Really great lesson, but shoulders? *long*

[IAmEllie]

I had a really brilliant lesson tonight and I'm feeling really pleased with myself!
I have an essay to write and naturally I'm on here and I'm going to procrastinate even further by writing a load now :rolleyes:

Whilst I'm at Uni I find it hard to afford regular riding lessons, and it's difficult to find somewhere that I can easily get to by public transport, not having a car up there. I don't mind having them less regularly, and paying more if the tuition is really good. The couple of lessons I've had up there have only been half an hour (private) and I come away just feeling like I haven't really got anything out of it, and have been put on 'resistant' cobs. It's just been walk, trot, and a canter on each reign, practically. I'm trying to polish up my riding because I've mainly been hacking on my own the last few years (haven for bad habits creeping in), and the lessons just seem pointless if I'm not getting anything out of it. I'm lucky though that I have a horse that I do ride in term time, but it's mainly hacking again.

Anyway, it's half term, I have my car at home to drive and I had a spare bit of birthday money left so I thought I'd book an hour long private at a new riding school that I hadn't tried before (and it's probably one of the few remaining around here cos they all seem to be closing down!)

I was a bit worried I was going to get stuck on a plod again, but plod he was not! he was a brilliant responsive schoolmaster and much bigger than I normally ride, so his stride took some getting used to :) i did W/T/C,, stirrupless, poles and some jumps. The jumping felt so good -I've been dying to do that for ages! the RI was brilliant too and gave some really constructive criticism. she said that i have beautiful leg position (:D) and am a gentle rider but her comments were that i need to move my hands forward a bit and give more with my hands and that my shoulders are a bit rounded -she asked if i'm on the computer a lot *cough* :rolleyes: anyone know of any good exercises to stretch my back and keep my shoulders loose?

i'm just feeling so pleased that i found a good RI, and came out of the lesson feeling like i really got something out of it. it's a shame now then that they're not in manchester, which is where i am most of the time!

[Fanshawe]

Absolutely brilliant! Well done. Only thing I know that you can do about your shoulders is make sure that you take regular breaks and rotate them/stretch. I also spend a lot of time in front of the computer both at work and much too much time at home- wonder why??? :D

[Kryss]

Where abouts in Manchester have you been riding? Yard where I am has a very good range of ponies/horses, from plod to rocket! Down to earth and bus accessible! :cool: Plus off road hacking...:D

[vikkig]

whilst on horse back i always start and end a lesson with getting riders to circle there arms back 3 times, one at a time so that you can have one hand on your reins :) this helps to put your shoulder in the correct position and then loosens it at the end of the lesson.

i also just use normal shoulder stretches like you would at the gym. i used to struggle with my shoulder position and i used these stretches and also got my back checked as it was more one side than the other. ended up i was out of line because of my jaw.

[IAmEllie]

kryss -i've been at ryders farm I hope that's not where you're mentioning :o)

vikkig -the stretches sound like a good plan, she did get me doing some arm circles but i still feel rigid there, i suppose it's a case of working on it. it's interesting to see what you say about your back being out of line and i wonder if a massage would help to just free my back/neck/shoulders up a bit, it would be a nice excuse for one anyway! :)

[oinkmoooink]

whilst on horse back i always start and end a lesson with getting riders to circle there arms back 3 times, one at a time so that you can have one hand on your reins :) this helps to put your shoulder in the correct position and then loosens it at the end of the lesson.

Thats exactly what i did when my shoulders used to slump forward awfully, really helps. Also stetching down(hile walking or trotting :D) to touch your opposite tooe to your hand, (left toe, right hand...) keeping your leg on the girth as you would, really loosens your whole back up- and if your shoulder pops out of place like mine has in the past- you've moved your leg (nothing a good chairopractor couldnt sort out...the shuolder, not the leg..)

[Skib]

he was a brilliant responsive schoolmaster and much bigger than I normally ride, so his stride took some getting used to
that my shoulders are a bit rounded

I sit at a computer most of the day. And am in the same situation.

Can anyone explain please the effect on a horse and particularly on a brilliant responsive schoolmaster of the rider opening out their shoulders?

[eml]

Quick reply as about to teach:

Rounded shoulders tend to stiffen and reduce the ability of the arm to respond, open shoulders enable the arms to be more independent and responsive to reins, ask someone to hold the reins as if they were the horse and make small movements like the head moving while you try open and rounded shoulders (and other variations!) they will be able to give you feedback when the contact is good.

Think of the horse reflecting your posture, closed shoulders = shortened/confined stride, open shoulders stride opens.

[Skib]

Thank you eml.
I had been confused, because after my memorable canter with you, I was taught to do nice downward transitions from canter by sitting up and closing my shoulder blades at the back.

Yet now I've learned in dressage lessons, to accelerate and lengthen the rising trot by opening my shoulders, thus opening my chest.

I couldnt understand why that works. Thank you for taking time to reply.

It's so important to have an RI explain the subtle differences, when I have learned two things that are effective, but which seem to contradict each other.

[eml]

The first idea Skib is basically to stop your back and hands moving with the canter, I tend to suggest thinking seat down and back and feel trot through your back, then follow through with still hand, think of T's lurchy downwards transition from hand only to illustrate timing difference.