Exercises to control a naughty ginger shoulder?

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avthechav

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Was hoping that someone had some lovely ideas to help control a naughty left shoulder that my clever Ginge throws out sideways in order not to work properly.

I am finding I the right rein I am constantly having to half halt and flex outwards to get Ginge to use his shoulder rather that bending in and losing it all outwards which is fine but I was wondering if there was anything else I could incorporate into my sessions to help with this. It is both of our weaker rein and at the moment I am trying to work away from the track so that he doesn't use the fence for support, I have also noticed that we are rubbish at straight lines (so simple but yet so hard!) and his default is to be slightly out through the shoulder on the straight so I am trying to keep on top of this even when just hacking about by taking stirrups away for a bit to make sure that I'm straight and then sorting him out....saddle fits, back and teeth have been recently checked and he is improving all of the time but I think this is our next 'thing'.

Ideas gratefully received!...I think at this point I am meant to offer food but all I have is pizza and vienetta....will that do?
 
...maybe it's a Ginge thing then- we should get a handicap for this, like add a mark on to every dressage moment on the right hand rein or discout sj pens on the right rein?
 
The fact that this shows also in straight lines means there is a lack of connection, not just losing the shoulder but not working equally from behind, the horse finds it easier to hollow to the left, drop out through the right shoulder and pushes less with the hind leg and then becomes crooked.
Working straight, especially on the easier right rein, not asking for bend until they are truly into both reins, work on an inside track so they never use the fence as a prop, riding squares, diamonds to keep the shoulders in line.
Counter flexions on both reins, not just the "bad" one before you lose the shoulder not as a correction but as a planned part of your work, they will gradually become straighter and you should then find the connection is more even.
Leg yielding is useful but only if done correctly, moving away from the track is going to help more than moving towards it, if the horse is able to counter canter that is really helpful to get both shoulder control and true straightness.
Pole work is also a good way of getting them to work through evenly.
 
Brill, that is exactly what is happening, he used to always change behind on that rein in the canter too as he found it hard to use that hind so although that doesn't happen any more it would certainly still be a weakness, I will try the above and see how we get on, thanks for your help.
 
Definitely agree with Be Positive that counter canter can work wonders for getting the shoulder upright. My horse's shoulder tends to collapse to the left on the right rein and I find what really helps is to do an opposite shoulder-in. That means you go onto the right rein, but put yourself into LEFT shoulder in position down the long side, but whilst actually on the right rein. The horse's shoulder is then forced into an upright position and moved away from the direction it collapses, and it is also moved away from the arena wall.

Hope I explained that adequately!
 
Yes perfectly explained, a bit like what I end up doing with my counter flexion but use it as an exercise rather than a correction once it has happened. The problem I am finding with the leg yield is that without someone on the ground it very easy for it to become 'escapey' rather than upright as I am not quick enough to notice before its too late....think this could be the way forward until I have better control of the shoulder and then move on to leg yield. Thanks!
 
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