Shouldering the Load

The worst part of trying to write a blog is the stupid title.  It pains me when I write titles like the one above.  This post is not about carrying things or being burdened, it's just about shoulders. But I wanted to keep my titles somewhat interesting and not too dry.  I have no idea why.  I mean, we're all horse people.  And horse people would mostly know what I meant when I titled it "Controlling the Shoulders"  or "Bulging the Shoulder" and they might even read it anyway.  Well, at least I'm not writing poems about my experiences....oh wait, that would make things even more interesting, wouldn't it?  So today, I give you my new poem.  It also may explain why I'm not a professional poet.....

Shouldering the Load
by Mona Sterling

Down the long side, the pony sucks back
Sometimes she spooks and gives me a heart attack
I push her forward, I'm wearing spurs
When her rhythm is right, it's like magic occurs.

She's learning to come right into my hand
I'm learning to give when she yields to demands
We've come really far, of that there's no doubt
But she keeps on bulging her shoulder out!

The outside rein?  What's that you say?
Push her too hard and she just runs away.
Inside leg to outside rein
My arms are starting to feel some pain

Her neck goes upside down
As we go round and round
Our shoulder in turns into a fight
At this rate we'll be doing this all night

She wiggles and throws her shoulder out
My outside rein does not have much clout
And now I"m riding too much with my hands
And I'm not even sure the pony understands

So round and round and round we go
Drifting out, falling in, sometimes going too slow
My aching arms are a telltale sign
that I'm doing it wrong, the problem is mine

The pony and I don't have a clue
about exactly what we're supposed to do
But we kept on trying, at least we stayed
and Mona Sterling was not afraid.
*******

Drop inside shoulder?  Yes please!  Bulge through outside shoulder?  Sure, try to turn, suckah!

Now that you've had to scrub out your retinas from having to read that, I have a quick question for all of you.  It may turn into a long discussion....bits.  I'm currently riding in a super cheap, plain jane, O ring snaffle.  The pony alternates between too heavy and too light and she's awful about moving her shoulders.  Would a different bit (NOT a harsher bit, just a DIFFERENT one) have an effect on this?  Please discuss so I can learn something!