How to Introduce Shoulder-In and Haunches-in

The shoulder-in and haunches-in are foundational lateral movements in dressage that develop your horse’s straightness, balance, and suppleness. While these movements are beautiful to watch, introducing them can be a challenge, especially for young or inexperienced horses. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you and your horse succeed.

Introducing the Shoulder-In

The shoulder-in is a three-track movement where your horse’s inside front leg is on one track, the outside front leg and inside hind leg share a track, and the outside hind leg is on a third track.

1. Set Up with a 10-Meter Circle:
2. Begin in a collected trot with sitting trot preferred.
3. Ride a 10-meter circle, focusing on bending your horse’s body evenly from nose to tail. Your inside leg stays at the girth for bend, and your outside leg is slightly behind the girth to prevent the haunches from swinging out.
4. Transition to Shoulder-In:
5. As if starting another 10-meter circle, bring the shoulders off the rail using your inside leg and outside rein.
6. Maintain the hind legs on the rail with your inside leg at the girth and outside leg slightly behind the girth.
7. Visualize three distinct tracks as you move down the rail.
8. Check for Common Mistakes:
9. Avoid simply bending the neck without bringing the shoulders off the rail.
10. If needed, return to the circle to re-establish bend and balance.

Introducing the Haunches-In

The haunches-in, or travers, is a four-track movement where the horse bends in the direction of travel, and the haunches move slightly inside the line of travel.

1. Start with a 10-Meter Circle:
2. Ride a 10-meter circle to establish correct bend.
3. At the last step of the circle, with your outside leg already behind the girth for bend, simply add more leg there to guide the haunches off the rail while maintaining bend to the inside and forward movement.
4. Another way to develop Travers: Leg-Yield Transition:
5. Use a leg-yield with the head to the wall to introduce the concept.
6. Begin by moving diagonally down the rail, leg yielding off your outside leg down the rail.
7. Then gradually change the bend to the inside while keeping the haunches where they are off the rail.
8. Key Points to remember:
9. Sit on your inside seat bone to maintain balance.
10. Aim for four distinct tracks: inside hind, outside hind, inside front, and outside front.

Practice Tips

1. Symmetry Matters: Work equally in both directions to ensure even development.
2. Break it Down: Alternate between a few steps of lateral work and a 10-meter circle to keep your horse balanced and relaxed.
3. Assess Your Position: Keep your aids clear and consistent. Sit on your inside seat bone and with straight alignment and avoid tipping to the outside.

Introducing these movements takes patience and persistence. Celebrate small successes and prioritize your horse’s understanding and relaxation over perfection. With consistent practice, the shoulder-in and haunches-in will become a valuable part of your dressage repertoire.

Happy riding!

Amelia