Shoulder-in is a fundamental movement in dressage, because it improves suppleness, straightness, collection, and connection—all of which are essential to higher-level work like half pass, pirouettes, and flying changes. In this video, I’m teaching a clinic in Utah and working with Melanie and her lovely horse to show you step-by-step exactly how to develop a correct shoulder-in.
One of the most common mistakes that I see is riders trying to ride shoulder-in before they have the correct basics. Anytime that you’re teaching a new movement, you must break it down step-by-step so that you and your horse can have success and build confidence. Too often, we forget the importance of the basics and overface our horses. Become a thinking rider, learn to problem solve, and correctly train your horse up the levels using the Training Scale.
My Training Scale Masterclass is open for enrollment this week – and I’d like to invite you to join (we only offer this course once per year). Become a thinking rider and develop a willing partnership with your horse. Click here to learn more.
What Is Shoulder-In?
Shoulder-in is a three-track lateral movement usually performed at the trot along the rail. The horse is bent around the rider’s inside leg, with the shoulders to the inside of the rail, with the hindquarters remaining on the rail. From the front, you should see:
- Inside front leg on its own track
- Outside front and inside hind on the same track
- Outside hind on the rail
Prerequisites Before You Begin
Before teaching shoulder-in, your horse should be in front of the leg, on the bit, and understand how to move off the inside leg into the outside rein. In the warmup, I work with Melanie using an “hourglass” pattern of leg-yields and bending circles. This helps establish:
- Suppleness through the ribcage
- Lateral response to the inside leg
- Contact in the outside rein
This work creates the foundation for shoulder-in without losing rhythm or balance.
The Best Way to Introduce Shoulder-In
It can be hard to develop shoulder-in from the rail… try this exercise instead…
- Turn onto the quarter line.
- Leg-yield toward the wall.
- Before your horse’s shoulders reach the track, initiate shoulder-in.
This set-up makes it easier to bring the shoulders in and set the correct angle without losing straightness or balance. Remember: rhythm, suppleness, and connection must come first. Then you can build toward the straightness and collection that shoulder-in develops.
Hope this helps you and your horse!
Happy Riding!
Amelia
P.S. Enrollment for the Training Scale Masterclass ends this Sunday. We only do this course once per year! This is your chance to train your horse correctly and become the rider your horse deserves. Learn more and join the Masterclass.
