[Banat]

Serpentines. The instant you feel the shoulder drop change directions, don't help him, don't try to hold him with your leg or rein, just swap directions and let him figure out for himself that it is easier to keep his shoulders level and not fall into the circle. Do serpentines at a trot for a couple hours straight and you will be amazed at your horses softness and carriage.

[Fancy That]

Originally Posted by Banat

Serpentines. The instant you feel the shoulder drop change directions, don't help him, don't try to hold him with your leg or rein, just swap directions and let him figure out for himself that it is easier to keep his shoulders level and not fall into the circle. Do serpentines at a trot for a couple hours straight and you will be amazed at your horses softness and carriage.

Do you really do serpentines at trot for two hours? Wow - I school my mare for maybe 45 minutes? I can't imagine doing serpentines at the trot for a couple hours. Maybe trail riding or doing a hunter pace for that long But not trot serpentines

You must be a saint (and your horse!)

[pippy]

Originally Posted by Banat

Serpentines. The instant you feel the shoulder drop change directions, don't help him, don't try to hold him with your leg or rein, just swap directions and let him figure out for himself that it is easier to keep his shoulders level and not fall into the circle. Do serpentines at a trot for a couple hours straight and you will be amazed at your horses softness and carriage.

I second this if its not a rider error causing the falling in. Also do it in canter if the horse doesn't do FLC come back to trot and change direction asking for canter out.

Counter canter can also help free up the outside shoulder.

General straightness exercises should help to (shoulder in, shouder fore etc)

[Banat]

Thanks for bringing my attention to that Fancy, I do ride serpentines for two consecutive hours (some horses don't take as long), but I also let my horse to stop and stand still during that time, how much depending on the condition of the horse. I don't start working on something else or lose focus or get off and go in the house or take a phone call, or work on an hour one day and an hour the next, but I don't make them trot two hours without stopping. I do want them to catch their breath and think about things.

Thanks again for catching that so I could clarify my thought. I guess this is another example of me needing to pay attention. "say what you mean and mean what you say"

Pippy, I like to canter it too. In the beginning I don't worry about lead changes all the time - sometimes I just let them figure out their own feet.