Trish Hyatt & Working Equitation Simplified Present:
From Egg-Shaped to Effortless Circles:
Introducing Shoulders and Haunches-In
Discover how these lateral tools prepare you for obstacles and beyond.
Free Challenge: September 1st - 7th
Is your circle really a circle… or more of an egg?
If your horse’s shoulders drift in, their haunches slip out,
and you’re left wondering how to hold it all together — you’re not alone.
That’s why I created this 3-Day Challenge:
to show you how Shoulder-In and Haunches-In can turn wobbly, falling-apart circles into balanced, round, and rideable shapes.
What’s Included
You
Core Training Content:
- S
Support and Interaction:
- A
You
The Struggle Behind Every “Egg-Shaped” Circle
Circles look simple, but they’re often where everything shows up.
- A horse that falls on the forehand.
- A rider that can’t quite keep shoulders and haunches aligned.
- A bend that disappears halfway around.
And the frustrating part? Most riders know something feels off… but don’t know whether to fix it with leg, rein, seat, or some combination of all three.
Pretty soon, it feels like you’re squeezing your horse in a vise — and it’s not helping anyway.
It’s not just about the shape of the circle. When the aids get muddled, your horse braces, the bend disappears, and suddenly balance, connection, and flow all fall apart.
And here’s the kicker: your horse’s balance, bend, and connection also affect the circle.
It’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem.
Which comes first — the circle, or the balance?
Either way, if you don’t sort it out, every movement after — from straight lines to transitions to obstacles — gets harder than it needs to be.
That’s exactly what we’ll tackle together inside the challenge — so you and your horse can find the flow instead of the fight.
The Solution: Simple Steps to Round It Out
Instead of guessing at which aid to use, we’re going to break it down into two straightforward tools: Shoulder-In and Haunches-In.
These aren’t advanced dressage tricks reserved for upper-level riders. They’re rider-friendly positioning exercises that give you clear control over where your horse’s shoulders and hindquarters go.
When you can influence both ends of the horse, suddenly your circles stop wobbling, your bend stays consistent, and your horse starts carrying themselves with balance and ease.
That’s exactly what we’ll do together in the
Egg-shaped to Round Circles: Introducing Shoulder-In and Haunches-In Challenge.
What You'll Learn
In This 3-Day Challenge, You’ll Discover How To:
- Spot and fix leaks in your circles.
No more wondering why your horse drifts off the line — you’ll know if it’s the shoulders, the haunches, or the bend itself. - Ride Shoulder-In with clarity.
Even if it’s brand new, you’ll discover how to introduce it step-by-step in a rider-friendly way. - Add Haunches-In for balance.
You’ll learn how to feel when the hindquarters slip out, and how to quietly guide them back under. - Bring it all into obstacles.
From Figure 8s to Drums and the Double Slalom, you’ll see how these tools apply to real patterns. - Build awareness and confidence.
You’ll develop the feel to notice what’s happening underneath you — and the tools to correct it before things fall apart.
By the end, you’ll not only have practical tools to keep your horse balanced, but also the awareness and confidence to know exactly what’s happening underneath you — and how to quietly bring everything back together.
Why This Challenge Works
Most riders know their circles aren’t as round or balanced as they’d like… but they aren’t sure why things fall apart, or how to fix them without just pulling harder on the reins or kicking more with the leg.
This challenge works because we break the problem into simple, rider-friendly pieces:
- You’ll see and feel where the shoulders or haunches slip — instead of just guessing.
- You’ll learn two clear tools (Shoulder-In and Haunches-In) that give you influence over alignment, step by step.
- You’ll get to apply those tools immediately in real patterns, so you can connect the skill to what you actually ride — dressage, Working Equitation, or even trails.
The best part? You don’t need years of dressage background. These are approachable, practical steps you can take no matter your experience level.
This Challenge Is Perfect For You If...
- You’ve looked at your tracks after and thought, “Wow… we’re definitely not round.”
- Your horse’s shoulders fall in or the haunches drift out, and you’re not sure how to correct it.
- You feel like you’re working harder than your horse just to keep the line of travel.
- You’re curious about lateral work, but you’ve been worried it’s too complicated or “not for you.”
- You want your horse to feel balanced, connected, and supple — not just in circles, but in everything you ride after them.
How It Works
You
- Join the Challenge:
Sign up to access all the training materials and exercises and get support for 7 days, or 30! - Train at Your Pace:
Follow the step-by-step guidance to teach your horse the skills needed for the Pen, during the time we have together. - Apply and Grow:
Use what you’ve learned to tackle other obstacles, improve your dressage skills, or simply enjoy a deeper connection with your horse.
You
How It Works
You
- Join the Challenge:
Sign up to access all the training materials and exercises and get support for 7 days, or 30! - Train at Your Pace:
Follow the step-by-step guidance to teach your horse the skills needed for the Pen, during the time we have together. - Apply and Grow:
Use what you’ve learned to tackle other obstacles, improve your dressage skills, or simply enjoy a deeper connection with your horse.
You
The _____ Challenge isn't just about mastering one obstacle or skill—it’s about building the foundation your horse needs to excel in any discipline.
Through targeted exercises, you'll enhance your horse’s responsiveness, balance, and engagement, all while having fun and tackling new challenges together.
Key Benefits
🎯 Precision Training:
Learn how to navigate tight spaces and build control through exercises designed for the Pen.
✅ Versatility for Any Discipline:
Improve lateral flexibility, self-carriage, and straightness—skills that transfer to any riding goal.
💞 Strengthen Connection:
Deepen your communication with your horse by practicing subtle aids and clear cues.
🎁 Fun and Challenge:
Keep training fresh and engaging with exercises that push you and your horse to grow together.
What’s Included
Core Training Content:
- Step-by-step short videos and diagrams explain each exercises to progressively improve your horse’s skills.
- Practical exercises especially created for this challenge, to measure progress and refine your skills.
- Tips on how to transition these skills to dressage, trail riding, and beyond.
Support and Interaction:
- Access to the Rider’s Success Circle for support, community, and ongoing inspiration.
- Post videos of your progress in our community, and each day I’ll choose two to review and provide personalized feedback. My insights on the different horses will help you connect the lesson to your horse’s unique challenges and offer tips to overcome them.
- Q&A Call for additional help with your horse's challenge related problems.
How It Works
- Join the Challenge:
Sign up to access all the training materials and exercises and get support for 7 days, or 30! - Train at Your Pace:
Follow the step-by-step guidance to teach your horse the skills needed for the Pen, during the time we have together. - Apply and Grow:
Use what you’ve learned to tackle other obstacles, improve your dressage skills, or simply enjoy a deeper connection with your horse.
You’ll walk away with simple, effective tools to increase your horse’s responsiveness, helping you build a deeper partnership through clear communication.
You were probably hoping this was a free challenge, but here’s why it isn’t…
I get it—most online challenges are free. But this one isn’t just another challenge and here's how that benefits you.
1️⃣ Skin in the Game = Real Progress
- Free challenges often lead to low commitment—people sign up and never follow through.
- A small investment means you’re serious about showing up, applying what you learn, and making real progress with your horse.
2️⃣ Personalized Support & Direct Feedback
- Unlike free challenges where you’re left on your own, this one includes direct interaction, guidance, and feedback to help you get the most out of it.
- You’ll have the chance to get YOUR questions answered—not just generic advice.
3️⃣ Focused, Step-by-Step Training
- Free content is often scattered and surface-level—this challenge is structured to take you through specific exercises that build real skills in just a few days.
- You won’t waste time figuring out what to do next—it’s all laid out for you!
4️⃣ It’s Designed to Be Actionable (Not Just Another PDF Sitting on Your Computer)
- Many free challenges flood you with information but don’t provide accountability.
- This challenge is designed to get you in the saddle (or do it from the ground) with targeted, practical exercises you can apply immediately—even if you don’t have a Pen obstacle.
5️⃣ A Supportive Community of Like-Minded Riders
- Free challenges often lack real engagement because there’s no investment in creating a valuable experience for participants.
- When you join this challenge, you’re entering a space where others are just as committed as you—meaning better discussions, more encouragement, and shared progress.
6️⃣ You’ll Be Ahead of the Crowd
- Free content is available to everyone but this challenge is for those who are truly ready to level up.
- You’ll be getting focused training that isn’t available in my free content.
Final Thought:
If you’re serious about improving your riding, building your horse’s confidence, and getting expert guidance without the cost of private lessons, then this is the best $20 you’ll ever invest in your horsemanship.
Ready to join us? Let’s get started!
Registration closing soon
The Egg-shaped to Round Circles: Introducing Shoulder-In and Haunches-In Challenge starts September 1st
and I’d love for you to be part of it.
September 1st - 7th 2025
Two Choices:
Why Choose VIP?
Vicki chose the VIP option for lifetime access, so she can revisit the challenge lessons anytime — at her own pace, on her own schedule, as often as she likes.
1 WEEK ChallengE Access
$0
7 Days Access & Support
- Here’s what you’ll get when you join (for free)
- 3 Core Trainings
Delivered step by step, with practice days in between so you’re never rushed. - Short, Focused Lessons
Under 30 minutes each, easy to fit into your schedule and simple enough to try right away with your horse. - Live Q&A and Coaching
Held right after each training so you can get clarity and help while everything is fresh. - Community Support
Share your progress during Challenge Week. Ask questions, and celebrate wins inside a safe, encouraging group of riders. - 👉 By the end, you’ll not only understand what Shoulder-In and Haunches-In are, but you’ll know how to start using them to make your circles straighter, rounder, and more connected.
- And if the timing doesn’t work perfectly for you? No worries.
There is an option for lifetime access with the VIP upgrade, so you won’t miss a thing.
VIP Challenge Access
$97 $29
Challenge Week + Lifetime Access
- Maybe you’re excited about the challenge but worried the timing won’t work out for you.
- Or maybe you already know you’ll want to come back and revisit these lessons later, as your horse develops.
- That’s exactly why I created the VIP Pass. With VIP, you’ll get:
- Lifetime access to all 3 trainings
+ bonus session.
Watch and rewatch at your own pace. - Exclusive Q&A replay access — never miss the coaching and answers that come up live.
- It’s the perfect option if you want to go deeper, review at your own pace, or simply don’t want to feel rushed.
- And of course you get full access to the live Challenge Week and community.
If you're a RSC Tier 3 member, use your special link to get this.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I'm not riding right now. Can I do this from the ground?
Absolutely! The Challenge is flexible and designed to meet you where you are. Whether you're in the saddle or working on the ground, you’ll learn practical, transferable skills that improve your communication with your horse. Not riding right now? No problem — groundwork is a great way to build the pieces you’ll need when you are.
What if I can’t attend live?
No worries! Each training will be recorded and available until Sunday midnight PDT. And if you’d like lifetime access, you can grab the optional VIP Pass instead.
How much time will this take each day?
The trainings are designed to be about 20–30 minutes long, plus a live Q&A and coaching session right after. The exercises themselves can fit into a short ride — you won’t need to overhaul your whole schedule.
Do I need to know how to do Shoulder-In or Haunches-In already?
Not at all! This challenge is all about introducing these movements in a simple, rider-friendly way. You’ll get step-by-step guidance to help you start where you and your horse are right now.
Will this work for me if I don’t compete in Working Equitation?
Absolutely. While the challenge is hosted inside the Working Equitation community, the skills you’ll gain — bend, balance, control — apply to any discipline, from trail riding to dressage.
Is this challenge suitable for young or green horses?
That’s the beauty of this challenge. Shoulder-In and Haunches-In aren’t just “fancy” movements — they’re tools to make your horse straighter, rounder, and more supple. You’ll be introduced to them in a way that’s accessible for any horse, at any stage.
How do I join?
Just choose your level, Free or VIP, click the Sign Up button, enter your email, and you’re in! You’ll get all the details in your inbox, plus the link to sign up for the live trainings.
Meet your guide: Trish Hyatt
International Coach and Clinician
National and International Top 10 Competitor
Retired Technical Delegate and WEDU Judge of Working Equitation
Trish Hyatt puts her many skills to use introducing the international discipline of Working Equitation to riders eager to improve their partnership with their horse, with a focus on fun, classical horsemanship and use of the horse for practical work or as cross-training for other disciplines.
Trish's superpower is the ability to give you and your horse what you need in a way that you understand so each horse and rider makes progress and knows what they need to work on.
Here’s what riders from past Challenges had to say:
"Saying the Challenge has helped a ton is definitely an understatement!"
Brenda: "We've really enjoyed the Reverse Gate Confidence Challenge!!"
Trish: "Had you ever done a reverse gate before?"
Brenda: "We gave it a try last summer, but it ended up causing my horse a lot of anxiety and anticipation. So, saying the Challenge has helped a ton is definitely an understatement."
Brenda B.
"From anxious to confident: How I improved my horse's performance!"
I knew the basics of the pen obstacle - to enter and circle both directions. What I was missing was how to achieve a smooth transition at the pen entrance, maintain bend and tempo, exit in order to smoothly re-enter the opposite direction while maintaining correct bend.
Trish broke down the pen obstacle in separate pieces to practice then put together. The teaching process led me to successfully achieve my goals to fine-tune the pen.
Monica Falk
Thank you, Trish~it makes perfect sense now that you have explained how to work with the horse's drift, keep their trust, and get them to realize you are working together as a team.
Vicki Webberley
Your courses and these challenges are a great partnership for me. I so love my horses and want to help them be their best.
Becky Seigel
