TRY THIS…
To improve your shoulder-in, perfect your 10m circles, as the correct position for a shoulder-in is the same as the first step of the circle. Half-halt when your horse’s shoulders are just coming off the track to get the correct angle — his inside hindleg and outside foreleg should be on the same line or track. From this position, use a bit more inside leg — knee, thigh and calf — to press your horse along the track. Another good exercise is to ride small figures of eight. Place two cones or markers on the centre line of the arena, and practise changing bend exactly between them, taking three steps to change bend — ie, old bend, straight, new bend. This can be ridden in walk and trot, and also in canter with a simple change through walk for three steps.