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Flatwork
These are dressage exercises that the horse undertakes whilst being ridden on the flat as opposed being ridden over jumps, flatwork covers a multitude of exercises from circles, turns, transitions from pace to pace for example from walk to canter and within a pace such as working trot to lengthened strides, as well as lateral movements where the horse is asked to move both forwards and sideways at he same time, such as when riding shoulder in or legyield.
Shoulder In
This is where the horse moves on three tracks with the shoulders In from the track.
Uses. Shoulder in is a useful exercise for lightening up a horses forehand as well as helping to supple the horse through their shoulders. It helps to teach the horse to listen carefully and remain attentive to the riders aids.
Riding Shoulder In
The best way to start riding shoulder in is by going along the outside track. It is best to start off by riding a small 10 meter circle, as this helps to achieve inside bend and have the horse moving from the riders inside leg to outside rein. It is from finishing off the circle that the Shoulder In begins, the rider maintains the inside bend and simply pushes with their inside leg on the girth to push the horse along the track into the outside rein and therefore keeping the horses shoulders in from the track. The riders inside rein should remain soft and with a light contact and the outside rein should control the amount or degree of bend given. At any time the Shoulder In can finished by either straightening up the horse by pushing the shoulders straight and correcting the bend so that the horse is looking straight ahead, or by riding into a small 10 meter circle, and then either re commencing the shoulder in or riding straight away.
To begin with ride a few steps of Shoulder In at a time, this will build up both the horse and rider confidence and suppleness. Once both horse and rider are progressing well then Shoulder In can also be ridden up the center line, and with or without the circle.
Once you become proficient at shoulder in, then you can progress to Half pass.
Shoulder In is a demanding exercise for a horse to do so build up your horses strength,suppleness, confidence and the angle of the Shoulder In over time.
Shoulder In is ridden on three tracks, if you are riding shoulder in on the left rein the horse will have their near side foreleg on one track, then the off fore and near hind on a track together with the off hind on a track to itself.
Exercises
Shoulder In can be ridden up the long sides of the school, up the center line, off the loops of a serpentine and on a circle. How much you ask for and where you ask will depend on the experience of the horse and the rider. More experienced riders will find riding shoulder In up the center line a challenge as there is no fence to guide the horse so the horse must be attentive to the rider, this exercise can then progress to riding halfway up the center line in left shoulder In and then swapping it round to riding right shoulder in for the rest of the center line, to begin with a ten meter circle can be ridden over X to help set the horse up for the new bend and Shoulder In.
Common Faults
Horse over bent to the inside and therefore not moving the shoulders at all. Horse tilting their head as they are riding the shoulder In is usually an indication of lack of impulsion. Falling back to the track too early can be an indication that the horse is either struggling to maintain the amount asked for or that the horse is not sufficiently wrapped around the riders inside leg. Rider faults are collapsing through the inside hip when applying the inside leg. Tensing up through the reins and not allowing a soft elastic feel to flow from leg to hand. |
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Leg Yield
This is an exercise used to supple the horse throughout its entire body. The horse has to move both forwards and sideways at the same time, and remain parallel with the outside track. This is achieved by the horse crossing the front and hind legs over each other during the forwards stride.
It takes time to become proficient at leg yield, the rider needs to be able to give the horse clear aids for leg yield and be able to feel through their seat what the horse is doing underneath them in order to be able to correct the horse if they go unbalanced and feel to what extent the leg yield is progressing to.
The horse needs to build up suppleness, strength and elasticity in order to become proficient. With time they should be able to easily move across a 20 by 40 meter school from one top corner across to the corner in the opposite diagonal.
Aids For Leg Yield
If riding Leg Yield to the left, start off by riding a turn off the right rein onto the quarter line, keep the horse straight for a good few strides along the quarter line before asking for leg yield, this helps to prevent the horse from falling out on the turn and ensures that both horse and rider are straight to start off with. Then with your right rein ask for slight bend to the right and with your right rein maintaining this bend and the speed at which the horse is traveling. Move your right leg back behind the girth to ask the horses quarters to move across to the left. Keep your left leg on the girth as this will not only activate the horse but will also prevent the horse from falling out through their shoulder and dropping to the track. For leg yield to the right the aids are simply reversed, so it will be left rein asking for left bend, right rein controlling the speed and the amount of bend, left leg moving back behind the girth and right leg remaining on the girth.
Exercises
Leg yield from the quarter line to the track.
Leg yield from the track to the quarter line and back to the track ( both left and right leg yield will need to be done)
Leg yield from the center line to either the quarter line or outside track.
Leg yield from the center line to the quarter line and back to the center line.
Ride a twenty meter circle and Leg Yield into the center of the circle until you are riding a ten meter circle and then leg yield back out onto the twenty meter circle.
Common Faults
Horse leading with their shoulders or quarters. Over bending to the inside and therefore encouraging the horse to push out with their shoulders and drop to the track. Horse tilting their head is a sign of lack of engagement and tenseness in the horse. Rushing the leg yield and therefore losing balance and rhythm.
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