Jodi Wilson - Shoulder Control

Shoulder Control Gives Better Performance

Control is a powerful asset when working with a horse. Control gained through fair and consistent training far outweighing control gained by force and pain. If you could gain true control of your horse’s shoulders you would be able to do neck reining, spins, roll backs, circles, backups, stops, pivots, piaffe, lead changes and more. You could also fix your horses balance, collection, and rhythm.

The more we can isolate the part of the horses' body that needs adjusting the easier it is for us to teach a lesson that the horse can learn quickly. When we try to attack the whole horse or even a whole area it becomes harder for us to be specific which makes it harder for the horse to learn.

For example, I need you to sweep the kitchen floor, but all I can tell you is the house needs cleaned. You proceed to clean the house. However, every time you clean the wrong part of the house I tell you to start over. You get tired and I get frustrated. If instead I was able to be specific and ask you to sweep the living room floor and hand you the broom, you would understand exactly what I needed.

So how do we gain this control without the use of longe lines, martingales and draw reins? I would like to say easy, just……but it is not easy. Don't get me wrong, the lessons are easy, but it takes time, dedication and lots of repetition to get it done. The great thing about learning how to gain control of your horses shoulders in this way is that you no longer have to rely on equipment or worry if the horse will perform without the equipment on. You will set up a communication line with your horse that you can use in and out of the show pen; on and off the trail.

The best part is that while you are working on one exercise you are making at least four other parts of your horses performance better. As you work on the exercises to gain control of the shoulders you are also teaching your horse to become soft and responsive to the bridle. As you work on your stop you will also help your horse to shift his center of balance back freeing up his shoulders and when you incorporate the backup you help him learn to be balanced over both shoulders. Lead change exercises will help your horse to be balanced and straight on the shoulders while neck reining and head carriage exercises will teach the horse to keep the shoulders up in circles and turns while staying soft in the bridle, neck and shoulders.

So, while I talk about shoulder control we will gain control of each shoulder individually. This way I can correct one or the other which saves time and is easier for the horse. When a horse is having trouble on a turn both shoulders are not making the same mistake. In fact, it may only be one shoulder that needs correction and now you can get to the root of the problem and get it fixed with little confusion on the horses' part.

Once we start on this communication line it becomes easier for us to tell the horse what we would like and the horse becomes more responsive to finding out what it is we are asking for. We can also gain control of the horses' individual hips, feet, barrel, even his head and neck. This makes training easier, quicker, and more positive for both horse and rider making a stronger more rewarding relationship for you and your horse.