| Do you ever feel like your dressage horse's shoulders | | | | in counter-flexion.o At the next corner, bring both |
| are so stiff and stuck that not only is it hard to turn him, | | | | hands to the left again.o Do this in all four corners.o As |
| but his hindquarters are disconnected from his front | | | | your horse's shoulders become more supple, it'll get |
| end? | | | | easier to spin hisshoulders around the turn without |
| If your horse's shoulders are stuck, it's like having a kink | | | | meeting resistance.o You can tell there's no resistance |
| in a water hose. The energy can't flow from behind, | | | | when the weight in your hands stays the same as you |
| over the back, into your hands where it can then be | | | | swivel your horse's shoulders around the corner. |
| recycled back to the hind legs. | | | | 2. Ride down the long side of the ring, and move your |
| Here are two shoulder suppling exercises for you to | | | | dressage horse's shoulders slightly to the left and |
| try with your stiff horse. | | | | right.o Walk down the long side of arena.o Flex your |
| 1. Make a 20-meter box with 4 corners in the walk.o | | | | horse at the poll opposite the direction you'll be moving |
| To give you more control of your dressage horse's | | | | his shoulders. For example, when riding to the left, ask |
| shoulders, do the exercise in counter flexion. (That is, | | | | for a counter flexion to the right by turning your right |
| you'll just barely see his outside eye or nostril.)o If | | | | wrist. Then, take both hands to left to slide your |
| you're going to the left, ask for right counter flexion | | | | horse's shoulders over. Move the shoulders over only |
| with your right wrist. Stay in counter flexion during the | | | | 1-2 inches.o Now change to a correct flexion by turning |
| entire exercise.o At the first corner, bring both hands to | | | | your left wrist.o Move both arms to the right to pop |
| the left to swivel your horse's shoulders around the | | | | the shoulders back out to the track.o Smoothly and |
| corner.o Then, soften the contact without letting the | | | | fluidly move the shoulders back and forth as you work |
| reins get loopy.o After the corner, walk straight ahead | | | | your way down the long side. |