10 Best Tips to Improve the
Rider's Shoulders

Which shoulder is higher - which is lower?

We all have one shoulder a bit lower than the other.   We all have a little bit more weight in one foot when we stand on two bathroom scales.

But when one shoulder is lower, it is putting more weight down that side of the horse.

The Some biomechanical tests can be highly complicated involving psi measurement equipment measuring the exact weight distribution, or the most advanced computer analysis of the most minute detail of the athlete's movement & balance.

However, this has to be one of the most simple, and yet will change the rider's position right down to the tip of their toes.

If you carry your handbag or backpack over your LEFT shoulder normally, then your RIGHT  foot will probably point out more!  This is a disaster for straightness, and probably explains why you might be getting different marks in your half pass to the right than the left!

One foot starts to point out because it stops you continuing to 'fall' in that direction.  If the toe didn't point out on that side, and you kept leaning...you'd fall off.

Scales don't lie!

Q.  Go into a store and get two bathroom scales (you don't have to buy them...your just 'trying them out').  Is one scale showing lighter?  Is that the scale on the same side you carry your bag?

Q.  Can you start carrying your bag over the other shoulder?

Even the slightest deviation will make the horse crooked on straight lines, or will make the horse 'open' one front leg while jumping.

Copyright © 2005
[Colleen Kelly. Improve Your Riding ABN 76799531257].

"when one of the rider's shoulders is lower - it puts more weight down that side of the horse.

The horse is SLOWER, and makes them mroe difficult in circles, turning, half pass and anything in the OPPOSITE direction.

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In other words:

If the rider leans right the horse wants to go RIGHT (not left!)...

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