Dressage help

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FlipFlop5

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as title suggests need sum advice plz guys.
My horse leans heavily on one rein (normally the right) and wont take a contact in the other .ive tried loads of different ways (and bits) to get him off and its really bugging me know as we're always fighting and getting crap dressage marks . So does anyone know anyways to get him off the rein or are there any other bits I could try. Apparently a myler bit might help but i don't want to buy it unless i know it works.
thanks
xx
 
hmm ive had the same problem as you recently and we are trying to nip it in the bud now before it gets any worse, one thing that seems to be working it to leg yield to the track off the corner, so from A to E on the right rein, and do a small leg yield, and as you push him/her over, firstly open your right hand out and keep and hold on the outside rein, then as you almost get to the track give you inside hand forward and give one last nudge over to the track, hopefully it will push them into your outside hand as they havent got an inside hand to lean on - does that makes any sense???

also on a circle on the right rein give your right rein slightly of the neck and almost neck rein with your outside hand until they take your outside hand and realise to stay balanced they must accept your outside hand and not rely on an inside contact.

before i go on does all that make any sense at all???
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I would say the most likely reasons are 1)teeth, 2) back and/or musculo-skeletal problems and 3) your posture. I make most horses heavy in the left hand, I find pilates helps. Also a good instructor who focuses as much if not more on the rider rather than the horse. Good luck!
 
My horse started to do this in the school - probably not a popular solution, but I just hacked for a month and gave the shooling a break and when I started schooling again, he never did it again! He was only 4/5 at the time and it has been a year now and I haven't had any repeat performances.

Perhaps he is just a bit stiff and bit of time out the school and maby some suppling excercises (i.e. lateral work - just in walk) will help.

Obviosly - check teeth/back/saddle - usual stuff first.
 
I agree with that. I find that Sov (exracehorse) leans on the left when hassled or tense so I either drop the rein a little so he has nothing to fight against or work him on the right rein and so push him through to the left hand, taking advantage so it works in my favour. I also find that if we do alot of hacking he seems to forget about it, and it is gradually getting better. Be patient.
 
My boy used to lean excessively on the right rein. The best way to stop leaning to to get the horse moving more and stronger behind as it will help with the balance and encourage him to be more consisent in the head carriage. Try (in walk and trot) flexing him and counter-flexing him on a circle when you start as this will encourage him to listen to your hands and seat and hopefully step through from behind.

A great exercise my trainer has taught me is to trot on a circle and when you get to the corner lift your inside hand up and slightly over his neck but keep your outside rein consistent and strong (so he is bending his neck/body), keep your inside leg strong too so he has to bend and step into the corner. Eventually he will start stepping through with his hind and sitting behind more and he should start easing off your hands. As you come out of the corner, give both your hands so there is an even contact and he is straight and push forwards. You'll eventually notice how much more he is motoring from behind rather than leaning on one/both hands.

Also is there any chance that your are slightly stronger or leaning more on one rein? I am much stronger to my right and my instructor has picked this up and straightened my position (I used to carry my right hand much higher and slope my shoulder and seat bone to the right). Now I am much more balanced, Louis is much more consistent and straighter.
 
Thanks for all the advice .We had his teeth and back checked and there was no probs with them ,so its probs just me . I'm goin 2 c what my instructor says 2morro and see what happens
 
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