I prefer to use the Shoulder-In everyday in my warm-up on every horse, working towards or in that level to walk the movements. This should be a brisk walk. After completing the movement at the walk in both directions, along with other movements, I will then perform the same movements in rising trot. This is easier for the rider and the horse to maintain the forward motion. After the tempo and rhythm are established, I will only then sit the trot. I use the leg yield from the quarter-line to the rail right into a shoulder-in with stretchy circles in-between, especially with young horses, and because it really sets the horse and rider up for the movement.
Now for the movement itself:
Trot along in a working to collected trot. As you are coming to a corner, start preparing with the bend in the direction that you are going. Your inside leg is at the girth bending gently the ribcage. Your outside rein is supporting with even more pressure than before the corner. I tell you this because most people let go of their outside rein in corners and don't realize it. Now, soften the jaw to the inside. This often feels as though you are squeezing water from a sponge. Some sponges are harder and some softer.
As you are coming out of the corner with the shoulders, you are going to "serve dinner" to the inside. So, if tracking left, take both hands to the left in a perfect balance as if you had a plate of food and did not want to spill it. The tension in the outside rein, if done correctly, will become taut against the neck of the horse. This motion is the very thing that brings the horse's shoulders off the track and begins the Shoulder-In. When you move both hands to the inside to serve, you also are turning your shoulders to the inside. Your seat is in the direction of the haunches. Your shoulders are in the direction that the horse's shoulders are in.
Now wait!
Do not assume the haunches are going to miraculously stay on the rail. Your inside leg on most horses, especially dull or green, will need to come back a bit and strongly tell the haunches to not follow the shoulders off the track.
Now wait again!
Not all horses respond the same in both directions. Some horses on their hollow side (the side they tend to bend too much) need the assistance of your outside leg to keep the shoulders from falling back to the rail. In most cases, this leg will need to sit right behind the girth. More advanced horses will bend around the inside leg and will respond to the outside leg back a bit for better alignment. This is for the very advanced rider as well. Don't stress on this yet. I just want you to always know where you are headed.
Okay, as you are now headed down the rail, I want you to be thinking MEDIUM TROT. This is because most riders and horses tend to slow down when they go into a movement. Really try hard to keep the impulsion. It is sooooooooo much easier to look up and let the horse carry you down the rail when you have IMPULSION. I would only go from letter to the next letter and then straighten at first until you and your horse are strong enough. By the way, Shoulder-In starts at second level. I like to begin this movement in my training as soon as the horse is far enough along to absorb it, because it really is the tool for the uphill balance throughout the career of the Dressage horse.
Good Luck! The next movement will come soon!
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