Suppleness - earned, not given

I like to think of suppleness as “freedom in motion” — the point where training, posture, and mindset meet harmony.

Suppleness isn’t just about flexibility — it’s about ease, responsiveness, and emotional balance. Here’s what I’ve learned from both human and horse studies:

1. Suppleness Starts in the Nervous System, Not Just the Muscles

True suppleness begins in the nervous system’s willingness to let go. If the brain perceives instability or threat (even subconsciously), it creates stiffness to protect the body.

• Why it matters: Relaxation and trust are prerequisites for suppleness — in both horses and humans.

Action Steps:

1. Take 3–5 deep, slow breaths before mounting or handling your horse.

2. Create a calm, predictable environment — no sudden movements or pressure.

3. Check your own tension: notice shoulders, jaw, or back stiffness and release.

2. Suppleness Improves Coordination — Not Just Range of Motion

It’s not about how far you can stretch — it’s about moving through your range with precision. Athletes with greater dynamic suppleness show better motor control and reaction time. In horses, this translates to functional flexibility: bending, coiling, extending — not just being “loose.”

Action Steps:

1. Practice lateral work: serpentines, shoulder-in, and circles.

2. Encourage controlled transitions at walk, trot, and canter.

3. Vary patterns and exercises to prevent repetitive tension.

3. Emotional Tension Creates Physical Tension

Fear, frustration, or anxiety literally change how bodies move. Horses mirror this too — tension tightens fascia, shortens stride, and limits freedom.

Action Steps:

1. Observe how your mood affects the horse; pause if you feel frustrated.

2. Include moments of playful or light work to encourage relaxation.

3. Use consistent handling cues to build trust.

4. Strength + Flexibility = Functional Suppleness

Active flexibility — strength controlling the end of your range — is essential. Without it, “flexibility” becomes floppy and unstable. Classical trainers have long emphasised that strength and suppleness must develop together.

Action Steps:

1. Horses: polework, cavaletti, and low jumps to develop coordinated strength.

2. Riders: Pilates, core stability, and posture exercises.

3. Include exercises that challenge balance while stretching muscles gently.

5. Breath Is a Major Key

Deep, rhythmic breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing muscular tension and improving tissue elasticity. A rider who breathes well often inspires the horse to do the same.

Action Steps:

1. Practice deep, slow breathing before and during work.

2. Sync your exhalation with horse movement: softening reins on exhale.

3. Encourage the horse to stretch and relax with your calm energy.

6. Suppleness Has Memory

Fascia — the connective tissue network — remembers patterns of tension and release. Repetitive restricted movement sets the body into habitual stiffness. Variety, curiosity, and mindful movement are essential to stay fluid and adaptable.

Action Steps:

1. Vary your exercises to engage different muscle groups and joints.

2. Rotate training patterns weekly to prevent habitual stiffness.

3. Observe both horse and rider for subtle changes in tension and responsiveness.

Key Takeaways

• Suppleness begins in the nervous system — relaxation first.

• Functional suppleness = strength + flexibility + coordination.

• Emotional state and breath matter just as much as technique.

• Consistent, varied practice earns suppleness over time.

Suppleness is earned, not given. It’s a journey of attention, patience, and trust — but the reward is a horse (and rider) moving with freedom, harmony, and confidence.