Lead change help - dropping shoulder

DoWeDance · 03-10-2009, 10:20 AM

Need a little advice here. My mare is about to turn 5. She's about 60 percent consistent on her lead changes. Recently, I found that she was really throwing her (new) inside shoulder a lot when I went to ask for the change, so I took her way back to basics for a little while: worked on moving her hips over, bending around my leg, forward lateral movements, counter canter, etc ... I just really tried to loosen her up and get her really listening. It really paid off. I worked her back up to a lead change in both directions this week, and she was able to do it right when I asked - boom - right then. Only thing is, she really drops that new inside shoulder after she changes and we drift off our straight line. She has a nice approach - listens, moves her hip over for me, is polite about the change, but as soon as we change, she's off balance and her shoulder drops. I've done a lot of excercises to keep her shoulder up, but once we hit that lead change, it's like it flies out the window. Any suggestions? If your suggestion is to go back to basics, I'm perfectly fine with that, but what excercises do I need to focus on?

billybonds · 03-10-2009, 11:34 AM

It may take her a little time to keep her balance while changing leads. You could also make sure that you are not doing anything to throw her off balance like over-exagerating the direction change and throwing all your weight to the other side.

JBandRio · 03-10-2009, 11:56 AM

I would stop any lead changes while you work on a lot of shoulder fore and shoulder in. You say a lot about moving her hips around, but do you ever work on moving her shoulders around?

dvineequine · 03-10-2009, 02:51 PM

I agree with JBandRio you need to focus on the problem at hand which is a shoulder problem.
Lots of shoulder fore, shoulder in and turn on the haunches.
Back up in an arc, when you've done your half circle ask for a 1/4 turn on the haunches and then forward, this gets her to set back on her hind end as well as lift that shoulder up and out. She will start to use all 1/4's of her body equally and you will be able to feel it when it is right.
When it is right and you have done the above suggested excersizes then she will understand the meaning of picking up the shoulder.

farmeress · 03-10-2009, 04:15 PM

Also....realize that if you are collapsed anywhere in the hip/waist, tilting in the upper body excessively, throwing away the outside contact, have too much contact, are looking straight down at the shoulder getting your upper body out of alignment....

That could mean....it would be a "rider fault" influencing the way a horse moves/drifts in any incorrect movement.

dvineequine · 03-10-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Also....realize that if you are collapsed anywhere in the hip/waist, tilting in the upper body excessively, throwing away the outside contact, have too much contact, are looking straight down at the shoulder getting your upper body out of alignment....

That could mean....it would be a "rider fault" influencing the way a horse moves/drifts in any incorrect movement.

good point!

jpottert · 03-10-2009, 05:21 PM

I agree! I would work on her shoulders, but I wouldn't completely stop doing lead changes, just when you do make sure she is straight, even counter cantering after the change is very helpful...but it does depend on the horse...

Prestige · 03-10-2009, 05:54 PM

I agree with JBandRio as well. Work on moving her shoulders around. The other suggestion would be to work on lead changes over a little jump. It is a bit easier for the horse to get the change, see if she balances herself a little bit better when she doesn't have to work so hard for the change. If not (and I would do this anyway just because :-)) concentrate on where you weight is moving in your changes. She is still young so think little is better.

ThePerfectFit · 03-11-2009, 08:35 AM

My horse used to have this problem too. The best thing that helped and worked to strengthen his shoulders is to do circles using your outside aids. Your horse will need to use his inside shoulder to help balance himself, thus making it stronger. Remember to do it both ways. To change it up a bit, we'd make a circle circuit of poles with 3 strides in between. Great exercise for shoulders and pole work for both horse & rider.

CowGirlUp1833 · 03-11-2009, 08:46 AM

Just to add - the rest of pretty much covered it - make sure she's not trying to run into them... I see this all the time - speed will not help you in the least. JB hit it on the head though - step back and work on shoulder fore, shoulder in.

03-10-2009, 10:20 AM	#1
DoWeDance Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,920 Images: 75	Lead change help - dropping shoulder Need a little advice here. My mare is about to turn 5. She's about 60 percent consistent on her lead changes. Recently, I found that she was really throwing her (new) inside shoulder a lot when I went to ask for the change, so I took her way back to basics for a little while: worked on moving her hips over, bending around my leg, forward lateral movements, counter canter, etc ... I just really tried to loosen her up and get her really listening. It really paid off. I worked her back up to a lead change in both directions this week, and she was able to do it right when I asked - boom - right then. Only thing is, she really drops that new inside shoulder after she changes and we drift off our straight line. She has a nice approach - listens, moves her hip over for me, is polite about the change, but as soon as we change, she's off balance and her shoulder drops. I've done a lot of excercises to keep her shoulder up, but once we hit that lead change, it's like it flies out the window. Any suggestions? If your suggestion is to go back to basics, I'm perfectly fine with that, but what excercises do I need to focus on?

03-10-2009, 11:56 AM	#3
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,003 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	I would stop any lead changes while you work on a lot of shoulder fore and shoulder in. You say a lot about moving her hips around, but do you ever work on moving her shoulders around? __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

03-10-2009, 04:15 PM	#5
farmeress Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: In my own world 100 miles from Nowhere Posts: 4,477 Images: 14 Blog Entries: 8	Also....realize that if you are collapsed anywhere in the hip/waist, tilting in the upper body excessively, throwing away the outside contact, have too much contact, are looking straight down at the shoulder getting your upper body out of alignment.... That could mean....it would be a "rider fault" influencing the way a horse moves/drifts in any incorrect movement. __________________ Officially off the stupid patch in 3...2...1...now. I whil let yu know if it has bun sukcesful latter

03-10-2009, 05:21 PM	#7
jpottert Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Santa Ynez, CA Posts: 387 Images: 22	I agree! I would work on her shoulders, but I wouldn't completely stop doing lead changes, just when you do make sure she is straight, even counter cantering after the change is very helpful...but it does depend on the horse... __________________ www.IronStarMan.com info@IronStarMan.com

03-11-2009, 08:35 AM	#9
ThePerfectFit Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,062	My horse used to have this problem too. The best thing that helped and worked to strengthen his shoulders is to do circles using your outside aids. Your horse will need to use his inside shoulder to help balance himself, thus making it stronger. Remember to do it both ways. To change it up a bit, we'd make a circle circuit of poles with 3 strides in between. Great exercise for shoulders and pole work for both horse & rider. __________________ The Perfect Fit <3

03-10-2009, 11:34 AM	#2
billybonds Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 68	It may take her a little time to keep her balance while changing leads. You could also make sure that you are not doing anything to throw her off balance like over-exagerating the direction change and throwing all your weight to the other side.

03-10-2009, 02:51 PM	#4
dvineequine Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 362	I agree with JBandRio you need to focus on the problem at hand which is a shoulder problem. Lots of shoulder fore, shoulder in and turn on the haunches. Back up in an arc, when you've done your half circle ask for a 1/4 turn on the haunches and then forward, this gets her to set back on her hind end as well as lift that shoulder up and out. She will start to use all 1/4's of her body equally and you will be able to feel it when it is right. When it is right and you have done the above suggested excersizes then she will understand the meaning of picking up the shoulder.

03-10-2009, 05:54 PM	#8
Prestige Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 309 Images: 13	I agree with JBandRio as well. Work on moving her shoulders around. The other suggestion would be to work on lead changes over a little jump. It is a bit easier for the horse to get the change, see if she balances herself a little bit better when she doesn't have to work so hard for the change. If not (and I would do this anyway just because :-)) concentrate on where you weight is moving in your changes. She is still young so think little is better.

03-11-2009, 08:46 AM	#10
CowGirlUp1833 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: On the Lake Michigan Shoreline Posts: 17,367 Images: 438 Blog Entries: 41	Just to add - the rest of pretty much covered it - make sure she's not trying to run into them... I see this all the time - speed will not help you in the least. JB hit it on the head though - step back and work on shoulder fore, shoulder in.

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