Introducing Your Horse to Lateral Work

channel movement better through his back. As these muscles tone the horses trunk is able to rotate between the shoulder blades as needed during turns and spinal bending. They also help the horse keep his balance and stability rather than get wobbly in his pelvis during forward movement gait transitions and riding uneven terrain.
Below are a few primary tips to consider when using lateral work as preventative care or therapeutic exercise.
Mostly Walk
The helpfulness of these movements owes to their specificity which means you want to be as precise with each execution as possible. Moreover you want to target only the postural muscles which are slowtwitch fibres and respond only to appropriately low intensity contractions. Performing shoulderin haunchesin and halfpass at a walk with occasional surges of easy jog is the best way to deliver physiotherapy benefits. The gait should be rhythmic but slow and steady.