'Dead right arm' syndrome

[Governor]

I'm having a few problems with G schooling atm - as a result i'm taking the soft option and doing a lot more hacking and jumping than I would normally.

I had a dressage/flatwork lesson a couple of weeks ago and i've worked a lot from there which has improved his self carriage and he is starting to feel a lot more balanced and 'up' through the shoulder.

The thing is intermittently i'm still ending up with a dead right arm or on a slightly better day a dead wrist. Other days he feels light and balanced on both reins. He doesn't feel overly heavy on the right rein contact while i'm riding and I do my best to keep a correct bend (today - plenty of shoulder in on both reins). I give and retake, reward when he softens and ride him off my inside leg to outside hand to stop me grabbing the right rein - but i'm still coming away with a dead arm occasionally.

I whipped his saddle off after schooling today and noticed the muscle behind his right (offside) whither/shoulder is starting to look less developed. I always keep an eye on his symmetry and this is starting to get more obvious.

Would you get his back/poll checked or just keep bashing away with schooling? Not really sure where to go from here but it’s knocking my confidence.

 

[gummybear]

I would defiantely get him checked out. I had "left arm" syndrome, and had my boy looked at by the physio and she found some minor problems that she has managed to treat and he is now so much better. Still have him checked every 3 months for maintenance. Better to get it checked than persevere and make a possible problem worse.

 

[sw123]

Have you had a good (as in not your average) dentist look at him? I used to get serious dead right arm and it wasnt until soemone else rode him and said please can I get my boyfriend (who is one of the top dentists in teh country) to loko at him that we had a breakthrough. I'd had his teeth done every 6 months just by someone who although a qualified dentist was rubbish. When they looked he'd got the most horrific sharp edges literally causing huge ulcers in his cheeks we had to sedate him as he needed so much work doing but the difference was absolutely unbelievable, i've never had dead arm syndrome since!!

So many people say no i've had them done by a good dentist - just make sure they're as good as you think!

 

[Alibear]

I'd say yes to physio and remember when he's heavy on your right arm not only to not pull but give but also give him a kick with your right leg to make him step under properly. He can't carry the front end if he's not using the back end.
Another one I've had is to use my hand upwards rather than outwards to say oi come on and then you release by just lowering your hand to it's normal position.
This works on the corner of the mouth so you have to be careful but it's very effective.

 

[Governor]

I've been using plenty of leg but he's very light off my inside leg on the left rein but finds it very hard to yield to it on the right.

sw - had the same situation with him, got a vet *yes a vet - one of the most qualified in the country who has made teeth his speciality* to do them about 18 months ago and he had some major work (heavily sedated, and a lot of electric rasping) done where other dentists had left hooks. I put my hand in before and after and could certainly feel the difference. They're now done by said vet every 6 months as i'm very wary of the dentists I did use!

 

[RuthP]

Not read any other replies so sorry if i'm repeating but I would be careful here, my mare used to be very heavy on the left rein and I now have nerve damage in my left arm!!

It was excruciating (sp?) and I eventually had no grip in the hand and couldn't ride for ages.

Sounds as though your horsey isn't using his right hind properly which suggests somethings out. I'd get a chiro for him and a chiro for you before your arm gets worse! Hope this helps!