What are Shoulder-in, Travers, and
Renvers for?
Renvers for?
Collective movements aren't tricks. They are crucial exercises for straightening and balancing your horse.
So your trainer has decided it’s time for you and your horse to learn "collective movements". Why, you wonder, do we have to learn these things? Aren't they just fancy tricks that dressage people teach their horses? Why bother?
Collective movements are ‘pilates' for horses--exercises for strengthening, straightening and balancing.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/8/2/11828927/published/6703937.png?1718976529)
Why Horses Need To Learn Collection
Horses start life crooked (bent to one side) and carrying the majority of their weight on their forehand. To carry a rider without undue strain, the horse needs to have a strong back, carry more of his weight in his hind, and be equally strong and supple on both sides.
The rider's job is to help the horse develop this strength and flexibility. To accomplish this, dressage training starts with circles, then introduces more advanced movements such as shoulder-in, travers, renvers. The horse has to bend properly through his body in order to ride these movements well.
So that is what they are for--to straighten the horse's body, to make her more flexible so that she bends easily in both directions, to shift her weight back so that she carries more weight on her haunches--all of which builds a strong top line.
Why Riding a Circle is So Difficult for Your Horse
When you ride a circle, you may have noticed that your horse bends more easily going in one direction than the other direction. That is because your horse is bent either to the right or the left, as shown in the illustration. (Photo credit: Straightness Training).
Your horse's concave side has short, very strong muscles, while his convex side has long, weak, and less developed muscles. The result is that the horse will be naturally bent toward the concave side.
Horses start life crooked (bent to one side) and carrying the majority of their weight on their forehand. To carry a rider without undue strain, the horse needs to have a strong back, carry more of his weight in his hind, and be equally strong and supple on both sides.
The rider's job is to help the horse develop this strength and flexibility. To accomplish this, dressage training starts with circles, then introduces more advanced movements such as shoulder-in, travers, renvers. The horse has to bend properly through his body in order to ride these movements well.
So that is what they are for--to straighten the horse's body, to make her more flexible so that she bends easily in both directions, to shift her weight back so that she carries more weight on her haunches--all of which builds a strong top line.
Why Riding a Circle is So Difficult for Your Horse
When you ride a circle, you may have noticed that your horse bends more easily going in one direction than the other direction. That is because your horse is bent either to the right or the left, as shown in the illustration. (Photo credit: Straightness Training).
Your horse's concave side has short, very strong muscles, while his convex side has long, weak, and less developed muscles. The result is that the horse will be naturally bent toward the concave side.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/8/2/11828927/published/2346676.png?1718976599)
When you ride a circle that fits your horse's natural bend, it will be easier to get him to bend through the circle. In fact, it may be too easy, as shown in the illustration. (Photo Credit: Straightness Training) If your outside rein isn't placed and used properly, your horse's outside shoulder may "pop" out too far and his haunches may swing toward the outside. As a result, the circle gets larger and larger. It will also be easier to get your horse to canter when going in this direction.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/8/2/11828927/published/1071565.png?1719000836)
When you ride a circle that is opposite to your horse's bend, it will be very difficult to get him to bend properly through the circle. Instead, he will "fall in" on the circle, and the circle will get smaller and smaller. (Photo Credit: Straightness Training) Your horse may also resist picking up the canter on his convex side. He may buck or kick out when you ask for canter.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/8/2/11828927/published/9620971.png?1718976673)
All About That Forehand
Horses also start off life carrying over 70% of their weight on their forehand. But carrying a rider requires that they shift some of that weight to their hind legs, and that they build strong back muscles. Note how these horses seem to be leaning on their front legs even though they are standing on level ground.Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Horses also start off life carrying over 70% of their weight on their forehand. But carrying a rider requires that they shift some of that weight to their hind legs, and that they build strong back muscles. Note how these horses seem to be leaning on their front legs even though they are standing on level ground.Photo Credit: Wikipedia
The point of collective movements is to shift the horse's weight back toward those hind legs. This can't be done overnight; muscles take time to develop, and rushing collection can ruin your horse.
The development of collection usually goes like this:
HOW TO DEVELOP COLLECTION: PRACTICAL STEPS
START WITH THESE
1. Perfect the half halt. The purpose of the half halt is not slowing the horse down. It is rebalancing him by shifting his weight toward the rear. Here’s how to do half-halts.
2. Perfecting leg yielding. When leg yielding, the horse travels diagonally across the arena by crossing his legs. Here’s how to leg yield your horse.
3. Perfect shoulder-fore. This is a simple movement in which the horse’s outside hind leg follows the track of the outside front leg. Here’s how to do shoulder-for.
AND NOW COLLECTIONS BEGINS
4. Introduce shoulder-in. In shoulder-in, the horse's inside hind leg follows the track of the outside front leg. The horse's forehand is shifted toward the inside--away from the rail or toward the inside of a circle, while the hind legs stay on the rail or the circle line. Here’s how to do shoulder-in.
5. Introduce travers (haunches-in). Travers is the same movement as shoulder-in except that the hind legs shift to the inside while the forehand stays on the rail. Here’s how to do travers.
6. Introduce renvers (haunches-out). In haunches-out, the haunches stay on the track while the forelegs shift to inside and the bend is opposite to shoulder-in. Here’s how to do renvers.
7. Introduce the half-pass. In half-pass in which the horse holds the bend developed in travers but travels diagonally across the arena. Here’s how to do half-pass.
Here is a diagram that illustrates the differences. (Photo credit: theeventingblog.tumblr.com) Once your horse masters these, she will be straight and flexible, with a strong topline, and a balanced way of carrying herself.
The development of collection usually goes like this:
HOW TO DEVELOP COLLECTION: PRACTICAL STEPS
START WITH THESE
1. Perfect the half halt. The purpose of the half halt is not slowing the horse down. It is rebalancing him by shifting his weight toward the rear. Here’s how to do half-halts.
2. Perfecting leg yielding. When leg yielding, the horse travels diagonally across the arena by crossing his legs. Here’s how to leg yield your horse.
3. Perfect shoulder-fore. This is a simple movement in which the horse’s outside hind leg follows the track of the outside front leg. Here’s how to do shoulder-for.
AND NOW COLLECTIONS BEGINS
4. Introduce shoulder-in. In shoulder-in, the horse's inside hind leg follows the track of the outside front leg. The horse's forehand is shifted toward the inside--away from the rail or toward the inside of a circle, while the hind legs stay on the rail or the circle line. Here’s how to do shoulder-in.
5. Introduce travers (haunches-in). Travers is the same movement as shoulder-in except that the hind legs shift to the inside while the forehand stays on the rail. Here’s how to do travers.
6. Introduce renvers (haunches-out). In haunches-out, the haunches stay on the track while the forelegs shift to inside and the bend is opposite to shoulder-in. Here’s how to do renvers.
7. Introduce the half-pass. In half-pass in which the horse holds the bend developed in travers but travels diagonally across the arena. Here’s how to do half-pass.
Here is a diagram that illustrates the differences. (Photo credit: theeventingblog.tumblr.com) Once your horse masters these, she will be straight and flexible, with a strong topline, and a balanced way of carrying herself.
I hope you and your horse have fun learning these skills together.
Happy riding!
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
Training and Riding tips for Everyone
Dressage For Everyone
Copyright Denise Cummins February 13, 2016; Updated June 21, 2024
Opening Photo Credit: Practical Horseman
Happy riding!
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
Training and Riding tips for Everyone
Dressage For Everyone
Copyright Denise Cummins February 13, 2016; Updated June 21, 2024
Opening Photo Credit: Practical Horseman