Dominique Barbier Clinic
Work in-hand
Next is the un-mounted shoulder-in. Shoulder-in was always on four tracks, not three. Remove the side reins and longe line and put it and the longe whip aside. Let the bridle reins down as if for riding and pick up your dressage whip.
Stand in front of your horse “like a pillar” and ask the horse to move around you, crossing both hind and front legs, neck soft and bent to the inside as in the longing. The horse’s eyes must be facing you throughout. Do not let the horse be pushy and step into your space.
Hold one rein (either one) with one hand and with the whip hand indicate to the horse that he is to step around you. If you are asking him to move left, hold the rein with the left hand and the whip with the right hand. It is important to keep the horse’s eyes facing you and to keep your rein arm straight and in line with the horse’s spine. You want both sets of legs crossing, with the neck down and relaxed. (This is not as easy as it sounds, I must tell you. I got pretty dizzy the first couple of times.) Do not show emotion if things don’t go well, just keep asking. The goal is self-carriage. When Barbier says to “hold” the rein, he means to barely hold the rein. Use as little rein as possible to keep the head facing you. This all will translate to the riding session.