RUNNING OUT THROUGH SHOULDER?

[Confuggled!]

Can someone help please?

My boy is a little older and stiff at times,but when on the left rein he runs out through his left shoulder.. my god it frustrates me that in the end i get off and give up.

Its not all the time but literally his neck is bent right and his body is straight.. the only thing i can do (via instructors instructions) is to keep my left leg on to push his body over to join his neck but it doesnt work very well.

Anyone else experienced this? i dont think its pain as hes very happy in general (once you get him out of his armchair!!) and happy enough to be going forward!

HELP!!

[jill]

Straight from Mark Rashid for the same problem I had with Caspar.
Imagine that the line you are riding on is a straight line along your horses centre. What happens is that the inside front foot moves in from the line first then the outside one moves across to keep the distance between them the same. The head and neck are somewhat irrelevant.
All you have to do is ask with a rein on his neck that the outside foot DOESN'T move over just as it is coming off the ground. If you are rising to the trot on the outside diagonal the neck rein aid is just as you sit. Then the inside one moves back close to to the line to keep the distance between them and hey presto you are back on your line again.
It's really hard to explain without a horse or pictures but it works really well. If it doesn't work maybe you need to check that timing of the feet - you can only influence where a foot goes as it comes off the ground, and your rein on the neck needs to be at that moment.
Good luck - keep us posted.

[rosie]

My mare does this too, she doesnt like working on the right rein. Have had some lessons and working on getting her more flexible and getting her to bend. My instructor says one of the things she does, to avoid work is to go faster, and thats when she drops her shoulder. She is improving though - but its hard work on my legs.

[foxy]

How do you know it is not pain? I had the same problem with my horse and perserved thinking I could sort out the problem. In the end I had his back checked and found he was very stiff and unable to bend very well on one side. He was very tight through his shoulders and neck. I would suggest checking this out as if your horse is stiff one side one side it will effect their way of going. The problem with my horse only came to light when we moved up a level to Pre Novice.

[rosie]

Yes. I am having my mare checked in January.

[Confuggled!]

I was debating getting him checked.. would i use a chiropractor or someone like a MCtimony practitioner??

[foxy]

I had a Physio to check mine, he also rides and competes himself which I found very useful as he could relate to the problems I was having with my horse. I have had him out twice so far and he is due back the end of this month to treat him again.

[Confuggled!]

Is it working?

[foxy]

Yes, he was very stiff through his shoulders and tight over his withers, especially on the right side. I have just bought him back into work and he is a lot better. He is taking longer strides and after doing the exercises he now seems as supple both sides. One thing that came very noticeable when myself and my instructor were looking for reasons as to why he was not happy we did notice that he had a lack of muscle around his withers and along his topline. This we think was down to the stiff and the fact that he would not use himself properly as he was stiff, hopefully now that will not happen. Hope this helps

[Confuggled!]

Fab! I dont know any physios in my area but ive rung a McTimoney person for Saturday!

[foxy]

Good luck

[holly]

I would chic, get him checked over, i had a similar problem with az, he was kind of banana shaped, he had actually pulled his shoulder and hence was leaning in . He is fab now, did not like watching them do it though.(manipulating him that is) I no some of you do not like lunging, but it could be an option to lunge him in walk ant trot on very large circles, possibly add side reins very loosly and see how he carries him self. But i would start loose to start, you could also try long lineing, that is very good to help them balance and work through there back with out a rider. I would deff have him checkedd out first.
If he is given the all clear, then under saddle i would alter your possision slightly, sittiing more on your outside seat bone. Give and take with your outside hand , but use a little more. And use a schooling whip, to encourage him into a straight line. But start softly, because if his muscles are tight and it has become some what a habbit it could make him a little saw, bit like us i suppose. Happy new year as well to all of you, lets bring it in with a bang