Shoulder In

[shadowfax16]

I am having the hardest time keeping my horse going forward while doing shoulder in. She either wants to stop or turn to the inside. Many times she tries to fight my inside rein by throwing her head up; giving-and-taking with the rein isn't helping. Any clues?

(I guess this should be in the Horse Training Section, but I thought maybe it was something I was doing wrong.)

[This message has been edited by shadowfax16 (edited 31 March 2000).]

[jitterbug]

Hi!!

Make sure when you're asking for shoulder in that you're not asking with you're reins to much as this will stop the forward movement aswell as pulling her to the inside. Make sure you use a lot of legs, if she tries to to turn in, use you're inside leg to say 'no, I don't want you to!!'
Are you doning this exercise in walk or trot? Some horses find it easier in trot. Also try other lateral exercises as half-pass or leg-yeilding.
Hope I've been some help!

[Heather]

Are you teaching your horse shoulder-in or is the horse already trained in this movement?
The horse should be trained to move the forehand away from the outside rein, with the inside rein merely flexing him to the inside.

The horse must bend from behind the shoulder, not just at the base of the neck, and be displacing the whole forehand to the inside, crossing the front legs, whilst the hind legs remain going in a straight line. When teaching the horse the shoulder-in, start it inwalk, and don't forget that it takes longer for a horse to cross it's legs when it is unsure of the movement, so take your time.Be satisfied with a few steps at a time.

Also, when asking for shoulder-in, turn your shoulders slightly to the inside. Your outside hip will then be pointing up the track in line with the horse's outside shoulder. Use your insie leg in conjunction with the swing of the horse's belly- on theright rein for instance, as the belly swings to the left, squeeze with your calf, the release as the belly swings to the right . Do this at each stride. The hindleg is coming off the ground as the belly swings away, and this is the only time that you can then further engage it. If you use solid pressure of the leg, the horse will react by boarding up his ribcage and leaning into the pressure.

Hope this helps-

Heather

My horses will do shoulder-in just merely by turning your shoulders to the inside.

[shadowfax16]

Thanks guys, I'll try to use your suggestions. My horse knows how to do shoulder in, but she is also a school horse, so many times she justs shuts me off and won't listen. I just wanted to make sure that I was giving her the correct commands. Thanks so much!