bending round your inside leg

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vadzz

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Hello,

Well I've had my mare 3 months now and she's definitely changed and improved since I've had her.

My one only issue is getting her bending round my inside leg, especially on the left rein. On a circle she is fine and will bend correctly round it, but she really struggles walking down the long sides of the arena without poking her nose outwards and bringing her ribcage inwards. She just seems to be so dead to my inside leg, I start with a small nudge, then it becomes constant, she begins to ignore it and using my legs more does not help either, using the whip to tap up near my heel doesnt seem to make a difference, she ends up running forwards. She understands the aid on a circle (move her ribcage outwards) but really struggles in a straight line.

Leg yeilding has helped, but she also finds this difficult (as she is still green) and still falls in for the same reasons. So any other help or advice is appreciated, I know (hopefully) she will understand over time but any advice to help me ask correctly or make me more aware of my positioning will be appreciated.

Thank you
 
Inside leg to outside hand.

Make sure you're not inadvertently pulling on / back or keeping a slightly tighter contact on the inside hand. Try little tiny half halts with the outside hand.

Also remember 'tits and teeth' - this keeps you upright and looking where you're going :)
 
It sounds as if she is not really bending on the circle more moving away through her shoulder, so when you ride her on a straight line you try to prevent this so she turns her head out, body then falls in.
I would try to ride her straighter on a circle, counter flexion is useful to see if she is really straight and in front of the leg, then plenty of work on an inside track so you have to ride forward and straight, once she is working in balance you can then start to think more about inside bend.
 
My lovely friend has been helping me with this very thing. She has me doing all of the above and the difference is amazing.....really straightend my young pony up....very pleased :)
 
If she naturally pokes to the outside try as someone mentioned riding 10m circles down the track concentrating on maintaining the bend as the circle finishes, thinking shoulder fore. Make sure your body is not blocking her, so you are sitting tall with your inside shoulder and hip back to allow her to bend. As mentioned before, inside leg to outside rein. It takes time and skill to ride truly straight down the long side.
 
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