advice; how do I get her balanced

RubysGold

RubysGold

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I have a 16 year old mare.
I had a lesson this week and we worked on position. Instructor pointed out something I've never noticed before, on the right rein, my right shoulder was higher. And on the left rein my shoulders were perfectly level. So we went back onto the right rein and went into canter, instructor told me to put my left shoulder forward on the corner. We nearly fell over!

Apparently, because Roo falls in through her right shoulder on that rein, I hold her up with mine :confused: The left rein is her better rein so we are both balanced and its so much nicer to ride.

I've been told to practice having no rein contact on the inside on that rein, but that doesn't seem to be getting us anywhere, as Roo just drifts away, she wont turn without my support :s Although it is pretty funny! I need to get her balancing herself.
 
It sounds like you need to work on the quality of the bend you have. Start on a large (20m circle) in walk or preferably trot if her trot is 'ok' and leg yield onto a 10 m circle and then back out again onto a 20 m circle (if your horse can't leg yield then teach this on the straight first.) Once your horse can do this exercise as you come back out onto the 20m circle ask for canter then. You should get an improved bend and therefore she should not be relying on her inside rein as much and the need for you to pull her round should disappear.

Blitz
 
Thanks Blitz, although I don't need to pull her round, she does go round, just needs propping up so to speak. I think she's learnt to lean on the bit for support :/
 
Then you need to teach her to use your leg for support rather than the rein. -- Again leg yeilding is great for this. Leg yeild 'into' the transition --- so do two or 3 sideways steps before asking for the canter... and as you ask for canter drop the inside rein.

If she can't do this it might be worth getting her checked by a back person or getting her flexion tested at the back end cos it may indicate she's got a problem.

Gosh this stuff is much easier to explain in person than it is to type..

Blitz
 
haha Blitz, yes I find things easier in person then typing too.
I had the back person out last month, and her back was terrible, she had pain on one side at top of neck and under saddle, and on the other side at wither and her hindquarter. Its all fixed now, but I wonder if she's worried about the pain? Do horses remember things like that?
I will attempt the leg yielding before the canter :) I think she will be able to do it. she's unbalanced in trot too though, not just canter :/

Also, any ideas how I can strengthen my lower leg, because I seem incapable of using them to squeeze, she just gets a little kick to go up a pace which doesnt help does it.
Thanks :)
 
Have you tried lunging her with side reins? then she can learn to balance on her own first and without a rider, just a thought, its worked for me in the past.
 
Before yesterday my answer to that would be I can't lunge her.
She just panics and goes straight into a very fast trot and practically falling over!
I decided yesterday to start teaching her though and just started her on a small circle and kept letting her out bit by bit, keeping her calm. had a little trot at the end, but she has a lot to learn before I bring any gadgets in. Think they'd make her worse rather then better to lunge
 
If her trot is unbalanced you need to do some work on that before you can get her balanced at the canter (Unless she'll do a direct transition from walk). Unless your coming from a position of balance it's even harder to regain balance than to start off with it... iyswim.

Lots of walk trot transitions leg yielding from 3/4 line to track etc.

As for lower leg exercises... try squeezing often at walk so you keep your balance and build up slowly to doing this more often at trot... nowt wrong with a little kick tho' ;)

Blitz
 
Thanks Blitz. Sorry I didn't make it clear in the original post. I didn't mean it to sound like it was just the canter I needed to work on, its in general :/
I will try everything you've mentioned. Thanks :)
With my legs, I have spent so long gripping with my knees, so my lower legs haven't even touched the horses sides. Now I've finally stopped gripping with my knees (not 100% of the time but I try) I have contact with her sides, but no strength to use them, but I'll just keep trying to squeeze till it comes naturally.
Thank you x
 
RG I think the whole back/working thing does work in circles. you need to try and get them into a good one. I find with frank the better and more correctly he works the better his back is but also vice versa but it does take time. Also they do remember what is uncomfortable to work, it took several months for us to recrack right lead canter at one point even though he was physically fine.

he also has a bit of a tendency to rush on the lunge so I use 2 lines instead and that enables me to make corrections to slow him up and balance him.... but I must point out he has been very very patient with me learning how to use them and doesnt mind if I messed up a bit :D

I think with you on top you need to try and get your legs doing what your top half is doing.... but she will also have to understand that too.

I can lend you a welsh cob to teach you to keep your legs on ;) cos otherwise you might not go anywhere :D
 
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