Lead change help - dropping shoulder

horsesR4life · 03-11-2009, 10:58 AM

Thats great on your part for dropping back to basics, because it does sound like she has a weak back, heaving or dropping the shoulders in order to change leads, go around circles or do lateral work is the sign of weak Latissumus Dorsii's. Now weak i may mean she has no tone along her back, or weak because she learnt to lock down her back in order to lighten the forehand.

Here is an exercise: Run your fingers (pads of your fingers, not nails) from behind the withers to her croup. Make a depression of about 1cm on her back while running your fingers down. Now do it on both sides of her back, does she just stand there lips drooping? does she shift her weight alot while you are doing this? Does she go to the extreme to get away from the pressure like walking sideways, or even 'dropping' to her knees? If she does any of this except the lips drooping she has a sore back, hence the slight difficulty in lead changes. If not lets move on....

Her abs, they need to be well developed before asking these advanced movements, dropping the shoulder also tells me she might not be ready.

There are tons of other reasons why she might be doing that, but those are the most common problems i can think of right now.

DoWeDance · 03-11-2009, 01:57 PM

Thanks, guys. You've been most helpful

. I will focus on moving her shoulders around for the next little while. I will also try running my fingers down her back ... could be time for a visit from the chiro just to make sure everything's in working order.

03-11-2009, 10:58 AM	#11
horsesR4life Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 1,414 Images: 139	Thats great on your part for dropping back to basics, because it does sound like she has a weak back, heaving or dropping the shoulders in order to change leads, go around circles or do lateral work is the sign of weak Latissumus Dorsii's. Now weak i may mean she has no tone along her back, or weak because she learnt to lock down her back in order to lighten the forehand. Here is an exercise: Run your fingers (pads of your fingers, not nails) from behind the withers to her croup. Make a depression of about 1cm on her back while running your fingers down. Now do it on both sides of her back, does she just stand there lips drooping? does she shift her weight alot while you are doing this? Does she go to the extreme to get away from the pressure like walking sideways, or even 'dropping' to her knees? If she does any of this except the lips drooping she has a sore back, hence the slight difficulty in lead changes. If not lets move on.... Her abs, they need to be well developed before asking these advanced movements, dropping the shoulder also tells me she might not be ready. There are tons of other reasons why she might be doing that, but those are the most common problems i can think of right now. __________________ Soon to be a Registered Equine Massage Therapist

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03-11-2009, 01:57 PM	#12
DoWeDance Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,920 Images: 75	Thanks, guys. You've been most helpful . I will focus on moving her shoulders around for the next little while. I will also try running my fingers down her back ... could be time for a visit from the chiro just to make sure everything's in working order.