horse pushing out through shoulder.

[fionahogg]

Hello Heather,
I've been having a persistant problem with my horse that is really holding us back in our dressage progress. Basically, he continually tries to push out through his outside shoulder, to the point that he is moving on more than one track, almost as though he's performing an evasive form of travers. Obviously this has a knock-on effect and leads to other problems...he doesn't bend properly and loses impulsion easily. I have twice-weekly lessons with a BHSII, who tells me to use the outside rein strongly on his neck, in conjunction with the outside leg, whilst maintaining just the lightest of contacts with the inside hand to maintain the bend. She also tells me to do lots of shoulder-in, yet although this helps on his better rein, on the worse rein it only has the effect of making him tense up and fall onto the forehand. To ride the shoulder-in I have been told to raise my outside hand slightly and 'wiggle' the bit to encourage the horse to perform the movement, whilst keeping a light contact on the inside rein to keep the bend, and closing the legs. I have real trouble with these aids. It seems impossible to me to use just my outside rein to physically push the horse off the shoulder and strighten him, which is literally what the instructer expects me to do. having read your book, especially the parts that relate to this problem, I realised that it could actually be ME that was causing the problem...this has never occurred to either me or my instructor, it was always the horse's fault for being so unco-operative. Anyway, you say that this problem is often caused by the rider turning the shoulders to the inside when riding turns. I think I have this problem, and that it is especially bad on the left rein (incidently the rein on which Monty is worst). I try to correct myself, but it does not seem to work! If it is me causing this problem, how can I stop myself from turning my shoulders in such a way, and how can I then get my horse out of this long-engrained (is that a word, lol?) habit of pushing out through the shoulder.
Many thanks,
Fiona.

P.S. I would like to thank you for writing your book - it has really helped me to become more aware of how I'm riding and sitting on the horse. Hopefully (when the above problem is sorted!) I can become more of a rider as opposed to a sack of spuds!

P.S.2 When will the Teacher Training Foundation be up and running, and do you have any idea of where any of the people attending are based? I don't suppose you do, but I could really do with a better freelance instructor in the North Lincs area....if you know anyone...?!

 

[Sue Carnell]

Hi Fiona

It sounds as though both of your problems with circles and shoulder-in could be down to the same thing. Maybe you are inadvertantly using your inside rein. Either pulling back, or taking it in towards the horse's wither. Try putting a strap on the front of your saddle and holding onto it whilst you ride both circles and shoulder-in, more from your hip and leg than from your reins, keeping the strap taut and resisting the temptation to pull or move inwards your inside rein. If necessary turn your inside hand over, so that your nails face up and take the rein away, rather than towards the horse's neck in both instances (an open rein) as a temporary remedial measure. How does your horse go with your instructor? Another thing you could do is carry your whip in your outside hand and rest it against his shoulder, that should ensure that your outside hand is used in towards his neck. For circles, advance your inside hip (to turn left, point and advance your left hip more than your right on each step, don't forget it is each step, not fixed) and use your outside rein (and whip) in towards the base of his neck. On shoulder-in, turn your shoulders a little to the inside, so advancing your outside shoulder, use your outside rein vibrating into the base of his neck and make sure you never pull back on your inside rein, or use it towards the wither. That would be an indirect rein of opposition affecting the outside hind apparently and not appropriate in these instances. Use your inside leg at each step to keep him on the track and straight, rather than trying to push him back onto it with your inside rein. I don't know if it is the same in your case, but I do find that many people ask the horse to come in off the track with their outside rein and then panic and try to put them back again with their inside rein, rather than accepting the 3 track and using their leg to keep the horse where they want him, particularly so on one rein more than another.

Try turning and circling without using your rein to practice, back up your seat aid with the use of your outside leg behind the girth on each step if necessary. Good Luck and perhaps Heather will have further suggestions when she gets back. I hope this helps.

Sue
sue@eclipse.co.uk

 

[fionahogg]

thanks for the tips...will try them out tomorrow when i ride!
fiona :0

 

[Heather]

Good answer Sue. I would add to it that really make a point of letting your horse feel the difference in the aids for turning and shoulder-in, perhaps exaggerate a little the advancing of the inside hip to turn, in conjunction with firm pressure of the outside leg with theswing of teh belly. In time the horse will learn to differentaiate between the aids for shoulder-in and turning. My horses will turn or do shoulder-in almost just by the positioning of the rider's shoulders, at least you could certainly set up the turn or shoulder-in by the body position alone. Keep practising and let us know what happens.

Heather