Exercises to improve bend on certain side?

[Fingerontheneckstrap]

Hi guys

not really sure this is the right place to ask but just want any flatwork exercises or ideas for a horse who is weaker on one side when bending? He is back from a tendon injury since April and has been doing some fabulous flatwork but is just weaker on the left rein due to this past injury and he’s finding it a bit difficult to bend on that side, and his head either stays in the middle or pops out the opposite side. I know practice makes perfect but I’m just wondering if you have any ideas of some things that might help him have a bit of a lightbulb moment and maybe help him put the pieces together other than serpentines and circles ??

TIA ?

 

[SEL]

If he's finding it difficult to bend to the left then it's often the muscles on the right hand side that are tight - they can't stretch. I'd start with a good bodywork session so a physio can identify which specific muscles are tight. Often stretches and mobilisation techniques can help more than the under saddle work.

 

[Red-1]

I agree with the stretching on the opposite side, but it could also be...

1. Weakness of the inside hind. The horse will avoid bending as the inside hind does not want to / is not able to step deep enough under to support the weight to cause the bend.

2. Learned evasion to avoid pain from the injury you mentioned.

3. Learned evasion from the rider asking too strongly, so he braces against the inside contact rather than yielding to it.

I would start in walk and use exercises to place the horse's body, in a touch and release way. So, simply walking round and asking for a slight look in or out without changing the route. If the horse won't even look slightly one way and then the other, whilst still walking straight, the problem is likely in the communication/mental misunderstanding/worry rather than a physical issue.

In any case, the horse is protecting himself against something, so I wouldn't drill the horse.

If the horse has had time off, and didn't go like this before, has the saddle been refitted? My horse has had a holiday, he is a baby, so I have had the saddles refitted. They both needed adjusting, and the saddler is back in March to fit again as he will doubtless have changed again.

 

[Fingerontheneckstrap]

I agree with the stretching on the opposite side, but it could also be...

1. Weakness of the inside hind. The horse will avoid bending as the inside hind does not want to / is not able to step deep enough under to support the weight to cause the bend.

2. Learned evasion to avoid pain from the injury you mentioned.

3. Learned evasion from the rider asking too strongly, so he braces against the inside contact rather than yielding to it.

I would start in walk and use exercises to place the horse's body, in a touch and release way. So, simply walking round and asking for a slight look in or out without changing the route. If the horse won't even look slightly one way and then the other, whilst still walking straight, the problem is likely in the communication/mental misunderstanding/worry rather than a physical issue.

In any case, the horse is protecting himself against something, so I wouldn't drill the horse.

If the horse has had time off, and didn't go like this before, has the saddle been refitted? My horse has had a holiday, he is a baby, so I have had the saddles refitted. They both needed adjusting, and the saddler is back in March to fit again as he will doubtless have changed again.

I didn’t hVe him for very long before his injury so he’s never really done any of this before anyway! My physio watched me ride him recently and like you said she said it was learned evasion and that he basically thinks he has to still protect that leg a bit even though he’s 100% so I think it’s just reducing tightness and a bit of groundwork at this stage

 

[Fingerontheneckstrap]

If he's finding it difficult to bend to the left then it's often the muscles on the right hand side that are tight - they can't stretch. I'd start with a good bodywork session so a physio can identify which specific muscles are tight. Often stretches and mobilisation techniques can help more than the under saddle work.

My physio actually worked on him recently and said that right shoulder and right side neck are quite tight as when riding he kind of braces to protect the injured leg even though it is now 100% and he’s totally sound as he’s kind of learned to be that way after being out for so long! But that sounds like a great idea as I can do it when I’m not riding - he’ll be very happy to hear about carrot stretches… or just the carrot itself!

 

[ycbm]

I'm hesitating a bit to write this, but if it really is a learned behaviour thing, I would take the circles smaller so he's in no doubt that a bend is being asked for. But not for long, given the injury. And probably only in walk to start with.
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would start with some counter flexion on both reins in walk then progress to trot I tend to do 4 strides then change, a bit lateral work will also help just simple leg yield then a bit of shoulder in along the long side.

 

[JGC]

Yes, I was thinking it might be helpful to look at counter-bending when you're on the right rein at first, as this should be easier.

 

[LEC]

I build a square out of 4 poles - roughly 8m x 8m and the corners are open. I then will start with walk firstly round the outside and then in the inside as they have to bend but cannot fall out or fall in. Have flexion and counter flexion built in. Get the bend ride round the outside, ride inside, ride round the arena doing circles and if stop bending or keeping softness back on the square. Then into trot.
Particularly good if it’s the Hind quarters which are swinging or shoulders not coming round. Just gives the rider strict parameters and helps the horse understand the requirements. It also means you are not arguing about things with the horse. My little TB is a bit one sided and Hq swing and he tried to drop left contact on right rein so this has been super helpful in developing better bend and softness.

 

[sbloom]

It's so easy to make things worse by simply asking the horse to bend more, or using arena patterns or even poles etc. Horses compensate, your horse isn't bending as it's protecting itself/moving in compensation. Most horses have an overly rotated ribcage, fix this and you improve the horse's ability to bend without compromise/compensation. So many techniques simply store up problems for later, hence our epidemic of lameness, injections etc. Have a look at https://stephaniebloomsaddlefitter.co.uk/blog-and-resources/wonky-donkeys, I have a list of groundwork links I send to all my customers if you pm me your email address.

 

[tristar]

a horse needs to be able to trot in a straight line before it can start to bend on a circle

its no good asking for anything until its warmed up, properly, loose and its muscles are relaxed


on a hack or large in the arena, if you have a large arena, allow it to find the bend in the corners, big corners, before doing circles, large ones, and just one circle off the long side when the trot is going well, then ride forwards after the circle it does`nt matter what its like to start, the horse needs to learn just keep asking quietly and riding steadily until its body get used to it

 

[stangs]

The risk with regular aids is that if he doesn’t want to do what you’re asking (his brain expects pain, because it hurt before, and so feels pain) but he doesn’t see a way around it, he may well end up finding a new way to compensate, creating more issues.

What you’re looking for is a way to convince his brain that the leg doesn’t hurt. That’s something you can do better with R+ because the aids don’t involve holding/restricting the horse. I’d be teaching him to follow a target, and then using that to put him in situations where he ‘unknowingly’ has to trust his leg. Off the top of my head: the direction change game (best done when their energy’s up - putting the target to one side, and then, as they’re going to it, quickly moving it to the other side, so they're quickly shifting their weight), or asking for turns when there’s something in the way, or a wall for support, such that the body has to turn, not just the neck.

The analogy I like to use is playing volleyball after you get a jab. Before you start playing, your arm is sore so you have a limited range of movement. However, while playing, the competitive streak comes out and you start pushing that range a little more, and a little more. By the time you stop playing, your arm is almost all pain-free.

However, if he’s not done R+ before, do short sessions, don’t ask for too much too quickly, ask for easy things in between the harder stuff, and be strict about him touching the target and not turning towards you. A little bit of frustration is good, that’s what helps get the new movement. Too much will give you an angry muggy animal and make it unpleasant both all of you.

The R+ won’t replace schooling, but it’s worth a go in hand, to build up his confidence and strength.

The other thing would be lots of hacking in straight lines, but making sure to work on his weaker diagonal and leads. Schooling can help but you have to make sure you’re not drilling him, and you've giving him enough breaks.

Also, what’s he like to have his feet done? That would give you a good indicator of how comfortable he feels on the leg.

 

[Cortez]

Shoulder-in is the best exercise to both consolidate bend and to individually work the inside hind leg. If you and/or the horse haven't done it before then I suggest you get an instructor to teach you. It is probably best introduced as an in-hand exercise, and in walk only, for a few steps, to start.

P.S. It is only helpful if you do it correctly; it is rare to see it done so.

 

[littleshetland]

As above - shoulder in and some leg yielding should help a lot.