Lateral Movements & Their Use

"The difference is the learner perspective I take, and my passion for letting people think, feel and understand, not just do as they are told. Just doing as you are told has no place in our modern humanistic society, whether it be dressage or anything else. To be treated as less than intelligent, is unworthy of any human being. Or horse, for that matter."

Theresa Sandin, Sustainable Dressage. Sustainable Dressage - Collection & Its Evasions - Lateral Movements & Their Use

Is it just my perennial obsession with lateral movement, or is this article by Theresa Sandin exceptionally informative and interesting? I suspect you will like it too.

I drill lateral movements into my equines. They don't feel like its a drill though because I do it with positive reinforcement. The donkeys are the only ones that just don't seem to have a clue -its a new day for them every day where they hope the treats are given freely. One famous donkey trainer, Meredith Hodges, whom you may have seen on TV, gets lateral movement out of her donkeys and it is a beautiful sight to behold. She said it took her several years to train her jack to do shoulders-in.

Theresa makes you understand just how fundamental it is, though. She's apparently reworking some of her pages and you get reconstruction messages, but the one on tack is available and equally informative.

Click here for the Sustainable Dressage homepage

The Hinny Whisperer approves of Theresa Sandin for:
• providing many useful and informative graphics to illustrate a hard to grasp topic;
• having a clear expository style;
• in depth analysis of important issues to all riders;
• and encouraging people to think for themselves.