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To work on two tracks
Should one work on three or four tracks?

I sometimes get stuck on small details, and problem currently bothering me is about the shoulder-in.

In fact, you say this exercise is done on two tracks? However, several years ago, it had to be done on four tracks, then the rules evolved, and now it's done on only three tracks?
Is the term "track" designating the horse's feet or the two "paths" on which he moves? I thought that if you are, for example, on the rail going to the left, there was one track for the left front foot, one for the right diagonal (right front and left hind foot), and finally one for the left hind foot.

Where is the truth (if there is one)?

First we have to clarify all the terms:

The straight or curved line the horse is drawing when moving is called The Track.
The right front and the right hind feet move on one line; the left front and the left hind feet move on the same line. Here, we speak about "one track work", the hind legs follow the same line as the front legs… two parallel tracks are left on the ground.

Things get complicated when we start talking about "work on two tracks"!

As soon as the hind legs follow a different line than the front legs, we are speaking about work on two tracks.
The front and back legs follow two parallel tracks.
All the sideway steps and lateral movements belong to the family of two-track work: shoulder-ins, half-passes and all their variations.
The paradox is right here: two-track work can be done on three tracks or four tracks!!!
There is a statement not helping to understand work on two tracks!

I explain:

Your are in a right shoulder-in, therefore doing two-track work.

If your horse's shoulders are not too far into the arena, the four hooves of your horse will leave four prints, but on three lines or tracks.
- The left hind leg will trace a line, a first track.
- The left front leg will trace a second line, inside the first one. The right hind leg will also land on this line or track. It's the second track.
- The right front leg will trace a third line, or third track.

This is called a shoulder-in on three tracks. (figure 1)

Epaule en dedans
Shoulder-in on three tracks Shoulder-in on four tracks It is not a shoulder-in

 

If your horse's shoulders are further into the arena

- The left hind leg will trace a line, a first track.
- The left front leg will trace a second line or track, inside the first one.
- The right hind leg will trace a third line or third track, even further in.
- The right front leg will trace a fourth line, or fourth track, all the way inside.

This is called a shoulder-in on four tracks. (figure 2).

Once these terms are clarified, the question is: is it better to work on three or four tracks?

Both ways are good! Everything depends on the level of dressage, the ability to engage and the suppleness of your horse…
When starting to teach your horse the shoulder-in, there should be very little slant, the shoulder barely sent to the inside of the arena. Then, depending on your horse's progress and aptitudes, you will gradually increase the amount of slant in the movement, until you can ask for work "on four tracks".
When a horse is supple, engaged and carries himself easily, the shoulder-in will be correct, in a beneficial way, only if asked on four tracks, sometimes even very marked ones. With such a horse, asking for a shoulder-in on three tracks will bring nothing!
On the contrary, when a horse is forced to work on four tracks even if he does not (yet) have the ability to comply, the horse will stiffen and harden. The result will look jerky, difficult… the shoulder-in will be detrimental!

Therefore, there is not "one truth" of the matter, but different answers for different horses!

And does your horse need to work on shoulder-ins on three tracks or rather on four tracks?

next themes

Posture-position / Walk / Trot / Canter / Shoulder-in / half-pass / Flying change of lead / Pirouette /

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