The lesson of the shoulder in is started when the horse can move freely at both leads on a circle 12 m. in diameter in the corners of the arena and away from the walls. Before that shoulder fore and leg yielding are the lateral movements to use to bend and flex horses. The shoulder fore helps positioning horses on an inside bend.  Executed on a straight line or a circle it is an exercise that invites horses to engage their hind legs to find their balance. Performed properly it also prevents horses from falling on their forehand. Leg yielding is a lateral exercise designed to invite horses to engage their inside hind leg under the middle of their body. It is also useful to reposition horses that tend to drop down or pop out one shoulder. Leg yielding can start from a straight line or a circle. To help green horses bend without  having them lose their balance shift them between a shoulder fore and a leg yielding position. On circles, reduce the diameter in a shoulder fore position. As soon as they start to resist the bend widen the diameter by leg yielding out to restore the balance. Stabilize. Repeat. When horses can track equally properly at both leads on 12 m. circles, it is time to start using the corners of the arena to do volte size turns.  Shortly after, shoulder in can be obtained without using force coming out of a circle near the wall "à la La Guérinière". Here is another way to obtain a shoulder in.  Start down the center line for a step or two.  Take a short oblique towards the wall asking for a shoulder in.* With green or resisting horses follow this sequence: Oblique towards the wall Shoulder fore <=> Leg yielding Shoulder in at or before the wall * NOTE: With this approach, before you ask for a shoulder in you make a 90° turn to the center line and a small turn into the oblique. These turns are opprtunities to bend and balance your horse between your aids. Use them to control the hind quarters before setting the bend for the shoulder in. Changing their direction may help eliminate a resistance without using force.

THE LESSON OF THE SHOULDER IN Start SI when... - Shoulder fore - Leg yielding - Prepare - Execute SI "La Guérinière" style and inspired by "Michel Henriquet" How to offset resistances Diagram of Beau Geste favorite patterns

START SI WHEN the horse can move freely at both leads on 12 m. circles SHOULDER FORE An exercise engaging the hind legs without the horse falling on the forehand LEG YIELDING A lateral exercise for engaging the inside hind leg and controlling the outside shoulder PREPARE horses to bend staying balanced by shifting them between shoulder fore and  leg yielding EXECUTE SI out of a circle "à la  La Guérinière"  when the horse can do volte-size quarter turns  Or, go down CL, oblique towards the wall "à la Michel Henriquet" HOW TO OFFSET RESISTANCES Continue to shift horses between shoulder fore and leg yielding until they can execute a shoulder in staying in balance without resorting to the use of force. Use the turns to control the hind legs and bend the horse properly.

Copyright 2001. All rights reserved to Michel Kaplan and Beau Geste S.O.A.R.

This page was last updated on: May 31, 2002

Above are 2 Beau Geste's favorite patterns used to ask for a left shoulder in. They are often asked in sequence. Each change of bend is preceeded by an unilateral half-halt. They are opportunities to engage and position the hind legs.