introducing shoulder in

jenbleep

jenbleep

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how do i introduce it to a horse that hasn't done it before......or at least hasn't done it for a long time?

and what do i need to make sure is established before i introduce it?

thanks in advance peeps
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edited to say that i am about to have lessons after a 2 month break.......just need to find an available instructor!
 
he moves off the leg well, can do leg yield and turn on the forehand ok but does tend to rush sometimes. like the other day i asked for turn on the forehand and as soon as i put my leg on he spun round a quarter of the way, and i had to stop and wait for a bit because as soon as i put my leg on again he would spin around again, rather then cross over his back legs. leg yield is good except at the moment i am having to go across - straight - across - straight because after about 5 steps he tends to fall out through his shoulder. he can do spiraling in and out on a circle well though.

do you think i should practice that before shoulder in then?

shoulder fore - how does it differ?
 
Shoulder fore is basically working on two tracks, whereas shoulder in is working on 3 traacks.

Shoulder fore is basically the same aids as shoulder in but the horses body remains straight.

It only actually works as an introduction to shoulder in if you are getting the horse to come off your inside leg, not your inside rein. ie dont just pull back on your inside rein!
Otherwise all you are in theory doing is bending his head in a different direction, which will make doing shoulder in harder later on because you want him to respond to you opening your inside rein and moving off your inside leg.

Do you know how to ask for shoulder in correctly?

Really if he isnt doing the more basic movements well enough I wouldnt make things more complicated.
 
i understand now shoulder fore now! yes of course that would be first before shoulder in is introduced, i dont expect i'll be doing that for a while then.

aids for shoulder in:

inside hand ask for light flexion to the inside
outside hand support the outside shoulder
inside leg applied to ask horse to bend around it
outside leg.....mmm not entirely sure what to do with it.....slightly behind girth to stop him swinging round and coming off the track?

you are right though perhaps its best to wait until i have an instructor.......dont wanna confuse the poor guy. should practice on leg yielding and turn on the forehand first until he's got those pretty much down
 
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I was asking pretty much the same question in Competion Riders...got some useful comments about it. Perhaps we should have a race - see who cracks it first!

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tee hee i could do with a training buddy!
 
My instructor had me doing this in my last lesson and how she did it was

Start in walk and walk a small circle, 5 metre, in one corner then on the long side of the arena just as the horse takes 1 step off the straight to continue on the curve you half halt and keeping that bend ask for shoulder in. Only do a few steps and then circle away and repeat so you are spiraling down the long side of the arena.
 
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Shoulder fore is basically working on two tracks, whereas shoulder in is working on 3 traacks.



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Explain please - particularly the difference between shoulder fore and neck flexion if the horse stays on two tracks?
I'm confused
S
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I was wondering the same thing, especially as I started off with shoulder-in, and hadn't heard of shoulder-fore before yesterday.
So I've googled it:

http://www.classicaldressage.net/members/lesson_pages/shoulder_in.html

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Oh, I've heard of both shoulder fore and shoulder in (that's a good website too!) but can't see how the horse could be on two tracks in shoulder fore. Shoulder in can be three or four tracks, according to my understanding....but two tracks? Didn't make sense to me.
I'm sure she'll help us out shortly.
S
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I saw that website too, but it made me even more confused.

We gave up trying to be technical in my lesson on Monday, and just aimed to ride at a diagonal up the long side, and by golly by the end it was working and we had some nice shoulder-in steps!
 
I reckon...for what it's worth...that shoulder fore is like shoulder in, but with a lesser degree of shoulder movement from the normal two tracks a horse walks on.
To be of any use as an introduction to shoulder in, shoulder fore would have to move the horse off two tracks...otherwise you are teaching neck flexion...and that's one of the big problems you can have in shoulder in...horse just bending neck.
But what do I know? (Answer - usually f**k all)
S
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I reckon...for what it's worth...that shoulder fore is like shoulder in, but with a lesser degree of shoulder movement from the normal two tracks a horse walks on.


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I agree and thats why I had typed 2 instead of four, I was thinking neck flexion.
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I reckon...for what it's worth...that shoulder fore is like shoulder in, but with a lesser degree of shoulder movement from the normal two tracks a horse walks on.


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I agree and thats why I had typed 2 instead of four, I was thinking neck flexion.
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Agreed. Phew! Just don't get started on the aids for leg yield whatever you do!
S
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Sorry Im at my mums today and she is one of those people who talks continuously to you while you are typing and reading stuff! Ive found myself typing what she is saying at some points today!!
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tee hee my brain is blown to pieces (doesnt take much does it S?! haha) think i'll wait a wee while before introducing it to Frankie!

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If it helps I can suggest an easy way of starting shoulder in?
Just ride a nice 10m walk circle just after you've started heading down a long side - make sure that your horse is moving from your inside leg with correct bend throughout his body.
Then, there will be a moment when your horse is just starting the next circle - but instead of letting him go round, hold the outside rein and push him into it with your inside leg...you should get a step or two of shoulder in along the track
When it goes wrong, put him back on a 10m circle and set it up again.
Have fun
S
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