Masterclass Dressage rider Matt Hicks on half-pass
The grand prix dressage rider and trainer uses shoulder-in to teach horse and rider how to get top marks for their half-passes
‘The shoulder-in helps control the horse so he can be positioned correctly for the half-pass, and
improves straightness and suppleness’
AIM
I USE this exercise myself and when teaching a combination how to position half-pass correctly. Using the shoulder-in helps in controlling the horse so that he has the right bend in his body and can be positioned accurately for the half-pass. It is also a useful exercise for improving a horse’s straightness and suppleness. It gives the rider time to set up the half-pass and also improves the shoulder-in.
Once established, you can go into the half-pass more quickly, cutting out the shoulder-in completely if you wish.
It’s an exercise you can do in all three paces. On a green horse you can dip and out of it — just doing a few strides and then moving the horse on. The more you do this exercise, the better you get at it.
THE EXERCISE
1 Start on the outside track and put the horse into shoulder-in. Make sure you have established a good rhythm before you begin the exercise. 2 After two or three strides of shoulder-in, change your outside leg position to put the leg just behind the girth, and use it to motivate the horse to move sideways into halfpass. The rider needs to make sure the horse is working evenly into both reins. To check, ensure the horse’s ears are level.
3 After a few strides of half-pass, reposition the horse back into shoulderin. The quality of the pace is paramount — once you lose the rhythm or tempo go straight, reposition and start again.
4 Repeat all the way down the long side, switching between shoulder-in and half-pass until you reach the end of the school. Repeat on the other rein. Throughout, the rider needs to sit up straight and not lean in the direction of travel, balanced evenly on both seat bones.