Shoulder-in is a helpful early type of lateral work for horses, which requires the horse to work on three — or typically 4 — tracks. When ridden appropriately it is a superb suppling train and is the primary piece of lateral work that seems in British Dressage assessments.
What’s shoulder-in?
In a three-track shoulder-in, the skin hindleg is on one monitor, the within hind and out of doors fore are on a second monitor (in keeping with one another, as per the image above), and the within fore is on the third monitor. When considered from the entrance, you need to be capable to see three of the horse’s 4 legs when it’s being ridden appropriately.
The horse ought to be bent across the rider’s inside leg with equal bend by means of the physique and the neck. As a rider you need to be capable to see your horse’s inside eye should you look down. It’s simpler to journey shoulder-in on the monitor because the fence/wall helps to information the path. Extra skilled partnerships ought to strive driving it on a three-quarter or centre line to gauge their degree of management.
In dressage competitions, a three-track shoulder-in is ridden in trot, however for coaching functions it may be ridden in all three gaits. A extra delicate model of shoulder-in, known as shoulder-fore, is helpful for correcting the horse’s pure intuition to maneuver barely quarters-in whereas cantering. A four-track shoulder-in, with the horse’s shoulders positioned even additional to the within so every of your horse’s legs is following its personal monitor, can be utilized for suppling functions, however would lose marks in a dressage check.
What are the advantages of shoulder-in?
- Encourages suppleness
- Helps with creating straightness
- Aids with assortment and stability
- Improves response to the rider aids
- Encourages hind leg engagement
Appropriate aids for shoulder-in
In a three-track shoulder-in, the skin hindleg is on one monitor, the within hind and out of doors fore are on a second monitor, and the within fore is on the third monitor
The rider’s inside leg is on the girth to create the bend and ship the horse alongside the required monitor. The skin leg is barely behind the girth to stop the hind legs swinging out and preserve bend by means of the physique. The within hand asks the horse to flex to the within and hold the jaw gentle. The skin hand asks the horse to attend and signifies that the horse is to proceed down the monitor, quite than turning on to a circle. The rider’s physique ought to stay central within the saddle with the within hip barely again to reflect the horse’s bend and the burden deeper into the within seat bone.
Widespread issues and the best way to appropriate them
Downside: Your horse drifts again to the monitor
Correction: In case your horse drifts again to the monitor, it’s possible you’ll be wanting within the incorrect path. Verify you’re looking by means of the horse’s ears quite than within the path of journey as your head is a heavy physique half, and can have an effect on his stability.
Downside: An excessive amount of neck bend
Correction: In case your horse bends his neck greater than his physique, test you aren’t utilizing an excessive amount of inside rein. Assist him with a firmer contact in your outdoors rein and by conserving each legs on.
Downside: Hindquarters drift out
Correction: In case your horse’s haunches drift out to the skin, your knee and thigh and decrease leg aren’t supporting him strongly sufficient, leading to lack of bend by means of his physique. Verify your outdoors leg is appropriately positioned behind the girth and towards the horse’s facet.
Downside: Falling by means of the shoulder
Correction: The rider crossing the skin hand over the neck is a typical reason behind the horse falling out by means of the skin shoulder. An accurate contact on the skin rein helps the horse’s shoulders and helps to keep up the angle of the shoulder-in.
Downside: Your horse doesn’t step sideways, however continues going within the path of the bend.
Correction: This will stem from an absence of preparation from the rider or a lack of knowledge from the horse. Use half-halts to keep up the self-carriage of the horse by means of the train and guarantee he’s listening. If the horse is inexperienced, return to leg yield workout routines to re-establish the horse’s understanding of transferring away the within leg earlier than making an attempt shoulder-in once more.
Downside: Missing bend by means of the physique
Correction: Sitting on the incorrect seat bone, and collapsing by means of your waist to the within could trigger your horse to lack bend. Attempt to deepen the within seat bone, whereas remaining tall by means of your higher physique.
British dressage rider Joanna Thurman-Baker’s useful ideas
“The largest drawback I discover is individuals wanting down the monitor whereas driving a shoulder in,” explains Joanna. “Though this does hold you on a straight line, as a result of your head is pointing forwards, your physique need to do the identical, which may block the horse. In the event you look by means of the horse’s ears, your physique will observe which permits your pelvis to show, releasing the horse’s shoulders encouraging a softer bend and simpler stream.
“To maintain your horse on the right line, hold giving mild half halts with the fingers on the skin rein and look the place you need to find yourself out the nook of your eye if it is advisable to. Your outdoors leg ought to be gently coming on and off as wanted, to remind the horse to not fall onto its outdoors shoulder.”
Is shoulder-in in any British Dressage assessments?
Shoulder-in in trot is present in elementary degree and above underneath British Dressage, whereas in British Eventing, it first seems at intermediate degree competitions.
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Credit score: Lucy Merrell
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Credit score: Lucy Merrell
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