Continuing dressage trainer Steve Wallace's series on lateral work, this month it's the turn of shoulder-in-and the start of collection. From the pitfalls to perfection ...
Over the last couple of months, we’ve introduced you to the beginning of lateral work - whether it’s in preparation for a performance in front of the judges at a dressage competition or including it in your daily training programme as a matter of routine.
This month, we’re adding shoulder-in to your schooling repertoire. Not only is it good for suppling and creating expression (flair, flamboyance), but starting collection, too, as it requires your horse to flex and step under his body more with the inside hindleg. This in turn encourages better self-carriage, with the horse moving his weight back onto the hindlegs and lightening the forehand (shoulder).
Shoulder-in requires strength and agility - equally, though, it also helps build those requirements. It also demands confidence, which will come with time, so if yours is a young or inexperienced horse, ask for just a few steps of shoulder-in to start with then build up gradually.
Shoulder-in-the aids
- with both rein, bring your horse's forehand toward an inside track.
- control the bend to the inside by keeping a contact on the outside rein.
- Put your inside leg on the girth to keep your horse moving down the track.
- Keep your outside behind the girth to control the hindquarters.
- Sit centrally and look between your horse's ears, keeping your shoulders parallel to your horse's shoulders. This will help you maintain the angle of the shoulder-in.
