How To Encourage Proper Bend In The Horse

Establishing a proper bend in the horse is a fundamental tool to riding effectively, no matter which discipline you school in.

Developing bend helps create a supple and balanced horse, and lays the groundwork for more ambitious flat and even jumping work later in a young horse’s education. Heels Down Mag pulled together some of our favorite riding exercises on how to incorporate and reinforce good bend in the horse. We hope you find them useful.

Using Serpentines To Establish Bend

In this video, Amelia Newcomb shares some insight on how to appropriately ride serpentines and properly change the bend throughout the loop.

Go Back To The Basics

In this video, Olympic British dressage rider Emile Faurie explains the concept of “bend” and how to achieve it.

Circles To Incorporate Flexion

Kristin Kelly explains how to correctly ride circles with establishing bend and flexion in mind. She also offers tips on how to avoid falling in and bulging out on the circle.

How To Use Bend And Counter-Bend

In this video, Jack Lieser, starts incorporating bend and counter-bend at the walk with a nervous, spooky horse. “Think of the bend of always flexed into the center of the arena,” Jack explained.

To Maintain Balance

In this video, Dr. Britta Schöffmann explains how bending increases suppleness from nose to tail and helps correct a horse’s natural crookedness. It also makes it possible for the horse to stay balanced through turns when carrying a rider.