Shoulder-In 101 - Everything You Need to Know!

Shoulder-In vs. Shoulder Fore:
   • Shoulder-In vs. Shoulder-Fore  

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Are you working on schooling shoulder-in? Wondering what the judges will expect of your shoulder-in at the show this year? When is your horse even ready to learn shoulder-in?

In this video, I will be covering what shoulder-in is (complete with the USDF definition), the exact aids for shoulder-in, and common mistakes.

Shoulder-in is a three-track movement and can be ridden in all three gaits, although, in a test you only ride shoulder-in at the trot. This is a great movement for working on collection, engagement, getting your horse supple, and it also helps them learn to carry more weight on the inside leg.

Before you begin teaching the shoulder-in, you wan to make sure that your horse can:
·         Leg-yield
·         Ride a balanced 10m circle with bend from poll to tail
·         Stay in front of the leg and accept the bit

To set-up for the shoulder-in, start by riding a 10m circle in the corner before the long side. This will help you get the right amount of bend for shoulder-in. As you approach the long-side, ride as if you were going to continue on the 10m circle. Let your horse take one step off the rail with the shoulder, but keep the hind legs on the rail with your inside leg. You outside rein keeps the shoulder off the rail and the inside leg keeps the hind end on the rail.

The aids for shoulder-in are:
·         Inside leg on at the girth
·         Outside rein keeping your horse’s shoulder off the rail
·         Inside rein for flexion
·         Outside leg behind the girth
·         Slightly more weight on your inside seat bone

These aids for the shoulder-in are the same for walk, trot, and canter. As you are riding, you should be able to fit a human between your horse’s outside shoulder and the rail. Make sure that you aren’t pulling on the inside rein and overbending your horse.

Remember, don’t hold your horse in shoulder-in! As you ride, you should check that you are able to put your horse in shoulder-in and then relax your aids. Try giving your inside rein during the movement; your horse should maintain the angle of the shoulder-in.

Shoulder-in is a great movement to help your horse strengthen their hind end. Because it is such a difficult gymnastic movement, make sure to school evenly on both sides and remember to reward your horse often. You can ride forward, allow your horse to stretch, or go back to your leg-yields to give your horse a break.

I hope these tips help you with your shoulder-in! Let me know in the comments which direction is easier for you to ride shoulder-in!

Happy Riding!
Amelia

0:00 Intro/What is Shoulder-In?
1:16 How to set up for Shoulder-In
1:50 The Aids for Shoulder-In
2:55 The Prerequisites for Shoulder-In
3:27 The Most Common Mistakes
3:44 Shoulder-In at the Canter
6:22 Reward Your Horse/End of video