yay this is the perftect forum for my question!

[sonnysfirststar]

Ok I have been working with lorado for about a year with a new trainer and we both have made amazing improvement however I have one major problem with him. He consistantly is dropping his right shoulder and leading with the left. I'm working in really pushing him into my left rein and keeping his shoulders straight but somedays its just frustrating and this leads to our number one issue...picking up that right lead...obviously if hes dropping that right shoulder he is going to blow his lead....with him i actually find it easier to pick up the canter on the straight away i just feel like he lets me gain a little more control of that shoulder that way...we were doing really good for a while and he was rarely blowing a lead but i started a new job and can only ride 2 times a week and i think the lack of consistancey has taken its toll...are there any excersises i can do to help him engage that shoulder and truely be even in my reins? I know its my leg that truely controls that shoulder so is there anything i can do to make him listen to to my leg more (besides spurs...im trying not to rely on them as much) any suggestions would be awsome!! thanks!

[Flyinghigh12]

Have you tried using a whip?

[sonnysfirststar]

yes i ride with a dressage whip but its not as much his hind end that im trying to move over as the middle of his body...so it helps but not as much but thank you that was a good suggestion

[equineeventer3390]

Make sure you are riding straight too. I have had this problem with my young horse for about a month and in my lesson last week it was completely fixed. My horse falls in with his shoulder going to the left and also has trouble with the lead. I was leaning in to the left as well and i was looking down. After i straightened up he got alot straighter. have someone watch you on the ground and make sure your straight because i honestly didnt know i was leaning that much. Also, my trainer had my bring my inside leg back just for a second when he started leaning to push his hindend out and also tap his outside shoulder with a whip to bring his outside should in and make him straighter.

[koomy56]

Lateral movements will help make your horse even throughout his entire body.

[MyBoyPuck]

Are you sure the problem is with his right shoulder? Any chance it's really his left hind that's off? If so, maybe you can have him do some weight lifting using shoulder fore and haunches in on that side. It might help even him out a bit.