I had great fun with the session. The clarity of the audio file was really good and the voice was clear and precise, as someone with hearing problems, I really appreciated the quality. Although our school isn't 20x40m I found it easy to adapt my riding to match the recording, just slipped an extra circle for example so I think it would be useful no matter the size of your school- or mount! (my lad is 17h). I loved that it gave my session real structure and at the end felt I'd really achieved something.

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Understanding & Developing the Shoulder-In (Novice level).

I first listened to this lesson in the car on the way to the yard. I felt I needed to have a understanding of what was to be expected, before listening to it whilst riding. I 'm glad I did, as you really have to think about what aids you are giving and when (not a bad thing).

You start with your usual warm up and then move onto the lesson. Firstly obtaining bend on the long side and then moving onto 10mtr circles. Kim continually reminds you about your seat and leg aids and what you should be feeling. After a short rest at free walk you then move onto the next part of the lesson, obtaining the shoulder-in move itself, in walk on the long side but 2 - 3 mtrs away from the track, again incorporating 10mtr circle, this moves onto trot and after further breaks at free walk to relax the horse the lesson moves onto spiralling in and out of a 20 mtr circle in trot.

The first thing I learnt about myself with this lesson was that I needed to ride with a longer stirrup length, to be able to put my outside thigh onto the saddle. The second thing I learnt, it that my 10 mtr circles need a lot of work.... but after a few sessions of these exercises, I feel they are beginning to improve and my understanding of how to maintain them is much better.

I would recommend that you do each section of this lesson, a schooling session at a time and make sure that you understand the basics properly before moving onto the next level. Dont be in a rush to move on.

Having done that, I have found that my horses balance and understanding of my aids is much improved and I am able to use a lighter leg contact. The shoulder-in itself is much better and so is my understanding of how much/little bend is required.

I did these sessions in a 20 x 40 mtr arena, which is fine but a 20 x 60 mtr arena with mirrors would enable you to incorporate more circles at the markers and also see for yourself how much bend you have.

I found Kim Ratcliffe's instructions to be precise and she also periodically repeated and reminded you. which was brilliant.

I think this lesson would benefit anyone who is riding Prelim to Elementary level and I will certainly be continuing with these training methods.

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I would definitely have bought it, i would recommend it to anyone who has a specific problem in their training, and shall definitely be buying another schooling session soon.

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