Pivot Problems: Dropped Shoulder

Ok, so you've determined it's NOT you, it's your horse (see previous blog post to make sure YOU'RE not the reason your horse is dropping it's shoulder)... and how do you KNOW your horse is dropping it's shoulder? If your horse bends it's neck in the direction of your pivot (see OBVIOUS below), then your horse is dropping it's shoulder. Typically this is your horse escaping from work. Below is Riley (the horse) and he IS a notorious shoulder dropper, our exhibitor below is also demonstrating incorrect body positioning, which needed to be done so I could get our photo... look how far Riley (the horse) has his shoulder dropped, his head is far beyond his pivot foot. ICK!
To correct this you'll need a dressage whip...it's just the right length for correction behind your back.
Below is Charlotte (exhibitor) with Riley (horse) demonstrating while standing still, the correct method to correct her horse. I have her correct behind her back so that Riley doesn't see it coming and she doesn't change her body position.
You can ALSO have the whip in front of you, but it eleminates that element of surprise. Please note, you're not going to BEAT your horse, you are merely tapping your horse on the shoulder, that should be plenty of surprise.
When Charlotte (our exhibitor) notices that Riley is bending his neck, she taps him on the shoulder with the dressage whip, this brings his attention back to her and helps straighten out his neck. He'll still be pivoting while she's correcting, do NOT stop and correct, keep that pivot momentum!

Photo below. Here we are in motion. Riley came to us dropping his shoulder...we've been working on this about a year, at first he dropped his shoulder immediately into the pivot, currently we've got him worked through a 270. So it's coming, it's just not an overnight fix. See how straight he is now? She's tapped him and got his attention back to her. When using this method, I would start in small increments, do a 90, when you've mastered that, do a 180, etc...
Please note, while this method has helped several horses I have trained, however it may not work for you and your horse, you'll need to be the one to determine if this method will work for your situation.

*My sincere thanks to Charlotte and Lord Whata Bonanza (Riley) for their demostration!*