falling through the shoulder

[fleabitten]

I think that is what Princess is doing. Instead of circling properly, she just moves her shoulders and her neck is straight, but then again the field is unlevel and for one part of the circle she is going up a slight incline then flattish, then back down an incline and round again.

So, its quite hard to keep the rythm (sp) whilst also trying to get bend as she is inclined to rush and she skids sometimes on the grass. Also going down hill she doesn this jerky sort of a trot that throws you about a bit, not making it easy. She will go from trot to halt though in an instant with a small pull on the reins and off into trot again perhaps with a step or two of walk in between but it is overall a pretty good transition.

Any tips?

[maximum]

Its really very hard to work on a field like that and its what I have so I do know!! like you we have the funny jerky downhill trot and until the get the balance its hard to do much other than ensure you are perfectly balanced yourself.

I tend to do serpentines across the field so we are not going up and down so much. circles on uneven land are VERY hard for her.

dont ask for too much bend and work more on the rhythm
remember the scales of training

.1 Rhythm

2. Looseness

3. Contact and acceptance of the bit

4. Impulsion

5. Straightness

6. Collection

bend comes under straighness so you have to have the rest sorted first.

The late Reiner Klimke considered Suppleness ‘Losgelassenheit’ before Rhythm and described it as a “horse which freely gives all its muscles to use its whole body without resistance; the horse is supple and unconstrained.”

If she is falling out through the shoulder you have to support the outside with your hand and use your outside leg to prevent her body swinging away from you.
stick to large circles until you feel the rhythm improve as she will rush when she is unbalanced.

[tina]

Ditto what's been said.

Remember the bend should come through the whole body, control the shoulder with your outside hand, be firm in the contact and ride the shoulders round the bend.

[brigadier]

Ditto double that- riders often forget the outside leg and its importance in supporting the inside one.. Try riding using just your outside leg- you will use the inside one anyway as you are conditioned to!!! and see if that helps. you will find it hard work though!
brig