• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Murdoch Method

Horseback Riding Instruction Redefined

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • About
    • About Wendy Murdoch
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Reviews
  • Clinics
    • 2023 Clinic Schedule
    • Types of Clinics
    • Courses & Workshops
    • Clinic Request Form
    • Participant Feedback
    • Private Intensives
  • SURE FOOT
    • SURE FOOT Pads – Where to Start?
    • BUY SURE FOOT
    • Register Pads
    • SURE FOOT Videos
    • SURE FOOT Case Studies
    • SURE FOOT FAQs
    • Find A Practitioner
    • Online Courses
  • Resources
    • Murdoch Minutes
    • Free Video Lessons
    • In Wendy’s Library
    • Articles
    • Interviews
    • Recommended Books & DVDS
    • Blog
    • Follow Wendy’s Articles
    • Links
  • Shop
    • SURE FOOT Equine Pads
    • Webinars with Wendy
    • From Wendy Murdoch
    • Health
    • Rare Books
    • The Book Case
    • DVDs
    • Rider Aids
  • Safari
  • Contact
    • My Account
    • Checkout
    • Cart
Home / Murdoch Minutes / Murdoch Minute No. 113: Upper Ribs Forward For Shoulders Back

Murdoch Minute No. 113: Upper Ribs Forward For Shoulders Back

by Wendy Murdoch

Use this Murdoch Minute to expand your upper ribs and position your shoulders back and down. Practice this exercise while riding circles and turns to keep you square and upright. And always remember to enjoy the ride!

Shoulder Issues
Do you struggle to keep your shoulders back? Drop to the inside when riding circles and turning? Feel like your rein contact is heavy or does not follow your horse? Expanding your upper ribs forward could resolve these problems and more!

Photo 1. The skeleton depicts the collarbone, acromion process, sternum and upper ribs (1 – 4). The shoulder is artificially raised to see the ribs. The collarbone crosses ribs 1 – 3.

Next time you ride, notice what happens with your upper chest. Do you drop your sternum down? Do you roll your shoulders forward? Perhaps one shoulder rolls forward and down more than the other? Is your head tilted to one side? Do you have difficulty maintaining a steady rein contact with your horse’s mouth? Sensing and feeling your upper ribs as you ride circles and turns help you achieve the correct shoulder position for riding.

Anatomy
The shoulder girdle rests on top of the ribcage. The collarbone attaches medially to the sternum and first rib (toward midline) and laterally (away from midline) to the shoulder blade at the acromion process, crossing over the first three ribs. When the sternum and ribs are dropped down in front they come closer together. This causes these ribs to widen apart in the back, which pushes the shoulder girdle up and forward, creating the rounded shoulder appearance. The shoulder girdle no longer sits on top of the ribs but hangs off the front of your body attached to the sternum only by the collarbone.

Any attempt to pull the shoulders back into position without changing the shape of the ribcage is futile because there is no skeletal support for the shoulder girdle to rest upon. You will continually struggle to have your “shoulders back” until your ribs expand in front, which brings them closer together behind.

Photo 2. The rider’s right shoulder (left side of image) is more rounded than the other shoulder. Notice the angled wrinkle in the shirt in the armpit area and the slant to the stripes indicating the upper ribs on this side are dropped back.

Unmounted
As they expand in front, the shoulder blade glides down the back and the collarbone widens to the side, perpendicular to the sternum, thus achieving the desired shoulders back position with much less muscular tension.

To help you sense the position of the upper ribs relative to the collarbone, take one hand and place your thumb in your armpit. Let your elbow move out to the side and then drop down alongside to your body. Extend your fingers, letting them rest on the upper ribs and collarbone. Breathe into your fingers in order to expand the upper ribs and move the sternum forward and up. As you do this notice, how the collarbone widens to the side and the shoulder blade drops down your back. Switch sides. Is one side easier than the other? The more difficult side is most likely the rounder shoulder.

Photo 3. The rider has placed her thumb in her armpit with the fingers extended over the upper ribs, toward the collarbone. Expanding the upper ribs under the fingers allows the shoulder blade to drop back and down, widening the collar bone to the side.

Mounted
Mounted, beginning at the walk, ride circles and turns with your thumb in your armpit. Expand into your fingers as you turn while observing your horse. Is it easier for him to turn with the inside hand in your inside armpit? Once you are comfortable with walk experiment at trot and canter. Remove your hand and take the reins whenever necessary.

Use this Murdoch Minute to expand your upper ribs and position your shoulders back and down. Practice this exercise while riding circles and turns to keep you square and upright. And always remember to enjoy the ride!

 

Filed Under: Murdoch Minutes

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Primary Sidebar

Your Cart

Article Categories

  • Courses & Workshops
  • Horseback Riding Video Lessons
  • Horseback Safari
  • In Wendy's Library
  • Interviews
  • Murdoch Minutes
  • Past Event Archive
  • Podcast
  • Related Equine Articles
  • Reviews
  • SURE FOOT Case Studies
  • SURE FOOT Videos
  • Tails from the Trail
  • Top News
  • Uncategorized

Performance Resources

  • Downloadable Products
  • DVDs
  • FREE Downloads
  • From Wendy Murdoch
  • Health
  • Online Courses
  • Rare Books
  • Rider Aids
  • SURE FOOT Equine Pads
  • The Book Case
  • Webinars with Wendy

Quick Links

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Register SURE FOOT
  • My Account
  • Checkout
  • Cart

Footer

RIDE WITH WENDY MURDOCH

ALL ABOUT SURE FOOT

STABILIZATION! IT’S AT OUR CORE


Copyright © 2023 The Murdoch Method LLC
All trademarks, photographs, and text on this website are the property of The Murdoch Method, LLC.
Any unauthorized use is expressly prohibited.
Privacy + Terms & Conditions

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT