Shoulder-in and haunches-in are two different movements in which the horse is bent around the rider’s inside leg. In shoulder-in, the horse’s shoulder is positioned in off the track, while the hindquarters remain on the track. In haunches-in (travers), the horse’s front legs and shoulders are on the track, while the hindquarters are brought to the inside. Our Team Rider Nina Rademaekers shares an exercise where you perform both movements.

This is how you do it:

“In this exercise, we practice shoulder-in and haunches-in. We ride shoulder-in on the diagonal, then a few steps straight forward haunches-in, then back to shoulder-in on the diagonal, and repeat. This can be done in all gaits. 

Through this exercise, it’s important not to let the horse fall in toward your inside leg during the haunches-in.

Just like the exercise ‘Pirouette Preparation on a Square’, this exercise is suppling and great to get your horse between your hand and leg.”

Download Nina’s exercise.