Elbows sticking out in trot

[ahorseandadog]

Another daughter post:

She has had some problems with rounding her shoulder in canter so I made her do the always helpful dressage-whip-between-your-back-and-elbows-exercise. It's helped a lot but it means she has another problem I didn't get when I tried the exercise- elbows sticking out. She usually gets in trot and not all the time; just for a few seconds before either she or her instructor tells her not to. She is trying really hard to correct this but it sorts of creeps up on her- any tips for getting rid of it once and for all?

 

[sarahann1]

If you daughter is aware of it it'll be fixed in time. I used to ride with elbows out, piano hands and sticky out feet, all of which I've fixed myself over time by being better aware of myself and my position and constantly readjusting. For elbows out I made an effort to always ride with them lightly touching my sides, worked a treat

 

[smja]

Try the whip-carried-horizontally-across-both-hands variation - it's harder to stick your elbows out when the thumbs are on top. Still possible, though