoulders to come in. Just a little. Just enough.

And here is where it becomes something close to magic.

Because the horse has already learned to hold the bend and stay on the track, when you ask for the shoulder-in, they are prepared for it. There is no stress, no brace, no tension, because the bend is there. And what appears — softly, almost effortlessly — is a true shoulder-in.

Three tracks. Not four. Three. The distinction is everything. Three tracks is the movement that prepares the horse for a true shoulder-in, not a leg yield.

This is one of my favorite exercises to teach horses — it doesn’t matter what breed, age, experience, or riding style.

Slow. Balanced. Offered freely, with obvious ease, carrying themselves with very little prompting from me or my light aids. On the rail, off the rail — it doesn’t matter. We can do it anywhere, even on the trail.

That is what great teaching does. It doesn't just show you the movement. It shows you the “why” and the building blocks — why the progression matters, where it lives in the larger picture, how it serves the horse's body, and your relationship with them. And it trusts you to unlock the understanding between you and your horse — organically, without force, without coercion.

This is the way it was always meant to be found. Organically, through connection, conversation, feel, and timing.

Don't be afraid to learn this. In my training system, this concept is crucial. Once my students and their horses master it together, it opens a wealth of opportunities. Whether it's obstacle courses, versatility classes, ranch and cattle work, jumping, dressage, reining, or riding one-handed on the trail — this skill will set you and your horse up for anything.

Check out my Bitless, Balanced, Confident Riding Course to learn how.

https://www.taoofhorsemanship.com/balanced-riding-bitless-course →