Shoulder issues

[emfen1305]

I'm back! After some very helpful advice on changing things up when schooling I had quite a switched on horse however this has thrown up some very clear issues still with my left hand which is affecting his shoulders. He has clearly been used to going from the rein and turning with the reins so when you don't turn with the rein you get rammed into the fence. I thought we had sorted the problem but going back to doing squares tonight has proven that he is still hanging off the left rein and falling out through the right shoulder. I try my absolute hardest to drop the left rein but I have been run into the fence that many times that I am nervous and then ride like a lemon.

I have tried riding on the inside track so avoid the fence, if i loosen off the left rein a bit and try riding inside leg to outside hand we just keep going straight until we hit the track. My instructor has told me under no circumstance should i pull on the left rein as this is what he wants, inside I should just keep asking until he moves and then praise but honestly I feel like such a rubbish rider, I don't know how to make this any better. He is making my left hand worse by leaning on it and I am just giving him what he wants.

What can I do about my left hand? I've tried holding on to a breast plate and the pommel but the issue remains that we just keep going straight as soon as I loosen it so therefore just end up walking along the fence, what can I do to make it clearer what I am asking?

 

[be positive]

He sounds as if he is stiff generally and not sure of what you want, he certainly doesn't sound ready to understand how to turn from the legs and seat so you need to go back a step and make things clearer, he will probably find it easier to remain straight and turn without being pulled by the inside, left rein, if you ask him for a bend/ flexion to the outside, right, and maintain that through a turn, it is not as hard as it sounds just don't make the turn too tight initially, it will help you keep the outside shoulder under control and once the penny drops that he does not require you to haul him round should turn far more easily but you do need to be clear and consistent for a while and forget about asking for inside bend until he is ready, it is useful on the easier rein as well to help get him really through more evenly.
I have corrected many this way and once you feel you are riding more to the outside contact you should also feel you are riding far more from your legs and seat with the horse in front of you so turns are just a matter of turning your head and the rest of your body will turn the horse if you stay in balance.

If you haven't already had him checked by a physio it would make sense to do so, some stretches and in hand straightness work, even just walking over raised poles in hand can be really useful while they are learning how to carry themselves more correctly, cobs are often reluctant to work from behind because it is so much easier for them to pull along on their forehand and you need to make it as easy as possible for them to push rather than pull so even walking in from the field ensure he is walking rather than slopping along, the same when stood being groomed get him standing up to attention with his hocks under him and shoulders up, he may not appreciate it but attention to small details can make a fairly major difference to how they hold themselves generally.

 

[emfen1305]

Thanks BP that is really helpful, some really good things I hadn't considered, especially around just the day to day things like grooming, he does stand like he's on parade at Royal Welsh (he has a minuscule bit of welsh in him!) I don't think it is a pain issue as he has been checked by the physio and he just had some weakness in his hind end which is to be expected, he is due again next month so I'll see if she's seen an improvement. Getting him to stand up is a really good idea. I also let him dawdle everywhere really even bringing up to the arena he just mooches along so will make everything a bit more purposeful!

No he really doesn't understand and then he gets frustrated and I don't want to make our lessons horrible for him! I'll try the basic flexion to the outside to the right, I find then he drops his left shoulder and tips me left, do I keep the contact on the left rein or do i drop it completely and what do i do with my inside leg? I should have asked my instructor these questions yesterday but was so focused on what my right side is doing that I forget about my left!

 

[scats]

Millie loads and falls out onto her left shoulder and wants to be turned via the inside hand when you start the session, but I can sort it now within the first few minutes of the session and straighten her up.

So opposite shoulder to yours but same principles apply. At this stage, don’t be afraid to get your right leg forwards a bit, to where it almost feels a bit weird, to block that right shoulder from bulging out. You almost wrap your ankle just forward of the girth and close your thigh. You need to ask for the turn from your right leg and also your right hand. Close that right rein against his neck, as if you are trying to turn the withers. Your left hand can direct him to the turn but not pull. You must remember when you open the left door, to keep the right door shut (that’s your closed leg forward of girth, closed thigh, closed right rein). It will feel weird but it’s a temporary step until they get the idea that a turn comes from the outside aid, not the inside.

Start in walk, doing large squares or rectangles. I imagine your horse is probably quite permanently heavy on that right shoulder, even if you don’t realise it all the time. So even on straight lines, make sure that shoulder isn’t bulging out even a fraction. Shoulders should be in front of hips. Correct any loading onto that shoulder at any point, nomatter what rein you are on, and half your battle is won with the turning issue. He’s heavy in your left hand because he’s hanging on it while falling to the right. That’s where he is getting his support from. So give him support on the right side and he won’t need it from your left hand.

I also agree with bp that getting a physio or chiro on board might be a good idea, just to check he doesn’t have any physical issues that are making it more difficult for him.

 

[be positive]

You don't want to drop the contact completely otherwise he may just tilt towards the right flexion dropping his other shoulder to avoid working correctly, you want to keep in control of both sides of him, every now and again change the bend but try and have a few straight strides in between so he is waiting and not anticipating, getting him marching everywhere will make a difference to his attitude.

 

[emfen1305]

Millie loads and falls out onto her left shoulder and wants to be turned via the inside hand when you start the session, but I can sort it now within the first few minutes of the session and straighten her up.

So opposite shoulder to yours but same principles apply. At this stage, don’t be afraid to get your right leg forwards a bit, to where it almost feels a bit weird, to block that right shoulder from bulging out. You almost wrap your ankle just forward of the girth and close your thigh. You need to ask for the turn from your right leg and also your right hand. Close that right rein against his neck, as if you are trying to turn the withers. Your left hand can direct him to the turn but not pull. You must remember when you open the left door, to keep the right door shut (that’s your closed leg forward of girth, closed thigh, closed right rein). It will feel weird but it’s a temporary step until they get the idea that a turn comes from the outside aid, not the inside.

Start in walk, doing large squares or rectangles. I imagine your horse is probably quite permanently heavy on that right shoulder, even if you don’t realise it all the time. So even on straight lines, make sure that shoulder isn’t bulging out even a fraction. Shoulders should be in front of hips. Correct any loading onto that shoulder at any point, nomatter what rein you are on, and half your battle is won with the turning issue. He’s heavy in your left hand because he’s hanging on it while falling to the right. That’s where he is getting his support from. So give him support on the right side and he won’t need it from your left hand.

I also agree with bp that getting a physio or chiro on board might be a good idea, just to check he doesn’t have any physical issues that are making it more difficult for him.

Thank you! I've just had a light bulb moment, my right leg has been too far back, wayyy behind the girth like i'm trying to control his hindquarters and not his shoulders, such an idiot, of course it would make sense to have it further forward so that's definitely one thing to change! We have been practicing our squares with inside rein to outside leg to encourage the hind to step under which is fine on the right rein but a big issue on the left due to my pesky hand! Yes you're right he is, I notice it more when I ask for the trot transition as he bends to the left and pushes through with his right, bashing my leg into the fence in the process and also meaning we lose a lot of power.

The saddle fitter is due on Tuesday as I suspect theres a bit of tweaking that needs doing and then the physio is booked for next month. I have noticed his carrot stretches are much more even now, he used to really struggle bending round to the left but he's about the same now so I'm hoping we are improving!