Ultimate shoulder rides

The answer to your query (or at least one answer) about what a shoulder rider can/should do to avoid or minimise the sensation of 'pins and needles' in his/her legs (which is a circulatory problem - restricted blood flow), is for the rider to change his or her riding/sitting position. A shoulder rider can ride with his or her feet tucked in behind the pony's ribs. Or the rider can ride 'loose-legged' by riding astride the pony's shoulders with his or her legs hanging loose (crotch tight up to the back of the pony's neck). 

Alternating between these two riding positions is one way of overcoming or minimizing any circulatory problem with blood flows to the legs. Most shoulder riders have a preferred riding position, usually either feet tucked in behind the pony's ribs or riding with the legs loose and dangling either side of the pony. Personally, I like to use both riding positions because although the loose-leg position is enjoyable as the crotch is pressed tightly against the back of the pony's neck, riding too long in that position can cause aching and blood flow restrictions in the rider's groin. I would mention that a comfortable shoulder riding position is one where the rider sits back a bit on the pony's shoulders but the big danger with this position is that it's easy to fall off backwards - with potentially dangerous results!

checkmateguy wrote:

The answer to your query (or at least one answer) about what a shoulder rider can/should do to avoid or minimise the sensation of 'pins and needles' in his/her legs (which is a circulatory problem - restricted blood flow), is for the rider to change his or her riding/sitting position. A shoulder rider can ride with his or her feet tucked in behind the pony's ribs. Or the rider can ride 'loose-legged' by riding astride the pony's shoulders with his or her legs hanging loose (crotch tight up to the back of the pony's neck). 

Alternating between these two riding positions is one way of overcoming or minimizing any circulatory problem with blood flows to the legs. Most shoulder riders have a preferred riding position, usually either feet tucked in behind the pony's ribs or riding with the legs loose and dangling either side of the pony. Personally, I like to use both riding positions because although the loose-leg position is enjoyable as the crotch is pressed tightly against the back of the pony's neck, riding too long in that position can cause aching and blood flow restrictions in the rider's groin. I would mention that a comfortable shoulder riding position is one where the rider sits back a bit on the pony's shoulders but the big danger with this position is that it's easy to fall off backwards - with potentially dangerous results!

That's funny u say that because my rider Jessica will alternate between positions with each ride I give her.
Sometimes I will give her a shoulder ride, and she'll tuck her feet behind my back like this.....
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6890471344408 … ize=720%2C960 

, and other times she'll let her legs dangle freely like this...
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-f … 1600842_n.jpg 

I enjoy givin her a ride either way lol

Thanks