Guest Author - Susan Hopf
The shoulder-in is a lateral movement that selectively overloads the inside hind leg. As a compliment to the weight bearing on the inside the outside hind is then required to balance the movement.
The shoulder-in can be best described as follows: The forelegs are moved away from the tracking steps of the hind limbs, around either the rider’s fixed inside leg or the ground person’s fixed body position, to create either a three-track or four-track movement.
Horses track in various patterns related to each gait. For our purposes we will discuss the walk. The walk is a four beat gait whereby the hind leg steps very closely or in to the same spot the diagonal fore foot just vacated and then the opposite side does the same. When you displace the shoulder away from the tracking movement of the hind legs the horse is obliged to move the hind limbs more under her body and elevate the front legs so as not to interfere with the increased movement behind. You cannot create a shoulder-in by bending the neck first and will in fact make it impossible for the horse to comply with the more appropriate shoulder-in aids.
The aids for shoulder-in under saddle: Inside leg is fixed (passive) at the girth. Outside leg is behind the girth and will be your active aid. Inside rein is fixed and will only prevent a counter-bent position of the neck. The outside rein is held firm and does a myriad of things to support the leg and seat aids and/or block resistances that may occur from the horse. The rider’s trunk is placed in the position you want your horse to take, looking over your inside shoulder will create the correct rider position and this must not be changed despite the horse’s best efforts to do so. When first learning how to ride the shoulder-in set your body into the above position and make a running check of same throughout the remainder of the exercise. Horses are masters at changing the rider’s position and due to the strength difference between horse and rider easily manage to move us about without our realizing it unless we think about it at every step.
Once you are certain of your position the next step is to move the horse. Your inside leg should be thought of as a pole that you wish to bend your horse around. Also keep in mind that we are trying to ask the hind legs to carry more weight and balance the movement so it only makes sense to use aids that will influence those hind legs. Despite popular belief you cannot do this by bending the neck alone. With your outside leg (behind the girth) ask your horse forward by first lowering your heel and then raising it – like you want to pull the outside hind up and forward under your outside seat. Once the hind leg is in motion relax your leg, but do not take it off of the horse, and then wait to see what the horse’s next step will be.
Small misunderstandings are likely to occur. If he falls toward the inside push back with your inside leg at the girth – when he stops leaning release the aid – if he leans harder or does not respond use a touch with the whip on the shoulder of the same side and it will, in time, correct this inappropriate response. If he bulges out with the outside shoulder block it with your outside thigh and outside rein if needed – again hold the aid just long enough to get a response and if no response follow through with a touch of the whip on the outside shoulder. If he bends his neck too far to the inside (despite the fact that you are NOT pulling on the inside rein) keep his neck straight on the outside rein by keeping your fist firm.
Allow the initial step to finish and then start again – outside leg, assess your horse’s balance and correct any parts that may be leaning on you by pushing (not pulling) him back under your seat. Remember to release the aids as soon as your horse responds and to check your position. Do not allow the horse to blunder forward – you must ask the horse forward by the application of the shoulder-in aids and correct any missteps before allowing your horse the liberty of a free forward step. If the forward step is not consistent with your attempt at shoulder-in – halt and start again.
One of the most common resistances seen by the horse while working the beginning stages of shoulder-in is the swinging of the haunches either in or out. If this happens quickly look over the shoulder in the opposite direction the haunches are swinging (look right if the haunches swing left and vice/versa). If you are quick enough it should block the swing. If this does not stop the incorrect movement in the haunches you may add an opening rein (as described in the article listed below – “Rein Effects”). As with all of your aids you need to apply and release these corrections as needed and take care not to hold them too long or the horse will not understand what the correct response should be.
Next weeks' articles: Shoulder-In "In-Hand".
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