Anyone know a criollo? If so do they go straight?!!

MerryVB

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I have a criollo horse that was imported from Argentina about 5 years ago. He has always had a problem where he would tend to tilt his head to the right hand side and it takes a lot of work to go straight! (Though can after a lot of schooling over some time!)

After talking to my instructor this week she had been to the Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor, she commented that she had seen some criollos there from Chile that were similar to my horse but more stocky. She was amazed that none of these horses she saw went straight even at a full gallop and all went to the right as well! So she was wondering if it is something to do with the breed.

Does anyone know any criollos and have the same problem?
 
We had some criollos and criollo x's where I lived as a child/teenager and can't say I recall any inability to go straight :)

Ours weren't ridden in the english way, they neck reined like western horses. They were used for rounding up the sheep as it was a huge farm/ranch and they were surefooted and had endless stamina.

Can't honestly a head tilt/bend is a breed characteristic I've ever observed.

Lovely horses, how long have you had yours? :)
 
Well I have two argentines (which I think are the same as Criollos...)

TBH I don't really know what you mean?? My gelding is 'straight' in the sense I'm thinking of, although my mare does go a bit like a banana sometimes, curving to the right (I'm not sure it's a breed thing though).

I spent 6 weeks in argentina working with polo ponies (my two are also polo ponies) and most of the training starts on the right, then working in the left (for example, polo ponies are always trained to canter on the right to start with - as the pony will be most balanced when making off-side shots, which is 90% of the time) Maybe that has something to do with it?? A LOT of argy horses have been trained by polo people.
 
Had him 4 and a half years,

We didn't get along with western too much ( the bit was so bad he was very very sharp) so re trained him to english ways a year after we got him.

Though do western hacking and do a bit of polo now which he did briefly before we got him.

I could of not asked for a better horse, lovely breed he is a perfect all rounder being placed in all different types of shows! Agree with the stamina do some low key endurance and he loves it!
 
Could be to do with Polo, I am not 100% if he did proper polo, old photo shows he did horseball and when I have taken him polo a couple of times he does go into a 'polo mode'!

When I say he isn't straight, well he isnt! He will go down the centre line and his head will be tilted to the right and in extreme cases his hindquarters are tilted right as well! Can train him out of it but if on a hack he will constantly be 'looking' to the right. He finds leg yeilding extremely hard to understand esp going left as well.

(had this problem for all the years had him and have had numerous people checking his back and myself!)
 
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