Perfect Laterals
"Shoulders In"

Duration Approx. 30 minutes

Shoulder In! is the first great bending and collecting exercise for the horse. Correctly done, it...

• supples the horse both laterally and longitudinally
• enables the horse to engage and mobilize the joints of the hind limbs
• encourages the horse to take more weight in the hocks and haunches
• renders the horse light on the forehand and softer in hand

Yet, most riders experience a multitude of problems when learning shoulder-in which is why we have devoted a whole video specifically to this movement. Here you will see very normal riders on very normal horses (thus disproving the idea that you have to own a 'dressage type' to do dressage!) showing some of the problems they may encounter along the way. Clearly, to ride shoulder-in successfully, it is important to understand the basic principles e.g.

• influence of weight aids
• the required body posture for horse and rider
• why the inside rein should be softer than the outside

Once we have taken this on board it is easier to appreciate.

• why our step-by-step method works for the novice horse
• how we may enhance the work with the more experienced horse
• how shoulder-in complements all dressage movements including lengthening
• why three-track and four-track work leads to COLLECTION!