Riding a shoulder fore... help !!

[texansunrise]

Hi, i have been having weekly lessons with my youngster i have found him to be really stiff in his neck . (I have the back lady coming friday to check every thing) however my instructor has suggested riding lots of shoulder fore. I had a really intense lesson Saturday and when i went to school yesterday i felt in a muddle with the aids and could not remember them - particularly how my weight should be. I remember her saying i have to really lift my seat bone and push the other one really deep but i cannot rember if it is lifting the way i have him flexed or vice verse - basicly i am in a muddle !! I would be VERY grateful if you could be kind enough to tell me a break down in the aids for a shoulder fore in dummy terms !! Thankyou x x x

 

[china]

do you mean shoulder in? never heard if shoulder fore.

 

[Bossanova]

Shoulder fore is done by using the inside leg on the girth and the outside leg behnid the girth (it's a really common fault to bring the inside leg back and push the 1/4s out)
In combination with this you need to put a bit more pressure down onto your inside seat bone and turn your head and shoulders to the inside- pull your inside shoulder right back. The outside rein controls the amount of neck bend, the inside hand should be passive.

It'll be very hard toi do if your horse cant flex it's neck yet and I'd work on very basic neck flexions left and right at halt and walk first.