Flatwork / Dressage Intermediate 20 min

Shoulder-In to Circle

Focus: Lateral Work, Suppleness, Transitions

Equipment: 4 cones or markers

Begin in shoulder-in at the trot along the long side.
At the midpoint of the long side (E or B), use the shoulder-in bend to flow into a 10-meter circle.
The circle should feel like a natural extension of the shoulder-in — the bend is already established.
Complete the 10-meter circle and exit back into shoulder-in on the long side.
Continue the shoulder-in to the corner, then ride the short side normally.
Repeat on the other long side. The transition from lateral movement to circle should be seamless.
This exercise develops the connection between lateral work and figures, a key skill for dressage tests.

Losing the bend when transitioning from shoulder-in to the circle.
The circle being too large because the shoulder-in angle was too shallow.
Breaking the rhythm at the transition points.
The horse falling in on the circle because it was already on the inside track from shoulder-in.

Exit the circle into haunches-in instead of shoulder-in for a bend-change exercise.
Add a transition to walk on the circle, then pick up trot for the shoulder-in exit.
Chain: shoulder-in, 10-meter circle, shoulder-in, 10-meter circle all along the long side.

Tip: The shoulder-in and circle share the same bend. If your shoulder-in is correct, the circle should feel effortless.