Shoulder-in – The Aspirin of Equestrian Art

You've probably come across the quote: "The shoulder-in is the aspirin of horsemanship." It comes from the Portuguese riding master Nuno Olivera. What exactly did he mean by that? He was of the opinion that the shoulder-in can cure everything and saw the corner, volte and shoulder-in as a triangular relationship. The shoulder-in can therefore not only serve as an end in itself in horse training and be beautiful to look at, but can also be very helpful when problems arise during training.

• What is shoulder-in?
• Shoulder-in on three and four hoof tracks
• The Purpose of Shoulder-in in Horse Training
• The shoulder forward as a preliminary exercise
• Giving aids for the shoulder-in during handwork
• The aids for shoulder-in when riding
• What errors can occur?
• Training Variations for the Shoulder-in
• Shoulder-in as an aid to problems

What is shoulder-in?

The shoulder-in is a lateral movement in which your horse is positioned and bent against the direction of movement. As the name suggests, the horse's forehand (shoulder) is guided into the track as if you were turning for a volte. The hindquarters, in turn, continue straight ahead. With the correct bend, the inner hind leg takes on more weight and the joints are bent more.

Shoulder-in on three and four hoof tracks

Maybe you have already asked yourself how much of a step towards the rail is correct in shoulder-in. It can be performed on three or four hoof tracks. Shoulder-in on three hoof tracks is considered the classic variant and is also required in FN tournaments. The horse's shoulders are brought so far into the inside of the track that the inner hind leg steps into the track of the outer front leg.

The shoulder-in on four hoof tracks is considered the baroque variant because it was favored by the baroque riding master Guérinière, for example. Here, each horse's leg moves in its own track, not only the front legs cross, but also the hind legs.

Tip: The two variations of shoulder-in are hoof prints and not hoof beats! Otherwise that would be a lot!

The Purpose of Shoulder-in in Horse Training

With the help of shoulder-in, you can not only loosen and exercise your horse, but also collect it. If you want to achieve a greater load-bearing capacity, the variant with three hoof tracks is best.

In the baroque version on four hoof tracks, the inner hind leg does not step so strongly under the center of gravity and is bent less. Instead, not only the front legs but also the hind legs cross, which has a very loosening effect on the horse's body. In addition, the shoulder-in, together with the other lateral movements (travers and renvers), serves to straighten your four-legged friend.

Tip: Every horse is crooked and, due to its natural crookedness, has a hollow side and a stiff side. With the help of lateral movements, you will be able to balance this out more and more over time!

The shoulder forward as a preliminary exercise

The shoulder-fore could also be described as the little sister of the shoulder-in. Here, only two hoof tracks are used. Due to the small amount of movement in the shoulder-fore, the rider is less likely to be tempted to bend her horse too much. As a result, it is easier to maintain the flow of movement, rhythm and relaxation. In addition, the exercise can be ended more quickly if there are any disruptions. But the shoulder-fore is also a perfect preliminary exercise for the horse, as it is slowly being prepared for an increased load on the inner hind leg. Due to the small amount of movement, the horse learns the movement sequences in a playful way, can gradually build up more strength and does not feel overwhelmed so quickly.

Tip: If you can ride a shoulder-fore with a slight deviation precisely, it will be much easier for you to feel a correct shoulder-in!

The aids for the shoulder-in in handwork

Before you start shoulder-in in hand work, your horse should be familiar with all the basic exercises (starting, stopping, backing up and speed variations), should always pay attention to you and keep enough distance. It is also helpful if your horse has already learned the sideways driving aids and can safely perform a forehand turn and leg-yield.

A good partner exercise for shoulder-in is voltes. Here you can ensure the necessary position and bend. When you return from the volte to the outside track, your gaze and body rotation remain directed inwards. Small parades on the outside rein prevent your horse from turning back into the track. If necessary, you can use the whip on the hindquarters to urge your horse forward and sideways into a movement.

Make sure that your four-legged friend does the shoulder-in in slow motion at first and takes each step very consciously. If he rushes away from you, you should stop and start again. Keep the repetitions short at first and praise your horse after a few successful steps. Always try to determine the degree of the turn exactly. At the beginning, the version with three hoof tracks is easier.

Tip: Keep your "leading arm" as close as possible so that you don't accidentally pull the horse's head inwards. Don't focus on your four-legged friend's hindquarters, but try to observe it as a whole!

The aids for shoulder-in when riding

Strictly speaking, this lesson should actually be called “shoulders in.” Your shoulders and hips should always be parallel to those of your horse when riding. This does not change when doing shoulder-in.

Under the saddle, you also start the shoulder-in from a volte. As with handwork, small half halts on the outside rein signal to your horse that it should not turn back onto the volte. Your inner leg takes over the sideways driving aid. Ideally, you give small impulses when the inner hind leg steps off. Your shoulders are turned towards the inside of the track, your pelvis remains straight. Make sure that your inner leg does not squeeze or slide too far back. The outer hand, which is positioned low, and the outer leg frame your horse.

Opinions differ on the weight aids in shoulder-in. Basically, the rider should try to remain as centered as possible. If the horse loses the flow of movement in shoulder-in and finds it difficult to hold even a small position, you can sit more on the outside and thus invite it to step more under the rider's weight. However, if your horse rushes through the lesson, you can sit more on the inside and thus calm it down.

Tip: The inside rein is only responsible for the position! As soon as you are in shoulder-in, your inside hand should become soft! If the shoulder-in feels fluid and easy, you have done everything right!

What errors can occur?

The most common mistake that can be observed when performing shoulder-in is an over-bending of the horse's neck. The horse's mouth no longer stays in front of the chest and between its shoulders, but the head and neck are pulled in by the rider (usually by using too much of the inside rein). This creates a faulty "neck-in". At the same time, most horses also fall over the outside shoulder because the outside aids do not frame the horse sufficiently.

Some horses also move their croup outwards. In this case, the outer leg is usually missing or the inner leg is pushing too hard or too far behind the girth. If your horse "throws" its neck in shoulder-in, the reason for this could be too much hand pressure.

In addition, many riders tend to turn their shoulders too much towards the inside of the track when doing shoulder-in. As a result, the ischial tuberosities lose even contact in the saddle, the upper body tilts inwards and is no longer perpendicular to the horse, and many riders bend at the waist. Here it helps to always orient yourself on the crest of the horse's mane and imagine a line to its belly button.

Tip: If your horse loses rhythm or momentum in shoulder-in, you should only ride short reprises in lateral movement! Always incorporate voltes and a fresh forward movement! It can also be helpful to count along in a steady rhythm!

Training Variations for the Shoulder-in

Transitions in shoulder-in promote your horse's skill and attention, ensure a prompt start and strengthen the hindquarters at the same time. You can stop at a walk from shoulder-in and let your horse start again, but you can also incorporate walk-trot or trot-halt-trot transitions.

Shoulder-in on a curved line (a circle or a serpentine line) is another possible exercise. On the long side, the rails act as a visual guide to help you determine the exact degree of the turn. On a curved line, this is more challenging. So try to keep your horse's hindquarters exactly on the curved line.

Tip: Are you having trouble getting your horse to stop in a closed position? Then use transitions to stop in shoulder-in. This often makes it much easier for your horse to stop correctly!

Shoulder-in as an aid to problems

Many horses repeatedly offer an unwanted travers (croup-in). In this case, shoulder-in is the method of choice to correct this and get your horse back on track.

In addition, shoulder-in also has a very calming effect. If your horse is nervous or has too much energy, this lateral movement can be useful. Does your horse tend to lose rhythm, show changes in pace when walking or "wiggle" after the canter and no longer wants to walk calmly? Then shoulder-in can be of great use here too.

Tip: Are you unsure whether shoulder-in can help you with problems in training? Before you do any experiments with your horse, you should seek support from a trained trainer who can better assess the situation!

quality over quantity

Every lateral movement can only serve to exercise and keep the horse healthy if it is carried out correctly. This is also a very important aspect in shoulder-in that you should definitely pay attention to. Try to avoid any evasive movement from your horse, as this will only make problems worse and the purpose of the exercise will be lost. Furthermore, this is the only way the aspirin of horsemanship will really be helpful in horse training!

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