Jennifer Klitzke | Naturally Gaited

Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse shoulder-In.
The shoulder-in is a great exercise for the gaited horse. It diagonalizes the footfall sequence to break up a pace.

The shoulder-in is a great exercise for any horse, especially the naturally gaited horse that paces, because the shoulder-in diagonalizes the horse’s footfall sequence. It is one of several exercises that can help break up a pacey footfall sequence and develop a smoother gait. Plus, the shoulder-in is a terrific exercise to teach balance.

The shoulder-in can be ridden in a straight line or the arc of a circle. The shoulder-in along the rail or arena wall is a great way guide the rider and horse through a few steps. After the rider and horse understand the exercise along the wall, the shoulder-in is also a beneficial exercise on a circle.

The shoulder-in is a three or four track lateral exercise that helps the horse relax, soften, and strengthen the inside hind leg as it steps under its body mass. The hind legs and the front legs cross, yet it is not a side pass. The shoulder-in is a lateral bending exercise.

The shoulder-in also helps the naturally gaited horse learn balance by engaging the hindquarters, lifting the back, raising the chest and shoulders. There benefits include strengthening the inside hind leg as it steps under its body mass, and helping the horse become soft, supple, flexible, and symmetrical.

in hand shoulder in with a gaited horse — Introducing the shoulder in along the rail and in hand.

The best way to introduce the shoulder-in is in hand. Then once the horse understands the movement, it can be performed with a rider at a slow walk. When both the rider and horse are moving as one in a shoulder-in, the exercise can be applied at a slow gait.

Here are a couple ways to cue the horse into a shoulder-in.

Version 1

I began riding dressage with non-gaited horses and learned to apply the shoulder-in with the following aids.

Inside leg on the girth to encourage the bend
Outside leg behind the girth to hold the haunches along the bend
Outside rein to keep the head and neck from over bending
Inside rein to encourage softness and a slight bend

Version 2

Jennifer and her 6-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at a clinic with Larry Whitesell teaching us lateral exercises.

In 2010, I took my then six-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse to a Larry Whitesell, a gaited dressage clinician, who introduced me to another set of cues for the shoulder-in.

Outside leg at the girth
Inside leg behind the girth encouraging the horse to step its hind leg under its belly
Outside rein keeps the horse from over bending the neck, inside rein applies a slight give-and-take with the fingers to encourage softness and a slight bend
The rider’s shoulders turns to face the direction of movement and slightly more weigh is applied in the outside iron

At first this method was counter to my habit of learning the first version. Yet after trying it I was amazed how easy my horse grasped the shoulder-in and how effortless it is for me to ride it.

Larry has a DVD set that demonstrates the shoulder in as well as other exercises. It wasn’t until I rode with him that I realized how a soft and light contact can be. Larry has traveled all over the country to teach riders the benefits dressage has for the naturally gaited horse leading to smoother gaits.

Visit: whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com