There seems to be some confusion regarding softness and giving of the head (the horse's. There's no confusion about people. They're just hard headed. HA!). I believe a horse's head and neck should be for the most part, soft and flexible. Give a light feel. Put it in a place that I would like it to perform the task I'm getting ready to ask for.

The confusion comes in with the assumption that the horse's hindquarters need to be engaged and driven forward for the head to soften. This is not to say that you don't want this dual occurrence, just that the hindquarters aren't necessary to achieve a soft feel of the head. This really is two requests. Yet, why shouldn't the horse's head give and go??? What if you are standing still and just ask the horse to give to the left? Is bracing acceptable?? NO. So softness is what you're going for. But, since you're standing still you don't need to engage the hindquarters. What if you have the horse on line? You still may want a soft give in, down, left or right. AND you don't want the hindquarters to move. So, they aren't part of the same movement and the one request of the head doesn't necessarily require the other participation of the hind.