Exercises to lift shoulders

[breezing]

While my homebred has been getting scores of late 60-early70% in his prelim tests he frequently gets comments of could lift the shoulders more ,I know he has to learn to sit more & take more weight behind but what are the best exercises to achieve this ?

 

[Chloe_GHE]

I'll be watching this with interest too, my boy needs to do this also....

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

Cheat... and buy a Neue Schule Verbindend bit!!

Works well on my mare that had previously been ridden in draw reins alot.

http://www.horsebithire.com/neue-schule-verbindend-16

 

[lex2501]

Raised poles could be worth a try to open up his shoulders and encourage him to use himself a little more. I have vastly improved my horse's very plain trot incorporating raised poles into both lunging and schooling

 

[Dreckly]

My instructor has me doing quarter turns on the haunches - works for my boy every time along with good transitions. Also lateral work gets him stepping under with his hind leg which will again help lift his shoulders.

All these done in walk after his warm-up set him up and get him off his forehand.

 

[Sults]

Some shoulder in and leg yeild does help to loosen them up and step under which should help.

 

[kerilli]

i'd use:
lateral work, to supple, and engage the inside hind. shoulder-fore then, when you can, shoulder-in really help.
a good rein-back to trot or canter, those first few steps will be really UP, which gives you both the feeling you're looking for.
simple changes, done well.
lots of transitions, between paces and within the pace.
work on half-steps then forwards again.