SESSION 19 – SHAPING TRAVERS & SHOULDER-IN

Savannah has had a sore back so Claire has been taking it easy with her.

In this session, Ali looks at Claire and Savannah's travers and shoulder-in in groundwork. Once Savannah focuses, she shows some nice travers. Sometimes it's getting her to focus that is the biggest problem! Savannah (and Claire!) seem to find shoulder-in easier than travers.

Claire has to remember to bring Savannah's front legs back to the track whilst keeping her hind legs on the track when straightening her.

As Claire hasn't been riding as much as usual, she doesn't feel she is in a great riding position. Ali gets Claire to think about bringing her shoulders back and then dropping them into her 'back-pockets'. Claire likes to grow tall so she has to think about dropping her whole shoulder girdle down to her ribs. Ali makes sure both Claire's legs are in the correct position. This session it's her left leg that needs adjusting whereas normally it's her right! This goes to show that riding is a never-ending learning process!

In trot, Claire is a little too inclined forward at the top of the rise. She needs to think about 'pelvic thrust' making sure she doesn't leave her bottom behind!

In ridden lateral work, Claire has to remember to keep her right side 'up and on' and to fill into her left side. To achieve travers, Claire has to start with Savannah's head and neck facing up the track. Otherwise, Savannah does quarters-in rather than travers. In shoulder-in, Claire has to keep Savannah's hind legs in the track. Claire thinks about 'as if she's going to ride across the arena but don't' to achieve this.

Apologies from Claire for the excessive 'clicking'. She uses this to get Savannah's attention but maybe needs to stop doing it continuously!